45.43
Whilst
the Macedonian triumph was still fresh in men's minds and almost before
their eyes, L. Anicius triumphed on the day of the Quirinalia (Feb. 17) over
Gentius and the Illyrians. The spectacle as a whole showed rather a general
resemblance to the triumph of Paulus than a correspondence in details. The
general himself was a smaller man, and people contrasted the position of the
house of Anicius and his authority as praetor with the high lineage of
Aemilius and his rank as consul, and there could be no comparison between
Gentius and Perseus, or between the Illyrians and the Macedonians, or
between the spoils and wealth carried in the two processions, or the amount
of the donative to the soldiers in the two armies. But though the recent
triumph eclipsed this one, it was clear to the onlookers that in itself it was by
no means contemptible. The Illyrians were a nation formidable both by land
and sea, who felt secure in their strong fortified positions, and Anicius had
thoroughly subjugated them in a few days and captured their king and all his
family. Many captured standards were carried in the procession, together
with other spoils, and the furniture of the palace, 27 pounds of gold, and 19
of silver, besides 13,000 denarii and 120,000 silver pieces of Illyrian coinage.
Before his chariot walked Gentius, with his wife and children, Caravantius
his brother, and several Illyrian nobles. Out of the booty each legionary
received 45 denarii, the centurions twice, and the cavalry three times as
much. Anicius gave to the Latin allies as much as to the Romans, and to the
seamen of the fleet as much as the soldiers received. The soldiers marched
more joyously in this triumph, and the general himself was the subject of
many laudatory songs. According to Antias, 200,000 sesterces were realised
from the sale of that booty, besides the gold and silver deposited in the
treasury, but as it is not clear to me how this sum was realised, I quote his
authority instead of stating it as a fact. By resolution of the senate, Gentius,
with his wife and children and brother, were interned in Spoletium; the rest
of the captives were thrown into prison in Rome. As the Spoletians refused
to be responsible for their safe-keeping, the royal family were transferred to
Iguvium. The remainder of the Illyrian spoils consisted of 220 swift barques.
These Q. Cassius was ordered by the senate to distribute amongst the
Corcyraeans, the Apolloniates and the Dyrrhachians.
