Third Macedonian War facts for kids

The Third Macedonian War (171–168 BC) was a big fight between the Roman Republic and King Perseus of Macedon. In 179 BC, King Philip V of Macedon died. His son, Perseus, took over. Perseus was very ambitious and didn't like Rome. He made many people in Macedonia feel the same way.

Things got tense, and Rome decided to declare war on Macedon. Most of the fighting happened in Macedon and nearby Thessaly. Roman troops were based there. After a battle at Callinicus in 171 BC, which didn't have a clear winner, Rome finally beat the Macedonian forces. This happened at the Battle of Pydna in 168 BC. This battle ended the war.

Rome's victory meant the end of the Antigonid dynasty in Macedon. It also ended the independence of the Hellenistic kingdom of Macedon. Later, Macedon became a Roman province. The kingdom was split into four smaller states. Each of these states had to obey Rome. Rome's power and respect in Greece grew a lot after this war.

Why the War Started

In 179 BC, King Philip V of Macedon passed away. His son, Perseus, became the new king. Perseus wanted to make his kingdom stronger. He married Laodice, the daughter of Seleucus IV, a powerful king. Perseus' daughter was also going to marry Prusias II of Bithynia. Prusias was an enemy of Eumenes II of Pergamon, who was a friend of Rome.

These alliances made Rome nervous. Also, Abrupolis, a Thracian king and Roman ally, attacked Macedon. Perseus fought back and drove Abrupolis out. Rome didn't like this because Abrupolis was their friend.

Perseus also made friends with Cotys IV, the king of the Odrysian kingdom in Thrace. He made his army bigger. He also said he would make Greece strong and rich again. Perseus sent people to Greek cities to get support. Many Greeks liked him. They saw him as one of their own. Some wanted change, and others didn't want to be controlled by Rome. Perseus' actions caused arguments between people who liked Rome and people who liked Perseus.

In 173 BC, Rome sent people to Aetolia and Macedon. They couldn't meet Perseus. Rome thought he was getting ready for war. Greek cities had many fights among themselves. Rome tried to calm things down.

Eumenes II of Pergamon was a Roman ally. He didn't like Perseus. Eumenes spoke to the Roman senate. He wanted Rome to go to war with Macedon. He said Perseus had been preparing for war since he became king. Eumenes claimed Perseus was gaining too much power in the east. He even said Perseus might attack Italy if Rome didn't act.

Perseus sent his own people to Rome. They said Perseus had done nothing wrong. But the Roman senators didn't believe them. They felt insulted when Perseus' envoy said that war would be risky for both sides. When the envoys returned, they told Perseus that Rome was angry. Perseus thought war might happen soon. He even tried to have Eumenes killed. But the plan failed.

Greek cities thought Eumenes was pushing Rome into war. They sent messages to Rome. Some complained about Eumenes. But Rome decided to support Eumenes even more.

The plan to kill Eumenes failed. A Roman official named Gaius Valerius Valerius investigated. He supported Eumenes' claims. He also found people who said Perseus tried to poison Roman ambassadors. So, Rome declared Perseus an enemy. The Senate decided to go to war. They sent an army to Apollonia in Greece.

Gentius, the king of the Illyrians, was not sure which side to join. But Cotys IV, the Thracian king, had already joined Macedon.

Getting Ready for War

The Roman leaders for 171 BC were Publius Licinius Crassus and Gaius Cassius Longinus. Publius Licinius was in charge of the war in Macedon.

Rome sent two legions, each with 6,000 soldiers. They also had 16,000 allied foot soldiers and 800 allied horsemen. Rome sent messages to Greek states. They got support from Epirus, Aetolia, and Thessaly. Most cities in Boeotia decided to join Rome. This caused some Boeotian cities to split. Rhodes also decided to ally with Rome. Gentius, the Illyrian king, still didn't pick a side.

Rome sent a group to Greece. Perseus met with one of them, Marcius. Perseus denied he was preparing for war. Marcius told him to send a message to Rome. He also arranged a ceasefire. This was because Rome wasn't fully ready for war yet.

Many Roman senators liked this diplomatic approach. But older senators thought it wasn't brave enough. They wanted military action. So, Rome sent 50 ships to Greece. They also sent 2,000 soldiers to take Larissa, a city in Thessaly. Perseus' ambassadors arrived in Rome to ask for peace. But the Senate wasn't convinced and told them to leave.

The Roman fleet commander, Gaius Lucretius, sailed with 40 ships. He got more ships from allies. The consul crossed the sea from Italy. He set up camp near Apollonia.

