Before the battle, Pyrros went on horseback to the banks of river Sirios to observe the Roman positions. Watching the moves of the enemy formations, he was impressed by the superb organization of the camp and generally by the order and discipline of the Roman army. According to Plutarch, the Epirote King looked upon Megacles, a friend of his, and said ‘The discipline of these Barbarians is not barbarous; but the result will show us what it amounts to.’.
Pyrrhus kept his army in a long distance river Sirius, in the banks of which, he stationed only a small guard. This force which would guard the river crossings, most likely consisted of the archers and slingers. Judging from its small size, we conclude that its objective was not to hold the enemy by itself but to harass him and delay him until reinforcements had time to arrive.
The battle started with a Roman attempt to cross river Sirius without success. The Epirote guard managed to intercept the enemy and repel them towards the right bank of the river, from where they had begun their attempt. It is probable that this attack was a reconnaissance attempt by the Roman Consul, aiming at determining the strength of the Greek defense. After his failed attempt, Laevinus decided to change tactics, implementing a deceptive maneuver. The Roman cavalry moved across river Sirius and distanced themselves for as much as it was needed in order to get unseen. Then, they crossed the river from a passable way and launched an attack against Pyrrhus' guard. The Greek guard was surprised and retreated in order to unite with the rest of the Epirote army. The way was now open for the Roman infantry, which begun crossing river Sirius untroubled.
Witnessing this unfavorable for the Greeks development, Pyrrhus ordered the infantry officers to deploy the phalanx in line of battle. He himself, in head of his 3.000 horsemen, attacked the Romans, seeking to strike them while they were crossing the river and wouldn't have had time to regroup in its left bank. During the fierce fighting that followed, the Epirote King proved for one more time that besides a charismatic leader, he was also a capable warrior. Easily recognizable for the beauty and splendor of his richly ornamented armor, he was fighting stubbornly, killing every Roman soldier who attempted to confront him. While actively participating in the fight and vigorously repelling his assailants, he did not become confused in his calculations nor lose his presence of mind, but directed the battle as if he were surveying it from a distance as Plutarch mentions. The Epirote King was observing the whole front, bringing aid and encouraging those who had been overwhelmed or those who were retreating in face of fierce attacks.
At this time, an incident occurred that might have had catastrophic events for the Greek side. A captain of a troop of horse, a Frentanian by race, named Oplax was riding out against Pyrrhus and following him in every movement from place to place. He was obviously aiming at a surprise attack, because whenever Pyrrhus changed his position, Oplax, riding a black horse with white feet was moving towards the same direction, in order to always stay close to the general of the Greek forces. Leonnatus the Macedonian, an officer of the Epirote army, observing that the Italian captain was intent upon Pyrrhus, warned the King of the upcoming danger. Pyrrhus calmly replied: ‘What is fated oh Leonnatus, it is impossible to escape; but with impunity neither he nor any other Italian shall come to close quarters with me.’ While the two men were still discussing, Oplax leveled his spear and charged upon Pyrrhus. When he came close, he speared the horse of the Epirote King. At the same time, Leonnatus managed to spear the horse of the Italian captain as well. The two heavily wounded horses fell down along with their riders, each of whom had a different fate. The King was seized and rescued by his friends while Oplax was encircled by the Greek horsemen and fought until he was killed.
Pyrrhus, who had not been wounded by the fall, saw that the Greek cavalry was giving away. Judging that the time had come, he called up for the assault of the phalanx. In the meantime, he decided to undertake some measures for his own safety, as to avoid a similar incident such as the previous one. In order to be unrecognizable from the other Greek soldiers, he gave his companion Megacles, his cloak and armor and he rode another horse. For a long time the issue of the battle remained undecided. According to Plutarch there were seven turns of fortune, as each side either fled back or pursued. The Romans were trying to intercept the assault of the Epirote phalanx with repeated counterattacks. On the other side, the Epirote forces were trying to defeat the stubborn defense of the Legions of Laevinus. Many were the soldiers who fell from both sides and the balance of battle sometimes tilted to one and sometimes to the other. A random incident came close at destroying the Greek effort.
|