Pyrrhus

Pyrrhus was the king of Epirus and was the first Greek (Hellenic) general to face the Romans. In 280 BC he came to aid the Greeks in Italy (Tarentum) and brought with him his fearful elephant cavalry along with 20,000 soldiers and barely won a brutal victory. His Phalanx defeated the Rome's legionary armies twice. Pyrrhus had won the victory but at the expense of a major part of his army. He said, "If we win one more victory against the Romans we shall be totally ruined." This is where the term "Pyyhric Victory" originated where the winner suffers more loss than that which he gained. His army was soon too diminished to continue and he left Rome in 275 BC leaving Rome as the undisputed champion of central and southern Italy. 2 years later Pyrrhus fled to Argos, where he was killed by a mob in the street.