Perseus gathered his army at Citium. He had 39,000 foot soldiers. Half of them were phalanxes, which were heavy infantry. He also had Cretans, Thracians, Gauls, and horsemen.

First Year of Fighting (171 BC)

Perseus marched into northern Thessaly. He took several towns. He set up camp at Sycurium, near Larissa. Publius Licinius marched from Epirus. He went through difficult mountains. He was lucky not to be attacked. He reached Thessaly and camped near Larissa. He was joined by soldiers from Eumenes II of Pergamon.

A part of the Roman fleet fought the Boeotians. They attacked Haliartus. The city fell. Its defenders were sold as slaves, and the town was destroyed.

Perseus tried to make the Romans come out and fight. He sent a small group to attack fields. But the Romans didn't move. Perseus then came close to the Roman camp. He sent out a small scouting group. The Romans sent out their own light cavalry. A small fight happened. Neither side wanted a big battle. Perseus returned to his camp. He tried to trick the Roman cavalry into chasing his troops. But it didn't work.

Battle of Callinicus

Perseus lined up his army. His left side had Thracians and cavalry. His right side had Cretan foot soldiers and Macedonian cavalry. The middle had special cavalry. Publius Licinius lined up his heavy foot soldiers inside his camp. His light foot soldiers and cavalry were in front.

The battle started with slingers. Then the Thracians attacked the Roman cavalry. Perseus' middle pushed back the Greeks. The Thessalian cavalry helped the Roman allies retreat safely. The Macedonian forces were spread out. Perseus decided to pull back. Even so, Macedon won this battle. They lost 400 foot soldiers and 20 horsemen. The Romans lost 2,000 foot soldiers and 200 horsemen. The Roman commander moved his camp across a river for safety.

Perseus moved his camp to a hill overlooking Larissa. Meanwhile, Misagenes, a Numidian prince, brought 1,000 Numidian horsemen, 1,000 foot soldiers, and 22 elephants to help the Romans. Perseus was advised to use his victory to make peace. He sent envoys to the Roman consul. They offered to pay money. But the Romans said peace would only happen if Perseus gave himself up to Rome. Perseus offered more money, but the Romans refused. Perseus went back to his camp, ready to fight again.

The Romans in Boeotia took Thebes without a fight. They sold the property of those who supported Macedon.

Perseus tried to burn the Roman camp at night. But the Romans found out. Perseus pulled back after some small fights. The Romans moved to get more corn. Perseus tried to surprise them while they were spread out. He captured many carts and men. He attacked a group of 800 Romans. They formed a circle on a hill to defend themselves. The Macedonians surrounded the hill but couldn't get up. The Romans were getting tired. Perseus urged them to surrender. The Roman commander sent more troops, including Numidians and elephants.

Perseus called for his heavy foot soldiers. But they arrived too late and were not ready. Publius Licinius attacked. Perseus lost 300 men. His heavy foot soldiers ran away. The king ordered them to march back. Some sources say the Romans killed 8,000 enemies and captured 2,800. The Romans lost 4,300 men.

Perseus left a strong guard at Gonnus and went back to Macedon for the winter. Publius Licinius tried to attack Gonnus but failed. He took other towns and returned to Larissa.

The consul sent parts of his army to winter in different cities. He sent his Greek allies home, except for the Achaeans. Eumenes and Attalus went back to Pergamon. Publius Licinius then went to Boeotia to help Thebes.

Second Year of Fighting (170 BC)

Publius Licinius was frustrated. He attacked and robbed several cities in Boeotia where he was staying for winter. Gaius Lucretius, another Roman commander, was even worse. Perseus surprised the Roman fleet at Oreum. He captured five warships and twenty supply ships. He sank others. Then he went to Thrace to help Cotys. Epirus, in western Greece, joined Macedon.

The Roman leaders for 170 BC were Aulus Hostilius Mancinus and Aulus Atilius Serranus. Aulus Hostilius was in charge of Macedon.

Aulus Hostilius was on his way to Macedon. An Epirot leader told Perseus to hurry there. But Perseus was delayed. Aulus Hostilius changed his route. He sailed to Anticyra and marched to Thessaly. He tried to force his way into Macedon but was defeated. He secretly marched through Thessaly. Perseus knew his moves. Gaius Hortensius, a Roman naval commander, also caused trouble by robbing a city. Perseus attacked Dardania in southern Illyria. He killed 10,000 people and took a lot of treasure.

