Sivaram N.

The Third Macedonian War

When the Third Macedonian war occurred King Philip V’s son Perseus was in command of Macedonia. He was trying to build Macedonia back up just like his father. He undermined Roman authority by arranging a marriage alliance with the enemy of Rome, Antiochus III, he instituted debt relief in his kingdom which made the Senate angry because they would have profited if he hadn’t instituted debt relief. He also began making entreaties into the Greek City-States in violation of earlier treaties. He also tried to re-establish relations with the Achaean League and Greek City-States violating the jurisdiction of Rome. Meanwhile, the king of Permagum Eumenes accused Perseus of attempting to take territory, and violate his nations rights. The diplomatic relationships were in favor of Perseus because most of the Senate was worried about yet another war. However, when assassination attempts on Eumenes were attributed to Perseus the stage for a war was set. The Romans began to move around taking cities and cutting Macedonia off from its allies. When the time was ripe Consul Paullus took control of the Roman troops and attacked Peruses. He totally destroyed Peruses by catching him on unfavorable territory. Perseus was paraded in Paullus’s triumph to shame him. He was then banished to Italy where he had no more chances to gain power. The Romans broke Macedonia into four republics that were denied the right to commerce with each other. The Romans also severely punished the allies of Macedon most notably Epirus where he demanded a payment for protection and instead of protection he killed all the people who paid him he enslaved 150,000 Epirotes and destroyed 70 towns. This was the last time Macedon would ever be a serious threat to Rome.

Perseus of Macedonia

Image Courtesy of The Illustrated History of the Roman Empire