Page:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology (1870) - Volume 3.djvu/292

Rh 280 PHILIPPUS. he was able to conclude a treaty with Scerdilai'das, king of lUyria, who undertook to assail the Aeto- lians by sea. Early in the ensuing spring (b.c. 219) Philip entered Epeirus with an army of 15,000 font and 800 horse, and was quickly joined by the whole forces of the Epeirots and Acarnanians ; but liis successes were limited to the reduction of some forts and towns on the frontiers of Aetolia and Acamania, and to the ravage of the adjoining country, when he was recalled to Macedonia by the news of an invasion of the Dardanians. The barbarians, indeed, retired on hearing of his return, but Philip spent the remainder of the summer and autumn in Thessaly, and it was not until the winter had already set in, and his Achaean allies had begun to despair of his arrival, that he sud- denly presented himself at Corinth at the head of a small but select army. This unexpected ma- noeuvre was completely successful ; he surprised and totally defeated a force of Aetolian and Eleian troops under Euripidas, and following up his ad- vantage, took the strong fortress of Psophis by a sudden assault, laid waste without opposition the rich plains of Elis, and then advancing into Tri- phylia, made himself master of the whole of that region, though abounding in strongholds, within six days. After this brilliant campaign, he took up his quarters at Argos for the remainder of the winter. (Polyb. iv. 37, 57, 61—82.) The ensuing spring (b.c. 218) he first turned his attention to the reduction of the important island of Cephallenia, but failed in an attack on the city of Palae in consequence of the treachery and misconduct of one of his own officers, Leontius, who purposely prevented the troops under his command from carrying the breach by assault. Hereupon Philip abandoned the enterprise ; but landing suddenly at the head of the Ambracian gulf, he penetrated unexpectedly into the heart of Aetolia, where he surprised the capital city of Thermus, in which all the wealth and treasures of the Aetolian leaders were deposited. The whole of these fell into the hands of the king, and were either carried off or destroyed, together with a vast quantity of arms and armour ; but not content with this, Philip set fire to the sacred buildings, and destroyed all the statues and other works of art with which they were adorned. The Aetolians in vain attacked his army on his retreat, and he succeeded in carrying off the spoils in safety to his ■fleet. (Polyb. v. 2—9, 13, 14.) Having by this sudden blow struck terror into the Aetolians them- selves, he next turned his arms against their Pelo- ponnesian allies, and returning in all haste to Corinth, assembled the Achaean forces, and invaded Laconia before the Spartans had heard of his having quitted Aetolia. Descending the valley of the Eurotas he passed close to Sparta itself, laid waste the whole country as far as Taenarus and Malea, and on his return totally defeated the forces with which Ly- curgus had occupied the heights near Sparta, in order to intercept his retreat. {Id. v. 17 — 24.) An attempt was now made by the Chians and Rhodians to effect a peace by their mediation ; but though Philip consented to a truce for the purpose of carrying on the negotiations, these proved abor- tive, and the war was still continued. The opera- tions of the next year (b. c. 21 7) were less brilliant, but fortune still favoured the arms of Philip and bis allies ; the king, who had returned to Mace- doaii, took the important fortress of Bylazora, in PHILIPPUS. Paeonia, which was well calculated to check the inroads of the Dardanians, and afterwards invaded Thessaly, where he reduced the Phthiotic Thebes. The Achaean?, on their side, had raised large forces, and carried on the war with much success in the Peloponnese. Meanwhile, events of far greater importance had been passing in Italy, and the news of the battle of Thrasymene, which reached Philip while he was celebrating the Neniean games at Argos, determined him to listen to the overtures for peace which had been renewed by the neutral powers, the Chians, Rhodians, and Ptolemy, king of Egypt. A treaty was soon brought about, by which it was agreed that both parties should re- tain what they then possessed ; and thus ended, after a duration of three years, the contest com- monly known as the Social War, (Polyb. v. 24, 29, 30, 97—105.) During the course of these events it is certain that the character of Philip appears in the most fa- vourable light. Throughout the military operations he displayed uncommon abilities. His daring and rapid movements disconcerted all the plans of his enemies ; and the boldness of his conceptions was accompanied with a vigour and skill in the execu- tion of them, which might have done credit to the oldest and most practised general. But his military talents were accompanied with merits of a still higher order. His policy inclined always to the side of clemency and moderation, and he had esta- blished a well-earned popularity throughout Greece, by repeated proofs of generosity and good faith. So high, indeed, was his character in these respects, that all the cities of Crete are said to have volunta- rily united in placing themselves under his protection and patronage (Polyb. vii. 12 ; Plut. And. 48). Unfortunately these favourable dispositions were not destined to last long ; and the change that subsequently came over his character appears to have commenced almost immediately after the close of the Social W^ar. It is scarcely probable, as sug- gested by Plutarch, that his naturally evil disposition had been hitherto restrained by fear, and that he now first began to show himself in his true colours ; Polybius more plausibly ascribes the change in his character to the influence of evil counsellors ; though these very probably did no more than ac- celerate the natural effects too often produced by the intoxication of success aiid the possession of arbitrary power at an early age. It is certain at least that the evil counsellors were not wanting. Apelles and the other officers to whom the chief posts in the administration had been confided by Antigonus Doson, had hoped to hold the uncon- trolled direction of affairs, under the reign of the young king, and could ill brook to see their power supplanted by the growing influence of Aratus, who at this period chiefly swayed the counsels of Philip. Having failed in repeated attempts to un- dermine the power of the Achaean leader, by calumnies and intrigues, they went so far as to engage in the most treasonable schemes for frus- trating all the designs of Philip himself, and thwarting the success of his military enterprizes. Their machinations were at length discovered, and Apelles himself, together with Leontius and Megaleas, the partners of his guilt, were severally put to death. (Polyb. iv. 76, 82—87, v. 2, 4, 14 --16, 25—28 ; Plut. Aral. 48.) But the removal of these adversaries was far from giving to Aratus the increased power and in-