An embassy from Chalcis complained to Rome about Roman commanders robbing their city. The Roman Senate put Lucretius on trial and fined him. They ordered Hortensius to free enslaved people and move sailors off the island.

Rome thought Gentius might join Perseus. So, they sent ships and soldiers to Issa. Aulus Hostilius sent Appius Claudius to Illyria with 4,000 men. He gathered more soldiers and sent them to Lychnidus. Messengers from Uscana, a town allied with Perseus, said some people there would hand it over. Appius Claudius attacked at night. But the defenders surprised them. Many Romans were killed. Only 1,000 escaped.

Rome heard about these defeats. The Senate sent people to Greece to get information. They reported Perseus' successes. They also said that Publius Licinius' troops were too few because he let many soldiers go home.

Third Year of Fighting (169 BC)

Beginning of the Year

The Roman leaders for 169 BC were Quintus Marcius Philippus and Gnaeus Servilius Caepio. Quintus Marcius was in charge of the Macedonian War. New soldiers were recruited.

When snow covered the mountains, Perseus attacked the Illyrians. King Gentius was still unsure whom to support. Perseus marched on Uscana, which had joined Rome. The Roman and Illyrian soldiers there refused to give up. Perseus attacked the city. The defenders soon surrendered. Perseus disarmed them and sold them as slaves. He captured 1,500 Romans from other forts. He sent messages to Gentius to ask for an alliance. Gentius said he needed money for war. Perseus, who was known for being careful with money, didn't mention it. Perseus fortified Uscana and returned to Macedon.

Lucius Coelius, a Roman commander in Illyria, did nothing while Perseus was there. After Perseus left, Coelius tried to take Uscana back but failed. Perseus was invited by the Epirots to attack Aetolia. He marched on Stratus, a strong Aetolian city. But a pro-Roman group called in a Roman guard. Perseus gave up and went to Aperantia, which surrendered. He returned to Macedon.

Appius Claudius tried to make up for his defeat in Illyria. He attacked a stronghold in Epirus. He had 6,000 soldiers. But he was pushed back. He tried to besiege the city. But he heard Perseus was coming and left. He was chased and lost 1,000 men. He went back to Illyria.

Spring Campaign

In early spring, Quintus Marcius sailed with 5,000 men to help his army. He landed and moved towards Thessaly. Aulus Hostilius, the previous commander, handed over his troops and returned to Rome. The consul started marching towards Macedon. Perseus sent troops to guard the mountain passes.

Quintus Marcius made a difficult march through the Olympus mountains into Macedon. The road was very hard and steep. They spotted an enemy camp guarding a pass. Quintus Marcius attacked. The fight was small because the path was narrow. Perseus didn't send more troops. The Romans kept going through difficult, trackless areas. They had to cut a path through forests. The journey was very tough.

Perseus panicked. He left the strong positions he was holding. He ordered people from Dium to move to Pydna. Quintus Marcius advanced. He faced a tough choice. The Romans could only leave the area through two passes. Both were guarded. It was hard to get supplies. The only other way was a narrow strip of land between Mount Olympus and the sea. This area was easy to defend.

Thessaly Campaign

Quintus Marcius ordered a commander to capture deserted forts. He marched to Dium. He was surprised it was empty. He continued marching. But as he got further from supplies, food became scarce. So, he returned to Dium. The Roman fleet arrived. Quintus Marcius moved his headquarters to Phila to get corn for his soldiers. Some said he pulled back because he was afraid to fight. Perseus marched back to Dium. He rebuilt the defenses. He camped by the River Enipeus for protection. Quintus Marcius sent men to take Heracleum. He moved his camp there, as if to attack Dium. Instead, he got ready for winter and built roads for supplies.

Figulus sailed to Thessalonica. He robbed the countryside. He was joined by ships from Eumenes II and Prusias I. This made him try to attack Cassandreia. But the city's defenders pushed them back. A Macedonian ship with extra soldiers arrived, ending the attack. The Romans and Eumenes thought about attacking Torone, but changed their minds. They went to Demetrias, but its walls were well-guarded. So, they sailed to Iolcos after robbing the countryside.

Quintus Marcius sent 5,000 men to Meliboea. They started building siege works. Perseus sent troops to stop them. When the Romans at Meliboea saw them, they burned their siege works and left. The Macedonians hurried to Demetrias. Figulus and Eumenes reached the city walls. But the Romans left. Eumenes sailed back to Pergamon. Figulus sent part of his fleet to winter at Sciatus. He went to Oreum in Euboea.

