+1.+ Tiberius Gracchus destroyed three hundred cities of the
Celtiberes.[139]...
[Sidenote: B. C. 179. Coss. Q. Fulvius, L. Manlius. The ex-praetors
Ti. Sempronius Gracchus and L. Postumius were still in Spain, where
they had been since B.C. 182. Livy, 40, 1, 44. Renewed war of Eumenes
and Ariarathes upon Pharnaces. See bk. 24, chs. 8, 9.] +2.+ The attack
upon him being sudden and formidable, Pharnaces was reduced to submit
to almost any terms; and on his sending an embassy, Eumenes and
Ariarathes immediately accepted his proposals, and sent ambassadors to
Pharnaces in return. When this had been repeated several times, the
pacification was concluded on the following terms: “Eumenes, Prusias,
and Ariarathes, shall maintain perpetual peace with Pharnaces and
Mithridates.
“Pharnaces shall not enter Galatia on any pretence.
“Such treaties as exist between Pharnaces and Gauls are hereby
rescinded.
“Pharnaces shall likewise evacuate Paphlagonia, after restoring the
inhabitants whom he had previously expelled, with their shields,
javelins, and other equipment.
“Pharnaces shall restore to Ariarathes all territory of which he has
deprived him, with the property thereon and the hostages.
[Sidenote: See bk. 5, ch. 77.]
“He shall restore Tium by the Pontus, which some time before was given
freely and liberally by Eumenes to Prusias.
“Pharnaces shall restore, without ransom, all prisoners of war and all
deserters.
“He shall repay to Morzius and Ariarathes, in lieu of all money and
treasure taken from them, the sum of nine hundred talents, and shall
add thereto three hundred talents for Eumenes towards the expenses of
the war.
“Mithridates, the Satrap of Armenia, shall also pay three hundred
talents, because he attacked Ariarathes in defiance of the treaty with
Eumenes.
“The persons included under this treaty are, of the princes in Asia,
Artaxias, lord of the greater part of Armenia, and Acusilochus: of
those in Europe, Gatalus the Sarmatian: of the autonomous peoples, the
Heracleotes, the Mesembrians in the Chersonese, and the Cyzicenes.”
The number and quality of hostages to be given by Pharnaces was also
specified. The armies of the several parties then marched away, and
thus was concluded the war of Eumenes and Ariarathes against Pharnaces.
_Philip V. died at Amphipolis towards the end of B.C. 179. His last
days were embittered by remorse for the death of his son Demetrius,
whose innocence had been demonstrated to him. He wished to leave his
crown to Antigonus, the son of Echecrates and nephew of Antigonus
Doson, in order to punish his elder son Perseus for his treachery in
securing his brother’s death. But Philip died suddenly before this
could be secured, and Perseus succeeded him without opposition. See
Livy, 40, 55-57._
[Sidenote: The opening of the reign of Perseus.]
+3.+ Having renewed the alliance with Rome, Perseus immediately began
intriguing in Greece. He invited back into Macedonia absconding
debtors, condemned exiles, and those who had been compelled to leave
their country on charges of treason. He caused notices to be put
up to that effect at Delos, Delphi, and the temple of Athena at
Iton,[140] offering not only indemnity to all who returned, but also
the restoration of the property lost by their exile. Such also as
still remained in Macedonia he released from their debts to the Royal
exchequer, and set free those who had been confined in fortresses upon
charges of treason. By these measures he raised expectations in the
minds of many, and was considered to be holding out great hopes to
all the Greeks. Nor were other parts of his life and habits wanting
in a certain royal magnificence. His outward appearance was striking,
and he was well endowed with all the physical advantages requisite
for a statesman. His look and mien were alike dignified and such as
became his age. He had moreover avoided his father’s weakness for wine
and women, and not only drank moderately at dinner himself, but was
imitated in this respect by his intimates and friends. Such was the
commencement of the reign of Perseus....
[Sidenote: Philip V. in misfortune.]
When king Philip had become powerful and had obtained supremacy over
the Greeks, he showed the most utter disregard of faith and principle;
but when the breeze of fortune again set against him, his moderation
was as conspicuous in its turn. But after his final and complete
defeat, he tried by every possible expedient to consolidate the
strength of his kingdom.
[Sidenote: Laodice, daughter of Seleucus IV. Livy, 42, 12.]
[Sidenote: Embassy from Lycia against Rhodes. See bk. 24, ch. 9.]
[Sidenote: B.C. 177. Coss. C. Claudius Pulcher, Ti. Sempronius
Gracchus.]
+4.+ After despatching the consuls Tiberius and Claudius against the
Istri and Agrii,[141] the Senate towards the end of summer transacted
business with the ambassadors that had come from the Lycians. They had
not arrived at Rome until the Lycians had been completely conquered,
but they had been despatched a considerable time before. For the
people of Xanthus in Lycia, when about to embark upon the war, had
sent Nicostratus and others to Achaia and Rome as ambassadors: who
coming to Rome at that time moved many of the Senators to pity them,
by laying before them the oppressiveness of the Rhodians and their
own danger; and at length induced the Senate to send envoys to Rhodes
to declare that “On inspecting the record of the arrangements made
by the ten commissioners in Asia, when settling the dominions of
Antiochus, it appeared that the Lycians had been given to the Rhodians,
not as a gift, but rather as friends and allies.” But many were
still dissatisfied with this solution of the matter. For the Romans
seemed to wish, by thus pitting Rhodes against Lycia, to exhaust the
accumulations and treasures of the Rhodians, because they had heard of
the recent conveyance of the bride of Perseus by the Rhodians, and of
their grand naval review. For shortly before this the Rhodians had been
holding, with great splendour and elaboration of equipment, a review of
all vessels belonging to them; the fact being that a vast quantity of
timber for shipbuilding had been presented to them by Perseus. Moreover
he had presented a gold tiara to each of the rowers on the upper bench
in the ship that had brought him his bride Laodice.[142]...
[Sidenote: Excitement at Rhodes; and a fresh determination of the
Lycians to assert independence.]
+5.+ When the envoys from Rome reached Rhodes and announced the decrees
of the Senate, there was a great excitement in the island, and much
confused discussion among the leading politicians. They were much
annoyed at the allegation that the Lycians had not been given them as
a gift but as allies; for having just satisfied themselves that the
Lycian war was successfully concluded, they saw the commencement of
fresh trouble for themselves growing up. For no sooner had the Romans
arrived and made this announcement to the Rhodians, than the Lycians
began a fresh revolt, and showed a determination of fighting to the
last extremity for autonomy and freedom. However, after hearing the
Roman envoys, the Rhodians made up their minds that the Romans had been
deceived by the Lycians, and forthwith appointed Lycophron to lead an
embassy to offer an explanation to the Senate. And the state of affairs
was such that there was momentary expectation of a fresh rising of the
Lycians....
[Sidenote: Rhodian question deferred.]
[Sidenote: Reports of the intrigues of Perseus. See Livy, 41, 19, B. C.
176-175.]
+6.+ When the Rhodian envoys arrived in Rome the Senate, after
listening to their address, deferred its answer. Meanwhile the
Dardanian envoys came with reports as to the number of the Bastarnae,
the size of their men, and their courage in the field. They gave
information also of the treacherous practices of Perseus and the Gauls,
and said that they were more afraid of him than of the Bastarnae, and
therefore begged the help of the Romans. The report of the Dardani
being supported by that of the Thessalian envoys who arrived at that
time, and who also begged for help, the Senators determined to send
some commissioners to see with their own eyes the truth of these
reports; and they accordingly at once appointed and despatched Aulus
Postumius, accompanied by some young men....