In the year 283 BC an unknown Roman diplomat was sent to the Greek City of Tarentum in Southern Italy in order to exchange pleasentries as well as to make some meaningless agreements that were so common in the ancient world. Rome was a rising power, and following the victories against the Samnites many had fled south into Magna Gracia, and to the city of Tarentum, and the Romans wanted them extradited for Roman Justice.
The Romans had never expected the Greeks to surrender them, and they had prepared for a war with the outlying Greek cities. Rome had prepared to march south with an army if they were denied, however a dynastic alliance between the Bocci and Helvetti of Trans-Alpine Gaul and Raetia had forced the Romans to march north to crush a Gallic invasion through a gap in the Apennines.*
In 279 BC Pyrrhus had been home, detesting his expulsion from Macedon, when he was plotting his return to Macedon with a triumphant march through Pella, he received two simultaneous offers, he was offered to become the King of Macedonia and also requested by Syracuse and other Greco-Sicillian cities to drive the Carthaginians out.
Pyrrhus simply smirked at the wonderful timeing "One can lead to another". With that he had resolved himself a new destiny, he took his army of well trained troops, numbering some 16,000 strong, to march east into Macedonia for coronation and re-organization, and hopefully later riches in Sicily.**
*-1st POD: Pyrrhus never gets invited to Italy and thus doesn't piss away his well trained and pretty numerous and flexible army fighting Rome with little chance of reinforcement since the Romans are turned north with some distractions, so they are not antagonizing Tarentum, yet...
**-2nd POD: Pyrrhus had been in Macedonia but driven out in 285 BC, historically he was offered this oppurtunity be didn't believe it would be benefical to him after Rome, and that his presence in Sicily would not only boost his prestige after Rome and expand territories, but would help against Rome in the future. With no failed Roman expedition, Pyrrhus chooses to take the Macedonian crown as a springboard to bigger and better things in Macedonia.
Thoughts and criticisms are appreciated.
The Romans had never expected the Greeks to surrender them, and they had prepared for a war with the outlying Greek cities. Rome had prepared to march south with an army if they were denied, however a dynastic alliance between the Bocci and Helvetti of Trans-Alpine Gaul and Raetia had forced the Romans to march north to crush a Gallic invasion through a gap in the Apennines.*
In 279 BC Pyrrhus had been home, detesting his expulsion from Macedon, when he was plotting his return to Macedon with a triumphant march through Pella, he received two simultaneous offers, he was offered to become the King of Macedonia and also requested by Syracuse and other Greco-Sicillian cities to drive the Carthaginians out.
Pyrrhus simply smirked at the wonderful timeing "One can lead to another". With that he had resolved himself a new destiny, he took his army of well trained troops, numbering some 16,000 strong, to march east into Macedonia for coronation and re-organization, and hopefully later riches in Sicily.**
*-1st POD: Pyrrhus never gets invited to Italy and thus doesn't piss away his well trained and pretty numerous and flexible army fighting Rome with little chance of reinforcement since the Romans are turned north with some distractions, so they are not antagonizing Tarentum, yet...
**-2nd POD: Pyrrhus had been in Macedonia but driven out in 285 BC, historically he was offered this oppurtunity be didn't believe it would be benefical to him after Rome, and that his presence in Sicily would not only boost his prestige after Rome and expand territories, but would help against Rome in the future. With no failed Roman expedition, Pyrrhus chooses to take the Macedonian crown as a springboard to bigger and better things in Macedonia.
Thoughts and criticisms are appreciated.