PUBLIUS DECIUS MUS (279 BC)

'Publius Decius Mus' was a Roman politician and general. As consul in 279 BC, he and his fellow consul, Publius Sulpicius Saverrio, combined their armies against Pyrrhus of Epirus at the Battle of Asculum. Pyrrhus was victorious, but at such a high cost that the security of Asculum was guaranteed. (Hence the term "Pyrrhic victory".) According to one tradition, Decius died in the field; according to another, he survived.