Wars in the East II

Third Macedonian War (171-168)

• Romans keen to get rid of Perses, son of Philip V
• First commanders inept
  • Interested mainly in plunder
  • Even attack Roman allies
  • Some convicted in Rome
    • Malfeasance tolerated as long as victory is also delivered
• L. Aemilius Paullus cos. 182
  • Reelected consul for 168 as competent general
  • Restores order to Roman army
  • Wipes out Perses at Pydna (168)
  • Very greedy
    • Treacherous enslaves Epirus in 167
    • Even troops feeling ripped off
• Macedonian kingdom abolished
  • Replaced with four unnatural republics
    • These to defend Greece against threats from north
    • Romans still avoid administration/responsibility for order
• War nearly declared on Rhodes
  • Old ally threatened to give magistrates source of plunder
  • War avoided but economy of island ruined
    • Power vacuum leads to rise of piracy

Macedonian Revolt, Achaean War

• Pretender to Macedonian throne raises a revolt in 149
• Praetor Q. Caecilius Metellus puts it down easily
  • Receives title "Macedonicus"
• Greek states fed up with Roman interference
  • Take advantage of troubles in Macedonia to go into revolt
  • Achaean League main force opposed to Romans
• Macedonicus close to ending war
• L. Mummius cos. 146 takes over, crushes revolt
• Corinth razed to ground
  • Message to Greeks
• Roman province finally created for Macedonia
  • Usually governed by praetor
  • Governor oversees Greek cities to south