Vittorie

What is the phrase for a victory that comes at too high a cost?

I've forgotten the historical battle, but there was an event where two armies fought, and only 2 soldiers from one side and 1 from the other survived. Something specific (name of the town, name of the battle, name of a person, etc.) about it became known as a(n) ___________ victory- meaning a victory that is won, but perhaps the cost was too great. I mistakenly thought it came from the defeat of Leonitus and his 300 Spartans, and now want to know the correct historical event. Or it's entirely likely I'm off on all of it, and really need to be straightened out. Thank you for any help you can give me here!

Public Comments

1. Pyrhic (probably spelled wrong)
2. Pyrrhic victory
3. It is Pyrrhic. It comes from King Pyrrhus, King of Epirus in a costly victory over the Romans in 279 B.C.
4. Pyre`s victory.
5. Korea Vietnam Iraq You never, never hear some say "it's another Pyrrhic victory", do you? Unless it is some history buff trying to impress his 8th grade students? You do hear "Another Vietnam' do you not. "Go tell the Spartan's"