View source for Publius Decius Mus (consul 279 BC)

{{Short description|Roman consul 279 BC}}
{{More references|date=December 2009}}
'''Publius Decius Mus''' was a [[Roman Republic|Roman]] politician and general of the [[plebeian]] [[Decia gens|gens Decia]]. He was the son of [[Publius Decius Mus (consul 312 BC)|Publius Decius Mus]], who was [[Roman consul|consul]] in 312 BC. As consul in 279 BC, he and his fellow consul, [[Publius Sulpicius Saverrio (consul 279 BC)|Publius Sulpicius Saverrio]], combined their armies against [[Pyrrhus of Epirus]] at the [[Battle of Asculum (279 BC)|Battle of Asculum]].

Pyrrhus was victorious, but at such a high cost that the security of [[Ascoli Satriano|Asculum]] was guaranteed. This is the origin of the term "[[Pyrrhic victory]]". According to one tradition, Decius died in the field;<ref>[[Tusculanae_Disputationes#Book_1]]</ref> according to another, he survived.

Both his father and [[Publius Decius Mus (consul 340 BC)|grandfather]] had fallen in battle after performing the ritual of [[devotio]] before the troops,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Battle of Asculum (279 BC) {{!}} Pyrrhic War (280–275 BC) {{!}} Stories Preschool |url=https://www.storiespreschool.com/pyrrhic_war4.html |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=www.storiespreschool.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Heritage History - Products |url=https://www.heritage-history.com/index.php?c=resources&s=char-dir&f=decius2 |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=www.heritage-history.com}}</ref> before rushing the enemy. [[Battle of Asculum#Cassius Dio's account|According to one report]], Mus was planning to do the same at Asculum.

==References==
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{{Succession box|title=[[List of Roman Republican consuls|Consul]] of the [[Roman Republic]]|before=[[Publius Valerius Laevinus]] and [[Tiberius Coruncanius]]||after=[[Gaius Fabricius Luscinus]] and [[Quintus Aemilius Papus]]|years=''with [[Publius Sulpicius Saverrio (consul 279 BC)|Publius Sulpicius Saverrio]]''<br /> 279 BC}}
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[[Category:3rd-century BC Roman consuls]]
[[Category:Ancient Roman generals]]
[[Category:Decii|Mus, Publius]]
[[Category:Pyrrhic War]]