Antiochus III. of Syria, who had proposed to share Egypt with Philip,
had been engaged for some time in a campaign in the East, and did not
hear of his ally's danger until too late to aid him. However, he
claimed for himself portions of Asia Minor and Thrace, which Philip had
previously held, and which Rome now declared free and independent. He
crossed the Hellespont into Thrace in 196, but did not dare to enter
Greece, although earnestly urged to do so by the Aetolians, until after
Flamininus had withdrawn all his troops (192).
Antiochus was no general. Himself irresolute and fond of pleasure, the
power behind his throne was HANNIBAL. This great soldier, after his
defeat at Zama, did not relinquish the aim of his life. He became the
chief magistrate of his native city, and in a short time cleared the
moral atmosphere, which was charged with corruption and depravity. Under
him Carthage might have risen again. But his intrigues with Antiochus,
with whom he wished to make an alliance, gave Rome an opportunity to
interfere. His surrender was demanded. He fled, and, after wandering
from coast to coast, became the trusted adviser of the Syrian king.
Had Antiochus been energetic after his arrival in Greece, he could have
accomplished something before the Roman troops came. But he disregarded
the warnings of Hannibal, and spent valuable time in minor matters. The
Romans arrived in 191, and under Glabrio at Thermopylae drove back the
intruder, who hastily retired to Asia Minor. The Aetolians were punished
for their infidelity.
In 190, LUCIUS CORNELIUS SCIPIO was elected Consul, and put in command
of the army in the East, with the understanding that he should be
accompanied by his brother Africanus, and have the benefit of his
military skill and experience. Under his command, the Romans crossed the
Hellespont and sought Antiochus in his own kingdom.
Hannibal could do nothing with the poorly disciplined troops of the
king. They were met by the invading forces at MAGNESIA, in Lydia, in
190, and 80,000 Asiatics were put to rout by 30,000 Romans, 50,000 being
slain. The loss of the victors was slight.
On that day the fate of Asia was sealed. Antiochus relinquished all
pretensions to any territory west of the river Halys and the Taurus
mountains. His chariots, elephants, fleet, and treasures were all
surrendered.
Scipio returned home to enjoy a triumph, and added ASIATICUS to his
name, as his brother had taken that of Africanus in commemoration of his
victory.
Gneius Manlius Vulso succeeded Scipio in the East. He made a campaign
against the Gauls, who had settled in Galatia about a century before,
and had become wealthy by means of constant plunderings. The excuse for
the campaign was, that they had served in the Syrian army; the reason
was, their wealth, and the ambition of the Consul for glory.
The Galatians were easily overcome, their wealth seized, and they
themselves became assimilated to their neighbors. This war is noticeable
chiefly for the reason that Manlius undertook it _without the authority
of the Senate_, the first instance of its kind, and a precedent which
was too frequently followed in later times. On his return to Rome he was
allowed a triumph, which stamped his act as legal.
These wars in the East brought to Rome immense riches, which laid
the foundation of its Oriental extravagance and luxury, and finally
undermined the strength of the state. From Greece were introduced
learning and refinement, from Asia immorality and effeminacy. The vigor
and tone of Roman society are nowhere more forcibly shown than in the
length of time it took for its subjugation by these ruinous exotics.
Meanwhile, at Rome the political enemies of the Scipios were in the
ascendency. Asiaticus was accused of misappropriating funds obtained
during his campaign in the East. As he was about to produce his
account-books before the Senate, his brother, Africanus, seized them,
tore them to pieces, and threw the remnants on the floor. Asiaticus,
however, was sentenced to pay a fine. When it was afterwards intimated
that his brother too was implicated, he proudly reminded his enemies
that their insinuations were ill-timed, for it was the anniversary of
Zama. This remark changed the tide of feeling, and no more charges were
made.
Two years later (183), Africanus died in voluntary exile at Liternum,
on the coast of Campania. He had lived little more than fifty years. His
wife, Aemilia, was the daughter of Paullus, who fell at Cannae, and
the sister of him who afterwards conquered Perseus of Macedonia. His
daughter, CORNELIA, afterwards became the mother of the famous GRACCHI.
Next to Caesar, Scipio was Rome's greatest general. During the
campaign in the East, he met Hannibal at the court of Antiochus. In
the conversation Hannibal is reported to have said that he considered
Alexander the greatest general, Pyrrhus next, and, had he himself
conquered Scipio, he would have placed himself before either.
Scipio lived to see Rome grow from an Italian power to be practically
the mistress of the world. He was of marked intellectual culture, and
as conversant with Greek as with his mother tongue. He possessed a charm
which made him popular at a time when the culture and arts of Greece
were not so courted at Rome as in later days.
Hannibal, after the defeat of Antiochus, was demanded by the Romans,
but, escaping, took refuge in Crete, and subsequently with Prusias, King
of Bithynia. His surrender was demanded, and troops were sent to
arrest him. Seeing no way of escape, he opened the bead on his ring and
swallowed the poison which it contained (183).
Thus died one of the greatest of commanders, without attaining the aim
of his life. He had lived but fifty-four years, yet his life was
so marked that people have ever since looked with wonder upon
the tremendous magnitude of what he undertook, and came so near
accomplishing.
This same year is also memorable for the death of "the last of the
Greeks," PHILOPOEMEN. (Footnote: See Ancient Greece, page 145.)