39.24
These
successes for the time being allayed the king's anger against the Romans.
Never, however, was his attention diverted from amassing a force during the
years of peace which he could, whenever a favourable opportunity presented
itself make use of in war. He raised the taxes which were levied on
agricultural produce and increased the amount of the import and export
duties; he also re-opened old and disused gold and silver mines and started
new ones. In order to make good the loss of population caused by his wars,
he made provision for fresh growths from the stock by compelling all his
subjects to marry and bring up children. He further transported a large body
of Thracians into Macedonia, and in these ways, during all the time he was
undisturbed by alarms of war, he devoted all his thoughts and care to
increasing the power and resources of his realm. Then fresh incidents
occurred to rekindle his indignation against the Romans. The Thessalians and
Perrhaebians protested against his retaining possession of their cities; envoys
from Eumenes complained of the forcible occupation of towns in Thrace and
the removal of the population into Macedonia. The reception given to these
remonstrances made it clear that they would not be ignored. What created
the deepest impression on the senate was the information they had received
that he was contemplating the seizure of Aenus and Maronea; they were less
interested in the Thessalians. Delegates also appeared from Athamania, the
burden of whose complaint was not the loss of a part of their country but the
subjection of the whole of Athamania to the power and rule of the king.
Some Maronite refugees were present who had been expelled because they
had tried to defend their liberty against the king's garrison. They declared
that not only Maronea but Aenus also was in Philip's power. Envoys came
from Philip to defend him against these charges. They affirmed that nothing
had been done without the sanction of the Roman generals; that the cities of
the Thessalians and Perrhaebians and Magnetes, as well as the people of
Athamania with their king Amynander, were in the same case as the
Aetolians. For when after the expulsion of Antiochus the consul was
engaged in the reduction of the cities of Aetolia, he sent Philip to take the
cities in question; they were his by the rights of war. The senate would not
come to any decision in the king's absence, and accordingly they sent Q.
Caecilius, M Baebius Tamphilus and Ti. Sempronius, as special
commissioners, to settle the dispute. Previous to their arrival, notice was
sent to all the cities concerned that a council would be convened at Tempe in
Thessaly.