Ambassadors from Bithynia and Rhodes went to Rome to suggest peace. The Rhodians said the war hurt their trade. They said they wanted peace and had also sent envoys to Perseus. They said they would act against whoever kept the war going. Rome thought this message was arrogant. Some sources say Rome ignored it. Others say Rome replied that Rhodes and Perseus had worked against Rome. Rome would deal with Rhodes after beating Perseus.

Fourth Year of Fighting (168 BC)

The Roman leaders for 168 BC were Lucius Aemilius Paulus and Gaius Licinius Crassus. Lucius Aemilius was in charge of Macedon.

Preparations

Aemilius prepared his campaign carefully. He asked for a group to check on the troops and the fleet. They reported that the Romans had moved towards Macedon. But travel in the mountains was costly. Perseus still held his country. The two armies were close. The Romans had only six days of food. The Roman position in Illyria was dangerous. The fleet was short on men. The Senate decided to send two new legions to Macedon. Old soldiers were sent home. The Roman allies would send 10,000 foot soldiers and 800 horsemen. 5,000 sailors were also to be recruited.

Perseus' Missed Chances

A year earlier, Gentius was asked to join Macedon. He said he didn't have money. When Rome put pressure on him, Perseus offered Gentius 300 silver talents. Perseus sent an envoy to Gentius. Gentius sent his own envoy to Perseus to get the money. After getting it, he was to go to Rhodes with Macedonian envoys. They would ask Rhodes to join them against Rome. Perseus met the Illyrians. The treaty was made. But Perseus only sent 10 talents to Gentius. He told his men to carry the rest slowly. Gentius, who got only a small part of the money, was urged to attack the Romans. He imprisoned two Roman envoys. Perseus thought Gentius was now fully committed to war. So, he told his men to take the money back to his treasury. Livy wrote that Perseus' greed made him lose an alliance with Gentius.

Perseus also sent messages to Eumenes II and Antiochus IV. He asked them to push Rome for peace talks. The message to Eumenes was secret. This made Rome suspicious of Eumenes.

Perseus also talked directly to Eumenes II of Pergamon. Eumenes knew Perseus wanted peace. He thought Rome would want to end the war too. He asked for 1,000 talents not to help Rome. He asked for 15,000 talents to help make peace. Perseus agreed to send hostages. He said he would pay the money when the deal was done. Eumenes wanted some money right away. But Perseus was slow to pay. Livy said they gained nothing but shame. Perseus missed a chance for peace talks or to make Rome and Eumenes fight.

Perseus' greed also made him lose the chance to hire Gallic soldiers. A group of Gallic foot soldiers and horsemen offered to fight for Perseus for money. Perseus brought only a small amount of gold. He hoped it would make others join. But the Gauls wanted all the gold upfront. Perseus made excuses. He said he would only hire 5,000 horsemen. The rest of the Gauls were angry. They left, causing damage in Thrace. Livy believed this large force could have helped Perseus greatly.

War in Illyria

Gentius gathered his army of 15,000 at Lissus. He sent his brother to attack the Cavii. Gentius himself attacked Bassania, a Roman ally. Other towns surrendered. Appius Claudius had strengthened his army. He was camped near the river Genusus. Praetor Lucius Anicius arrived. He prepared to march into Illyria to help Bassania. He defeated an enemy fleet. He moved to Bassania. Gentius fled to Scodra, a strong city. Lucius Anicius prepared for battle. The Illyrians came out to fight. They were pushed back. Gentius surrendered. He was sent to Rome as a prisoner.

Lucius Aemilius' Campaign

Perseus sent soldiers to guard the sea and the mountains. He fortified the banks of the River Elpeus. Aemilius camped nearby.

The envoys from Rhodes arrived at the Roman camp. They wanted peace. Aemilius told them he would reply later. He discussed battle plans. He decided not to force a crossing of the river. He heard that Perrhaebia was poorly guarded. He thought a night attack could work. He sent Publius Scipio Nasica Corculum with 5,000 soldiers. Nasica was to pretend to raid the coast. But he would actually march to the mountains. Aemilius planned the march so Nasica would reach the mountains in three days. Plutarch said Nasica had more soldiers. Aemilius' son, Quintus Fabius Maximus Aemilianus, joined Nasica.

Plutarch wrote that Perseus didn't know about these movements. Aemilius stayed quiet. Livy said Aemilius fought small battles to distract Perseus. Both authors wrote that a Cretan deserter told Perseus. Perseus sent 2,000 Macedonians and 10,000 mercenaries to the mountains. Nasica attacked them while they were sleeping or in a tough fight. The Romans chased the enemy to the plain.

