152

BOOK THE NINETEENTH,

HISTORY

OF

ALEXANDER'S SUCCESSORS

CONTINUED.

This nineteenth book contains three articles. In the first, the history of Perseus, the last king of Macedonia, is related. He reigned eleven years, and was dethroned in the year of the world 3836. The second article goes on from the defeat of Perseus to the ruin of Corinth, which was taken and burnt in the year of the world 3858, and includes something more than twenty-one years. The third article contains the history of Syria and that of Egypt, which are generally joined together.. That of Syria comprises almost an hundred years from Antiochus Eupator, son of Antiochus Epiphanes, to Antiochus Asiaticus, under whom Syria became part of the Roman empire, that is to say, from the year of the world 3840, to 3939. The history of Egypt includes also one hundred years, from the twentieth year of Ptolemy Philometor, till the expulsion of Ptolemy Auletes, that is from the year of the world 3845 to the year 3946..

ARTICLE I.

THIS article contains eleven years, being the duration of the reign of Perseus, the last king of Macedonia, from the year of the world 3826, to 3837.

SECT. I. Perseus prepares secretly for a war against the Romans. He endeavours a reconciliation with the Achæans in vain. His secret measures not unknown at Rome. Eumenes arrives there, and informs the senate of them. Perseus attempts to rid himself of that Prince, first by assassination, and afterwards by poison. The Romans break with Perscus. Different opinions and dispositions of the kings and states, in regard to the Macedonian war. After several embassies on both sides, the war is declared in form.

3826. Ant. J.C

178.

THE death of Philip happened very opportunely for suspending the war against the Romans, and A. M. giving them time to prepare for it. That prince had formed a strange design, and had already begun to put it in execution: this was to bring a considerable body of troops, both horse and foot, from European Sarmatia, which now forms part of Poland. Certain Gauls had settled near the mouths of the Borysthenes, now called the Nieper, and had taken the name of Bastarnæ. That people were neither accustomed to` till the earth, to feed cattle, nor to follow commerce: they lived by war, and sold their services to any people that would employ them. After having passed the Danube, Philip was to have settled them upon the lands of the Dardanians, whom he had resolved utterly to exterminate; because being very near neighbours of Macedonia, they never failed to take every favourable occasion for making inroads into it. The Bastarna were to leave their wives and children in this new settlement, and to march into Italy, in order to enrich themselves with the booty they were in hopes of making there. Whatever the success might be, Philip conceived he should find great advantages in it: if it should happen that the Bastarnæ were conquered by the Romans, he should easily be consoled for their defeat in seeing himself delivered from the Dardanians by their means; and if their ir

Liv. 1. 40. n. 57, 58. Oros. 1. iv. c. 20.

A. M. 3829.

375.

ruption into Italy succeeded, whilst the Romans were employed in repulsing these new enemies, he should have time to recover all he had lost in Greece. The Bastarnæ were already upon their march, and were considerably advanced, when they received advice of Philip's death. This news, and several accidents that befel them, suspended their first design, and they dispersed into different parts. Antigonus, whom Philip intended for his successor, had been employed against his will in negociating this affair. At his return, Perseus put him to death, and to secure himself the better on the throne, sent ambassadors to the Romans, to demand that they would renew with him the alliance they had made with his father, and that the senate would acknowledge him king. His sole intent was to gain time.

1

Part of the Bastarnæ had pursued their march and were actually at war with the Dardanians. The RoAnt. J. C. mans took umbrage at it. Perseus excused himself by his ambassadors, and represented that he had not sent for them, and had no share in their enterprise. The senate, without making any further inquiry into the affair, contented themselves with advising him to take care that he observed inviolably the treaty made with the Romans. The Bastarnæ, after having gained some advantages at first, were at length reduced, the greatest part of them at least, to return into their own country. It is said, that having found the Danube frozen over, in endeavouring to pass it, the ice broke under them, and a great number of them were swallowed up in the river.

A. M. 3830.

174.

It was known at Rome that Perseus had sent ambassadors to Carthage, and that the senate had Ant. J. C. given them audience in the night, in the temple of Esculapius. It was thought proper to send ambassadors into Macedonia to observe the conduct of that prince. He had lately reduced the Dolopians, who refused to obey him, by force of arms. After that

• Dołopia was a region of Thessaly, upon the confines of

Epirus.

expedition he advanced towards Delphos, upon pretence of consulting the oracle, but in reality, as it was believed, of having an opportunity to make the tour of Greece, and negotiate alliances. This journey at first alarmed the whole country, and occasioned so general a consternation, that even Eumenes did not think himself safe in Pergamus. But Perseus, as soon as he had consulted the oracle, returned into his own kingdom, passing through Phthiotis, Achaia, and Thessaly, without committing any hostilities in his march. He afterwards sent either ambassadors or circular letters to all the states through which he had passed, to demand that they would forget such subjects of discontent as they might have had under the reign of his father, which ought to be buried in his grave.

His principal attention was to reconcile himself with the Achæans. Their league, and the city of Athens, had carried their hatred and resentment so high against the Macedonians, as by a decree, to prohibit all intercourse with them. This declared enmity gave the slaves, who fled from Achaia, the opportunity of retiring into Macedonia, where they found an assured asylum, and knew they should not be followed or claimed after that general interdiction. Perseus caused all these slaves to be seized, and sent them back to the Achæans, with an obliging letter, in which he exhorted them to take effectual methods for preventing their slaves from making his dominions their refuge any longer. This was tacitly demanding the re-establishment of their ancient intercourse. Xenarchus, who was at that time in office, and desired to make his court to the king, seconded his demand very strongly, and was supported by those who were most solicitous for recovering their slaves.

Callicrates, one of the principal persons of the assembly, who was convinced that the safety of the league consisted in the inviolable observance of the treaty concluded with the Romans, represented, that a reconciliation with Macedonia was a direct infrac

A. M. 3831. Ant. J.C.

173.

tion of it, whilst that kingdom was making preparations to declare war against Rome as soon as possible. He concluded that it was necessary to leave things in their present condition, till time should explain whether their fears were just or not. That if Macedonia continued in peace with Rome, it would be time enough when that appeared, to re-establish an intercourse with them; without which, a re-union would be precipitate and dangerous.

Acron, Xenarchus's brother, who spoke after Callicrates, did his utmost to prove that such terrors were without foundation; that the question was not the making of a new treaty and alliance with Perseus, and much less to break with the Romans, but solely to reverse a decree, for which the injustice of Philip might have given room, but which Perseus, who had no share in his father's conduct, was undoubtedly far from deserving. That that

prince could not but be assured, that in case of a war against the Romans, the league would not fail to declare for them. "But (added he) whilst the peace subsists, if animosities and dissensions are not made to cease entirely, it is at least reasonable to suspend them, and to let them sleep for a "while."

Nothing was concluded in this assembly. As it was taken amiss that the king had contented himself with only sending them a letter; he afterwards sent ambassadors to the assembly, which had been summoned to Megalopolis. But those who apprehended giving Rome offence, used such effectual means, that they were refused audience.

The ambassadors sent by the senate into Macedonia, reported, at their return, that they could not get access to the king, upon pretence that he was sometimes abroad, and sometimes indisposed; two subterfuges equally false. That for the rest it appeared plainly, that great preparations were making for war, and that it was reasonable to expect it

↑ Liv. 1. xlii. u. 2,5, 6.