Macedonian Wars

The Four Macedonian Wars took place between Rome and Macedonia between 214-148 BCE. They were fought in the context of the Second Punic War (218-202 BCE) and the Third Punic War (149-146 BCE).
The Ancient Greeks, using the Phalanx System, were defeated by the Romans using the Maniple System. It resulted in the end of Greek Independence and Macedonia becoming a Province of the Roman Empire.

During the Second Punic War (218-201 BCE), Rome was concerned that Philip V of Macedonia would reinforce his ally Hannibal in Italy.
In consequence, the Senate sent minor forces to preoccupy Philip V and prevent him tying up with Hannibal.

217 BCE Philip V of Macedon built a fleet of 100 vessels called Lembos, each carrying 50 soldiers with the intention of occupying the Illyrian coast. Halfway there the Fleet turned back, on the false news of a Roman Navy Quinquireme Fleet approaching.
216 BCE After the Battle of Cannae (216 BCE) Philip V allied himself with Hannibal of Carthage. Rome immediately placed 50 warships at Tarentum, with the ability to invade Macedonia if necessary, pre-empting an invasion by Philip.
214 BCE Philip attacked Illyria with 120 Lembos, capturing Oricum. Rome moved its fleet to Brundisium and sent a Legion under Propraetor Marcus Valerius Laevinus to cross over and retake Oricum. He then successfully relieved the siege upriver of Apollonia and burnt Philip’s fleet, eliminating risk of a future invasion.
211 BCE The Aetolian League of Greek Cities allied themselves with Laevinus, and commenced operations against Philip by land whilst the Romans harassed him at sea.
205 BCE However the War was inconclusive and resulted in the Aetolian League signing the ‘Peace of Phoenice’. Rome had at least prevented Macedonia uniting with Hannibal.

Rome allied with Pergamum and Rhodes against Philip V of Macedon to force him to withdraw from occupied Greek Cities. In 198 BCE Publius Sulpicius Galba arrived but for two years had no success. A new Commander Titus Quinctius Flaminius started a tactic of removing Philip’s garrisons across Greece, rather than requesting they go, more Greek Cities allied themselves with Rome.
197 BCE Flaminius’ Legions successfully confronted and defeated Philip’s Macedonian Phalanx at Cynoscephalae in Thessaly, and Philip was forced to agree to a Treaty withdrawing from Greece and disbanding his Navy. However, Rome kept Garrisons at Corinth, Chalcis and Demetias.

Between King Perseus of Macedon, Philip’s son. Rome became concerned as Perseus’ influence in Greece increased, and declared War.
171 BCE Battle of Callinicus between Publius Licinus Crassus and Perseus resulted in defeat for the Roman Army.
169 BCE Another Roman Army arrived under Quintus Marcius Phillipus, but ran out of supplies and was unable to pursue the Macedonian Army.
168 BCE Battle of Pydna: A Roman army under Lucius Aemilius Paullus defeated Perseus, notable for using Maniple System based tactics instead of the Macedonian Phalanx System. Perseus was taken to Rome with 300,000 Macedonian slaves
Macedonia was then divided into 4 Roman Client Republics.

Andriscus claimed the Kingdom of Macedonia, playing himself off as Perseus’ son.
The Achaean League supported him against Rome.
148 BCE: The Second Battle of Pydna where Quintus Caecilius Metellus Macedonicus defeated Andriscus, and burnt Corinth coinciding with the destruction of Carthage.

Greece was absorbed into the Roman Empire.
This time Rome did not withdraw the Legions from Greece.
Greek Independence was ended and it became part of the Roman Empire being forced to pay heavy taxes.
In 146 BCE Macedonia was formally divided into the Provinces of Achaea and Epirus.

Pella, Capital of Macedon