Livy described battles by the River Elpius. Aemilius attacked in the morning. The ground was uneven, making it hard for heavy soldiers. Aemilius pulled back at noon. He attacked again the next day. After the defeat in the mountains, Perseus went to Pydna. He camped in the plain between two rivers. The ground was good for his phalanx.

Nasica rejoined Aemilius. Aemilius marched on Pydna. He lined up his men for battle. But then he told them to set up camp. It was hot, and the men were tired. Aemilius knew when to fight and when not to. He hid the camp building from the enemy. He set up camp on uneven ground. This made it hard for the Macedonian phalanx to fight well. An officer told the soldiers about an eclipse that night. This calmed them down.

Aemilius performed sacrifices. He sacrificed to the moon during the eclipse. He sacrificed to Hercules the next day. The signs said Rome would win if they defended.

The Battle of Pydna

The Battle of Pydna was the final big fight. Plutarch gave two versions of how it started. One says Aemilius provoked the enemy. The Romans let a horse run to the enemy's side. Some men chased it to start a fight. Other sources say Thracian troops attacked Roman pack animals. Small fights grew into a general battle. Aemilius went to the front line. Livy favored the accidental start. Both sides were getting water from a river. A mule escaped towards the enemy. Some Italians chased it. Two Thracian soldiers grabbed it. The Italians fought them. More soldiers joined in. The king and consul moved their armies. Livy said this is how the battle started.

Aemilius decided to use this chance. He brought his forces into the fight. The Thracians were in the first line. Then came mercenaries. The Macedonian phalanx was the main strength. They were very fast. The Roman soldiers were routed in some places. The long spears of the Macedonian phalanx were hard to fight. They pierced shields and armor.

The Macedonian phalanx was strong when its lines were close. But Aemilius saw gaps in their lines. This was because of the length of their lines and the uneven ground. Aemilius ordered his groups to attack these gaps. They slipped through like wedges. This broke up the phalanx. The Roman soldiers attacked the sides of the phalanx. The Macedonians had to fight man-to-man. Their long spears became useless. Their small daggers couldn't fight Roman swords. The phalanx was broken.

Aemilius' legion got between the phalanxes. Elephants and allied cavalry attacked the right side. This was where the Macedonians started to retreat. The Latin allies attacked the left side and pushed it back. The second legion broke the enemy's center. Plutarch wrote that Marcus, Aemilius' son-in-law, lost his sword. He rallied his friends and attacked. They fought 3,000 elite Macedonians and killed them. The battle ended in one hour. The rest of the day was spent chasing those who ran away. Plutarch wrote that Macedon lost 25,000 men. Romans lost only 80 to 100 men.

Livy said Macedon had its biggest losses against Rome. If the battle started earlier, more Macedonians would have been killed. The Macedonian wings fled. Survivors of the phalanx ran to the sea. Some tried to swim to Roman ships but were killed. Others were trampled by elephants. The enemy lost 20,000 men. 11,000 were captured. The Romans lost very few men.

Plutarch wrote that Perseus ran away from the battle quickly. He went to the city. Plutarch also mentioned another story. It said Perseus was kicked by a horse the day before. He fought without armor and was hurt. Livy wrote that Perseus was the first to flee with his special cavalry. He fled to Pella.

Chasing Perseus

Livy wrote that Perseus fled to Pella with his cavalry. He left the main path with a few trusted men. The abandoned cavalry went home. Plutarch wrote that Perseus met foot soldiers who called his horsemen cowards. He tried to be unnoticed. He carried his royal crown. He reached Pella. He was met by the governor or killed his treasurers for rude remarks. Perseus' friends avoided him. Only a few stayed. Perseus feared a plot. He continued his escape with 500 Cretans, who were paid. He rushed to cross a river before daylight. He reached Amphipolis three days later. He sent messages to the Romans. Meanwhile, some of his friends had fled to Berœa and surrendered that city. Perseus spoke to the people of Amphipolis. But they were hostile. They feared a Roman attack. He left the city.

Plutarch wrote that Perseus' fear lessened. He became greedy again. He claimed the Cretans stole gold. He tried to trick them into giving it back for less money. He then sailed to the island of Samothrace. He took refuge in a temple there.

