40.57
Perseus took them all by surprise; they
were unaware of what had happened and were not in the least expecting him.
He seized the throne which he had gained by crime. The death of Philip
occurred very opportunely as regarded the postponement of hostilities and
the concentration of the resources for war. A few days later the tribe of the
Bastarnae, after repeated invitations, left their homes and crossed the Hister
with a large body of infantry and cavalry. Antigonus and Cotto -a
Bastarnian noble -went in advance to inform the king. Antigonus had
previously been sent with this same Cotto to induce the Bastarnae to move.
Not far from Amphipolis they heard a report, and soon afterwards were met
by messengers who announced the king's death. This completely upset their
plans. It had been settled that Philip would afford the Bastarnae a safe
passage through Thrace and supply them with provisions. To ensure this he
had bribed the chiefs in the districts to be traversed and had pledged his
word that the Bastarnae would pass through peacefully. It was intended to
exterminate the Dardani and to make a home for the Bastarnae in their
territory. There was to be a double advantage in this; the Dardani, who had
always been bitter enemies to Macedonia, and ready to fall on her in times of
misfortune, would be put out of the way, and the Bastarnae could leave their
wives and children in Dardania and be sent on to devastate Italy. The way to
the Hadriatic and to Italy lay through the Scordisci; that was the only
practicable route for an army, and the Scordisci were expected to grant a
passage to the Bastarnae without any difficulty, for neither in speech nor
habits were they dissimilar, and it was hoped that they would unite forces
with them when they saw that they were going to secure the plunder of a
very wealthy nation. Thus Philip's plans were adapted to either alternative. If
the Bastarnae were defeated by the Romans, the extermination of the
Dardani, the plunder of what remained of the Bastarnae, and the
unchallenged possession of Dardania would be some consolation to him; if
on the other hand they met with success and the Romans were recalled to a
war with the Bastarnae, he would win back what he had lost in Greece. Such
were Philip's schemes.