39.35
The
commissioners came away from the conference making no secret of their
failure to get anything satisfactory, and Philip on his side entertained no
doubt that he would have to renew hostilities. His resources were not yet
sufficient, and in order to gain time, he decided to send his younger son
Demetrius to Rome with the object of exculpating him from the charges
brought against him, and at the same time deprecating the anger of the
senate. He quite hoped that in spite of his youth, the prince, who had given
proof of his princely character whilst a hostage in Rome, would have
considerable influence there. Meanwhile, under cover of carrying succour to
the Byzantines but really to intimidate the Thracian chiefs, he advanced
against the latter and completely defeated them in a single battle, taking
Amodocus, their leader, prisoner. He had previously sent messages to the
barbarians dwelling round the Hister urging them to make an incursion into
Italy. The Roman commissioners were under orders to proceed from
Macedonia to Achaia, and their arrival was being awaited in the
Peloponnese. The captain-general Lycortas summoned a special meeting of
the national council to decide upon the policy to be adopted. The subject of
discussion was the Lacedaemonians. From being enemies they had become
accusers, and there was fear lest they should be more dangerous now that
they were defeated than when engaged in war. In that war the Achaeans had
found the Romans useful allies; now these very Romans were more partial to
the Lacedaemonians than to the Achaeans. Areus and Alcibiades, both of
them exiles and repatriated through the good offices of the Achaeans, had
actually undertaken a mission to Rome against the interests of the nation to
whom they owed so much, and had spoken in such a hostile tone that it
might be thought that they were expelled from, not restored to, their
country. Demands arose from all sides that the council should deal with them
individually. As the whole proceedings were governed by passion, not by
reason, they were condemned to death.
