33.19
Emboldened by the successive
Macedonian defeats, the Dardanians began to lay waste the northern part of
the realm. Although Philip had almost the whole world against him and
Fortune was driving him and his people out of every place in turn, he felt
that to be expelled from Macedonia itself would be worse than death. No
sooner, therefore, did he hear of the Dardanian invasion than he hurriedly
levied troops in all the cities of his kingdom and with a force of 6000 infantry
and 500 cavalry he came upon the enemy unexpectedly near Stobi in
Paeonia. A great many men fell in the battle, a greater number amongst the
fields, where they were dispersed in the hope of plunder. Where there was
no obstacle to flight they were in no mood to risk the chance of a battle, and
so they retired within their own borders. The success of this expedition, so
different from the state of things elsewhere, revived the spirits of his men.
After this he returned to Thessalonica. The close of the Punic War took
place at a favourable moment, for it removed the danger of having a second
war on hand at the same time, namely the war against Philip. Still more
opportune was the victory over Philip at a time when Antiochus was already
taking hostile action from Syria. Not only was it easier to meet each singly
than if they had joined forces, but Spain was giving trouble at the same time
and a warlike movement on a large scale was taking place in that country.
During the previous summer Antiochus had reduced all the cities in
Coelo-Syria which had been under Ptolemy's sway, and though he had now
withdrawn into winter quarters he displayed as great activity as he had done
during the summer. He had called up the whole strength of his kingdom and
had amassed enormous forces, both military and naval. At the
commencement of spring he had sent his two sons, Ardys and Mithridates,
with an army to Sardis with instructions to wait for him there whilst he
started by sea with a fleet of a hundred decked ships and two hundred
smaller vessels, including swift pinnaces and Cyprian barques. His object was
twofold: to attempt the reduction of the cities along the whole coastline of
Cilicia, Lycia and Caria which owed allegiance to Ptolemy, and also to assist
Philip -the war with him was not over -both by land and sea.
