27.30
This
being the position of affairs, Philip moved southward into Greece. The
Aetolians under the command of Pyrrhias, who had been elected Attalus'
colleague, met Philip at the city of Lamia. They were supported by a
contingent furnished by Attalus, and also by about 1000 men whom P.
Sulpicius had sent from his fleet. Philip won two battles against Pyrrhias, and
in each battle the enemy lost not less than 1000 men. From that time the
Aetolians were afraid to meet him in the field and remained inside the walls
of Lamia. Philip accordingly marched his army to Phalara. This place lies on
the Maliac Gulf, and was formerly the seat of a considerable population,
owing to its splendid harbour, the safe anchorages in the neighbourhood, and
other maritime and commercial advantages. Whilst he was here he was
visited by embassies from Ptolemy king of Egypt, and from Rhodes and
Athens and Chios, with the view of bringing about a reconciliation between
him and the Aetolians. Amynandor, king of the Athamanians, a neighbour of
the Aetolians. was also acting on their behalf as peacemaker. But the general
concern was not so much for the Aetolians, who were more warlike than the
rest of the Greeks, as for the liberty of Greece, which would be seriously
endangered if Philip and his kingdom took an active part in Greek politics.
The question of peace was held over for discussion in the meeting of the
Achaean League. The place and time for this meeting were settled, and in the
meantime a thirty days' armistice was arranged. From Phalara the king
proceeded through Thessaly and Boeotia to Chalcis in Euboea, in order to
prevent Attalus, who he understood was sailing thither, from landing on the
island. Leaving a force there in case Attalus should sail across in the
meantime, he went on with a small body of cavalry and light infantry to
Argos. Here the presidency of the Heraean and Nemean Games was
conferred upon him by the popular vote, on the ground that the kings of
Macedon trace their origin to Argos. As soon as the Heraean Games were
over he went off to Aegium to the meeting of the League which had been
fixed some time previously.
The discussion turned upon the question of putting a stop to the
war with the Aetolians, so that neither the Romans nor Attalus might have
any reason for entering Greece. But everything was upset by the Aetolians
almost before the armistice had expired, after they learnt that Attalus had
reached Aegina and that a Roman fleet was anchored off Naupactus. They
had been invited to attend the meeting of the League, and the deputations
who had been trying to secure peace at Phalara were also present. They
began by complaining of certain trivial infringements of the armistice, and
ended by declaring that hostilities could never cease until the Achaeans
restored Pylos to the Messenians, and Atintania was given back to Rome,
and the Ardiaei to Scerdilaedus and Pleuratus. Philip was naturally indignant
at those whom he had defeated proposing terms of peace to him, their
conqueror. He reminded the assembly that when the question of peace was
referred to him and an armistice was granted, it was not with any expectation
that the Aetolians would remain quiet, but solely in order that all the allies
might bear him witness that whilst he was seeking a basis for peace, the
other side were determined to find a pretext for war. Since there was no
chance of peace being established, he dismissed the council and returned to
Argos, as the time for the Nemean Games was approaching and he wished to
add to their popularity by his presence. He left a force of 4000 men to
protect the Achaeans, and at the same time took over from them five ships of
war. He intended to add these to the fleet recently sent from Carthage; with
these vessels and the ships which Prusias was despatching from Bithynia he
had made up his mind to offer battle to the Romans who were masters of the
sea in that part of the world.