Polybius and Roman Imperialism by Baronowski Donald Walter

Author:Baronowski, Donald Walter
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloomsbury UK
Published: 2011-09-27T16:00:00+00:00

Polybius and Rome’s enemies in Books 1-29

Throughout the Histories, Polybius takes the view that weaker states should cooperate prudently with Rome and avoid military conflict against the superior power. For this reason, he censures weaker states and their leaders for engaging in destructive wars against Rome. Such criticism is especially prominent in Books 36-9, for Polybius believed that Roman domination was virtually complete by the year 168, and that consequently all peoples must henceforth obey Rome. In Books 1-29, however, which describe the period before Roman power was complete, Polybius’ judgement of Rome’s opponents is more varied. We may begin with instances in which the historian condemns weaker states and their rulers for opposing Rome.

In 230 BC, Roman ambassadors visited the court of Teuta, queen of Illyria, to protest and demand an end to Illyrian piracy. Teuta responded with the unreasoning rage of a woman (gynaikothymôs kalogistôs). As a result, she brought upon herself a Roman attack (the First Illyrian War, 229-228), which resulted in defeat and crippling terms of peace (2.8-12). Demetrius of Pharos provoked a Roman attack (the Second Illyrian War, 219), which ended with his removal from power in Illyria. Polybius describes him as a man whose courage was thoughtless (alogiston) and entirely without judgement (akriton). The Romans, says Polybius, believed they would quickly correct the error (agnoian) of the Illyrians and chastise the rashness (propeteian) of Demetrius (3.16, 18-19). Hieronymus of Syracuse, unwilling to renew the treaty that existed between his city and Rome, entered into negotiations with Carthage because he thought the Romans would lose the Second Punic War (215). Polybius (7.2-5; 7.7.5) describes the king as an unstable (akatastaton), capricious (eikaion) and violent (paranomon) young man afflicted by madness (manian) and bad judgement (akrisian). As a result of Hieronymus’ alliance with Carthage, Syracuse became involved in hostilities against Rome, which ended with the siege and capture of the city by Marcellus in 212 (Polyb. 8.37).10

Philip V of Macedonia challenged Rome during the Hannibalic War. He resolved upon this course in 217, when he learned that the Carthaginians had defeated Rome at the battle of Lake Trasimene. At this moment, his retainer Demetrius of Pharos advised him to end the Social War against Aetolia and devote himself to the conquest of Illyria and an expedition to Italy. The latter project, he declared, would constitute the first step in a bid for world dominion, and this was the time to act, since the Romans had been defeated. According to Polybius, Philip was now persuaded to embrace this design (5.101.6-102.1). During peace negotiations between the king and Aetolia, Agelaus of Naupactus, an Aetolian leader, urged Philip to make peace with his Greek adversaries and to fix his attention on the war in Italy, with a view to seeking world dominion and preventing the Romans or Carthaginians from gaining control of Greece. The words of Agelaus, says Polybius, confirmed the resolution that the king had already formed as a result of Demetrius’ advice (5.104.1-105.1). Inspired by Demetrius, he viewed the settlement of affairs in Illyria as the prerequisite for an invasion of Italy.

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