The condition of Greece after the usurpation of supreme power by Philip
of Macedon and his son, Alexander the Great, was truly deplorable, and,
despite the despairing efforts of the Achaian League to resuscitate the
expiring liberties of the glorious old republics, grew rapidly from bad
to worse. Finally, the spirit of its people broken, their freedom
destroyed, and national feeling extinguished, the cradle of European
civilization fell an easy prey to the omnivorous greed of Rome.
A later Philip of Macedon incurred the anger of the Romans by forming a
league with Hannibal, the Carthaginian, and after suffering terrible
reverses in the wars which ensued, was compelled to accept peace upon
the most humiliating terms, including the surrender of several entire
provinces; of his navy, and the payment of a heavy indemnity to the
conquerors. Twelve years after the death of this monarch (B.C. 178),
his son and successor, Perseus, recommenced hostilities with the
Romans. After a long series of alternate victories and defeats, this
last and most unfortunate of the Macedonian kings was overthrown at the
battle of Pydna by AEmilius, the Roman consul, and sent captive, with
his children, to Rome.
About twenty years later, or B.C. 149, and whilst the Macedonians were
still newly smarting under the yoke of the victors, a man presented
himself to the people as Philip, their late king. Livy, whose account
we must chiefly follow, states that this impostor was generally reputed
to have been a slave; in history he is known as Andriscus the
Pretender. Our chief authority acknowledges that he manifested a truly
royal courage, and that he was found to greatly resemble the monarch
whose name and dignity he claimed, but who had died nearly thirty years
previously. Incautiously underrating the power of this Andriscus, who
was well supported by the despairing Macedonians, the Romans contented
themselves with sending a few troops, under the Pretor Juventius,
against the insurgents, and consequently sustained a severe defeat, in
which an entire legion and the Pretor himself were completely cut to
pieces. This success was short-lived. The Consul Metellus taking the
field overthrew and pursued Andriscus to the Thracian mountains, and
compelled a neighbouring prince, with whom he had taken refuge, to
deliver him into his hands. The capture of this impostor was made an
occasion for a great triumph by the Romans, who rejoiced as
much--records the historian--as if they had acquired possession of the
person of a veritable king. His future story is not known, but the
unfortunate country which had placed itself under his guidance was, as
is but too well known, completely subjugated, and its people reduced to
a state of servitude, from the effects of which they never recovered.
It is worthy of note that after the overthrow of Andriscus, two or
three pseudo Philips from time to time came forward to agitate the
country, trouble the Roman rulers, and still further degrade the
people; but none of them ever displayed the same courageous bearing, or
attained to such notoriety as he did.