Perseus' ambassadors reached Aemilius. Aemilius sent Nasica to stop the king. Meanwhile, Gnaeus Octavius, the Roman naval commander, robbed Melibœa. Aemilius left Pydna for Pella. He heard Perseus was in Samothrace. He moved to Amphipolis. He crossed a river and camped. Three ambassadors gave Aemilius a letter from Perseus. It asked for mercy. Aemilius didn't reply. Perseus sent another letter, begging for a meeting. Aemilius sent three men. But nothing came of it. Perseus wanted to keep his royal title. Aemilius wanted him to surrender completely to Rome. Gnaeus Octavius, the Roman fleet commander, anchored off Samothrace. He respected the temple. But he stopped Perseus from escaping by sea. He pressured him to surrender.

Lucius Atilius, a young Roman, spoke to the people of Samothrace. He accused Euander, a Cretan leader, of trying to murder King Eumenes II. Violence was forbidden in sacred places. The people of Samothrace agreed to put Euander on trial. If found guilty, it would show Perseus was involved. Euander tried to escape. Perseus had him killed. He then realized he would be accused of murder in a sacred place. He bribed an island leader to say Euander killed himself. But this made the people angry. They turned to the Romans. Perseus hired a ship. He secretly put his money on board. At midnight, he climbed a wall to the shore. But the ship sailed away with his money. Perseus hid in a temple. Gaius Octavius said that if the royal pages and Macedonians on the island joined the Romans, they would be safe. Everyone left Perseus except his oldest son. At this point, Perseus surrendered. He was given to Gnaeus Octavius.

Perseus (and Gentius) were sent to Rome as prisoners. Aemilius was given a triumph, a special parade. Perseus was led in chains in front of the parade. He was kept prisoner for the rest of his life.

What Happened Next

Aemilius sent his son to attack Agassae and Aeginium. These cities had rebelled. Another Roman was sent to attack Aeniae.

Roman officials were sent to Macedon and Illyria. Livy wrote that the Senate decided Macedonians and Illyrians should be free. This was to show that Rome brought freedom, not slavery. It was also propaganda. The rich mines of Macedon were closed. Roman tax collectors took over royal lands. The Macedonian national council was ended. Macedon was split into four smaller states. Each had its own council. They had to pay Rome half of what they paid the king. The same rules applied to Illyria.

When the Roman officials arrived, Aemilius called all city representatives to Amphipolis. He held a big meeting. It was announced that Macedonians would be free. They could keep their lands and elect their leaders. Then the four new regions, their borders, and the taxes were announced. Marriages between people from different regions were banned. Owning land in more than one region was also banned. Gold and silver mines were closed. Iron and copper mines stayed open. Importing salt and cutting wood for ships were forbidden. Regions bordering other nations could have border troops.

Rome used its victory to control Greece more. They supported pro-Roman groups. These groups accused many who supported Perseus. They gave lists of names. The Roman officials decided these people had to go to Rome to defend themselves. Livy wrote that the pro-Romans became very proud. In Macedon, everyone who worked for the king was sent to Italy with their children over fifteen.

Aemilius sent Nasica and his son to attack parts of Illyria that helped Perseus.

Enslavement of Epirots

After the Illyrian king was defeated, Lucius Anicius, the Roman commander, put Roman soldiers in Illyrian cities. Then he marched to Epirus to stop a rebellion. Most cities surrendered. Passaron was attacked first. Its leaders wanted to fight to the death. But a young noble encouraged the people to surrender. The city gave up. Other cities also surrendered after fighting. When Epirus was peaceful, Lucius Anicius returned to Scodra. Roman officials arrived there. He called leaders from Illyria. He announced that Roman soldiers would leave Illyrian cities. Some cities that helped Rome didn't have to pay taxes. Rebel cities also didn't have to pay. The three cities that fought longest had to pay half the taxes they paid to Gentius. Illyria was split into three regions.

Aemilius went to Epirus on his way back to Rome. The Senate allowed his army to rob cities in Epirus that supported Perseus. Roman officers told the cities that Roman soldiers were leaving because the Epirots would be free. City leaders were told to bring all their silver and gold to a certain place. Roman soldiers were sent to seventy cities. They arrived on the same day. They collected precious metals. Then the soldiers robbed the cities. City walls were destroyed. There was a huge amount of treasure. Soldiers got a share of the money. 150,000 people were enslaved. The soldiers were unhappy they didn't get a share of the king's palace treasure. Aemilius then sailed to Italy with his army. Lucius Anicius also went to Italy with Epirot leaders.

See also

In Spanish: Tercera guerra macedónica para niños

• Ancient Greek warfare
• Military history of Greece
• Agathagetus