BC170-151 Perseus of Macedon

In the twenty years from 170-151 BC, the Roman Republic was still embroiled in the Third Macedonian War fighting Perseus of Macedon (pictured) and peace did not prevail until it ended in 168 BC.

Perseus of Macedon, Philip's son, attempted to restore Macedon's international influence by moving aggressively against his neighbors.

When Perseus was implicated in an assassination plot against an ally of Rome, the Senate declared the third Macedonian War and, initially, Rome did not fare well against the Macedonian forces.

By 168 BC, however, Roman legions had smashed the Macedonian phalanx at the Battle of Pydna.

Perseus was later captured and the kingdom of Macedon divided into four puppet republics. The defeat of Perseus involved massive looting of the conquered cities and the penalties imposed on the defeated states flooded the Roman treasury with wealth.

Entrepreneurial governors, called publicani, would extract harsh taxes from the subject states and greatly increase their own wealth as well as that of the Roman treasury.

It had become apparent to Rome that the empire was a vast money-making machine and empire-building a fabulously lucrative affair.

BC190-171 Antiochus III of Seleucid Syria

In the twenty years from 190-171 BC the Roman Republic was still embroiled in the Seleucid War fighting Antiochus III (pictured) and when that war finished in 188 BC, the Third Macedonian War broke out in 172 BC.

The Seleucid War had started in 192 BC and would continue until 188 BC and was caused by the Greek Aetolian League asking Antiochus III of Seleucid Syria for assistance in ridding them of Roman interference.

The Aetolian League was unhappy with the amount of territory ceded to them by Rome in return for their aid in the Second Macedonian war, and wanted to rid Greece of the Romans.

Because Antiochus III had given Hannibal shelter, Rome responded to the arrival of Antiochus's small army by sending a force of 30,000 troops under Scipio Africanus back into Greece, driving out the Seleucids.

After an earlier victory at Thermopylae, Rome finally defeated Antiochus III at the Battle of Magnesia in 190 BC,

Antiochus III was forced to sign the Treaty of Apamea in 188 BC which ceded Seleucid territory to Rome and Pergamon. A war indemnity of 15,000 talents of silver was also imposed.

In 183 BC, after the Battle of Magnesia, Hannibal committed suicide to avoid being captured by the Romans.

After the Seleucid War finished in 188 BC, trouble broke out in Macedon.

Upon Philip's of Macedon's death in 179 BC his son, Perseus of Macedon, attempted to restore Macedon's international influence, and moved aggressively against his neighbors.

When Perseus was implicated in an assassination plot against an ally of Rome, the Senate declared the third Macedonian War in 172 BC.