Rome and Pyrrhos. I. The Negotiations of Heraklea

  • Decebal Nedu “Dunarea de Jos“ University of Galati
Keywords: Rome, Pyrrhus I, battle of Herakleia

Abstract

According to Dionysius of Halicarnassus (19.9.1-4), before the battle of Herakleia, Pyrrhus wrote to the Romans that he was disposed to judge the disputes between Rome, Tarentum and other Italiots. The consul M. Valerius Laevinus wrote back, declining the offer (Dionysius 19.10.1-5). This diplomatic approach is found in other two sources: Plutarch, Pyrrhus 16.3-4 says that Pyrrhos presented his offer by a herald, while Zonaras 8.3 just mentions the exchange of letters, without entering into too many detalis about their content. In a book published in 1894, R. Schubert denied the existence of this diplomatic contact, arguing that Dionysius had invented the letters because of his attractionto oratory and moral deeds. The German scholar’s reasoning convinced many illustrative names of the ancient historians, but, from our point of view, it is valid only regarding the means by which the diplomatic contacts between the two sides set up. The denial of the letters do not imply the denial of the negotiations of Herakleia.

Author Biography

Decebal Nedu, “Dunarea de Jos“ University of Galati

According to Dionysius of Halicarnassus (19.9.1-4), before the battle of Herakleia, Pyrrhus wrote to the Romans that he was disposed to judge the disputes between Rome, Tarentum and other Italiots. The consul M. Valerius
Laevinus wrote back, declining the offer (Dionysius 19.10.1-5). This diplomatic approach is found in other two sources: Plutarch, Pyrrhus 16.3-4 says that Pyrrhos presented his offer by a herald, while Zonaras 8.3 just mentions the exchange of letters, without entering into too many detalis about their content. In a book published in 1894, R. Schubert denied the existence of this diplomatic contact, arguing that Dionysius had invented the letters because of his attraction to oratory and moral deeds. The German scholar’s reasoning convinced many illustrative names of the ancient historians, but, from our point of view, it is valid only regarding the means by which the diplomatic contacts between the two sides set up. The denial of the letters do not imply the denial of the negotiations of Herakleia.

Published
2004-11-30
How to Cite
Nedu, D. (2004). Rome and Pyrrhos. I. The Negotiations of Heraklea. The Annals of "Dunarea De Jos" University of Galati. Fascicle XIX, History, 3, 19-30. Retrieved from https://www.gup.ugal.ro/ugaljournals/index.php/history/article/view/913
Issue
Vol 3 (2004)
Section
ISTORIE ANTICĂ

Most read articles by the same author(s)

Obs.: This plugin requires at least one statistics/report plugin to be enabled. If your statistics plugins provide more than one metric then please also select a main metric on the admin's site settings page and/or on the journal manager's settings pages.