So, while reading Pyrrhus of Epirus by Jeff Champion, I came across something interesting that seems to contradict the standard, "Romans never accept peace unless they win" idea. After the battle of Heraklea, where Pyrrhus crushed the consular army of Laevinus, Pyrrhus sent Cinaeas to offer peace terms. They were as followed according to Appian:
-Romans have peace, friendship, and an alliance with Pyrrhus if:
-Tarentum is to be included in the same treaty and the other Greek cities in Italy should remain free under their own laws
-Romans restore to the Lucanians, Samnites, Daunii, and Bruttians what they had taken from them in war
If this is done, Pyrrhus will return all his Roman prisoners without ransom
Thsi essentually would have entailed Rome abandoning everything they had gained south and east of Campania. The Senate, however, was seriously considering accepting this due do their demoralization after Heraklea (Plutarch) or bribes by Cinaes (Zonaras), or, more likely, both.
It was only after the blind and retired Senator Appius Claudius was helped into the Senate house and gave a passionate speech to continue the war that they voted against accepting the offer.
So what if they accepted it? This would be a huge blow to Roman power, and judging from the above and from the Samnite wars that just ended, Rome was willing at this time to make peace treaties that did not entail them winning. What effect would this have on Pyrrhus future in Italy and Sicily? The Tarentines and Italians might say thank you very much, you can leave now, but I don't think he would like that. On another note, this allows him to focus entirely on Sicily and I imagine the Tarentines would be more than happy to lend him their fleet if it got him off of Italy, not having one coming back to haunt him at Lillybaum.
What effect would this have on the Romans as well? I imagine they would try their luck in southern Italy again, but they may very well wait until Pyrrhus is dead or well away from Italy before trying. It would certainly set their conquests back a while and will definitely influence their relationship with Carthage and the southern Italian and Greek cities.
Thoughts?
-Romans have peace, friendship, and an alliance with Pyrrhus if:
-Tarentum is to be included in the same treaty and the other Greek cities in Italy should remain free under their own laws
-Romans restore to the Lucanians, Samnites, Daunii, and Bruttians what they had taken from them in war
If this is done, Pyrrhus will return all his Roman prisoners without ransom
Thsi essentually would have entailed Rome abandoning everything they had gained south and east of Campania. The Senate, however, was seriously considering accepting this due do their demoralization after Heraklea (Plutarch) or bribes by Cinaes (Zonaras), or, more likely, both.
It was only after the blind and retired Senator Appius Claudius was helped into the Senate house and gave a passionate speech to continue the war that they voted against accepting the offer.
So what if they accepted it? This would be a huge blow to Roman power, and judging from the above and from the Samnite wars that just ended, Rome was willing at this time to make peace treaties that did not entail them winning. What effect would this have on Pyrrhus future in Italy and Sicily? The Tarentines and Italians might say thank you very much, you can leave now, but I don't think he would like that. On another note, this allows him to focus entirely on Sicily and I imagine the Tarentines would be more than happy to lend him their fleet if it got him off of Italy, not having one coming back to haunt him at Lillybaum.
What effect would this have on the Romans as well? I imagine they would try their luck in southern Italy again, but they may very well wait until Pyrrhus is dead or well away from Italy before trying. It would certainly set their conquests back a while and will definitely influence their relationship with Carthage and the southern Italian and Greek cities.
Thoughts?