The historical library of Diodorus the Sicilian in fifteen books : the first five contain the antiquities of Egypt, Asia, Africa, Greece, the islands, and Europe : the last ten an historical account of the affairs of the Persians, Grecians, Macedonians and other parts of the world : to which are added the fragments of Diodorus that are found in the Bibliotheca of Photius : together with those publish'd by H. Valesius, L. Rhodomannus, and F. Ursinus / made English by G. Booth ..., Esq.

CHAP. I.

Philip, an Hostage at Thebes, makes his Escape; Beats the Athenians; After makes Peace with them: Subdues the Paeones, and routs the Illyrians and makes Peace with them.

WHEN Callimedes was Archon at Athens, in the Hundred and Fifth Olym∣piad (in which Porus the Cyrenian was Victor) Cneius Genucius, and * 1.1 Lucius Aemilius, Roman Consuls, Philip the Son of Amyntas, and Fa∣ther of Alexander, (who conquer'd the Persians) came to the Crown in the manner following.

Amyntas being brought under by the Illyrians, was forced to pay Tribute to the Con∣querors; who having taken his youngest Son Philip as an Hostage, deliver'd him to be kept by the Thebans; who committed the young Youth to the Care of * 1.2 the Father of Epaminondas, with order to look to his Charge with all Diligence, and honourably to E∣ducate and Instruct him.

A Pythagorean Philosopher was at that time Tutor to Epaminondas, with whom Philip being brought up, he improv'd more than ordinary in the Pythagorean Philosophy. And both these Scholars imploying the utmost of their Parts and Diligence in the Prosecution of their Studies, both by that means became Famous for their virtuous Qualifications. Epaminondas (it's known to all) having run through many Hazards and Difficulties, be∣yond all expectation gain'd the Sovereignty of all Greece for his Country: And Philip ha∣ving the same Advantages, shew'd himself nothing inferior to Epaminondas in glorious At∣chievements: For after the Death of Amyntas, his Eldest Son Alexander succeeded him in the Kingdom; but Ptolemy Alorites murder'd him and Usurp'd the Government; and he himself was serv'd with the same Sauce by Perdiccas; who being afterwards overcome in a great Battel by the Illyrians, and kill'd * 1.3 in the very time when there was most need of a King, Philip, the Brother, made his escape and took Possession of the Kingdom now in a very shatter'd Condition: For there were above Four Thousand Macedonians kill'd in the Fight, and those that surviv'd were in such Consternation and Fear of the Illyrians, that they had no heart left for the Prosecuting of the War. * 1.4

About the same time the Paeones, Neighbours to the Macedonians, (in contempt of them) wasted their Country; and the Illyrians rais'd again great Forces, and design'd a∣nother Expedition against the Macedonians. And to aggravate the matter, one * 1.5 Pausanias, of the Royal Family, by the assistance of the King of Thrace, endeavour'd to Invade the Kingdom of Macedon, The Athenians likewise (Enemies to Philip) endeavour'd to re∣store * 1.6 Argaeus to the Kingdom of his Ancestors, and to this purpose had sent away their General Mantias, with Three Thousand well-arm'd Men, and a most excellent well pro∣vided Navy. Hereupon the Macedonians, by reason of the late Defeat and the Storm that then threatned them, were in great Fear and Perplexity: However, notwithstanding all the Difficulties and Fear of those things that were at hand, Philip nothing discourag'd with those dreadful Clouds of Mischief that seem'd to hang over his Head, by his Speeches in the daily Assemblies, retain'd the Macedonians in their Duty; and by his Eloquence (wherein he excell'd) stirring them up to be courageous, reviv'd their drooping Spirits. Then setting upon Reforming the Military Discipline, he compleatly arm'd his Men and Train'd them every Day, teaching them how to handle their Arms, and other Postures of War. He likewise instituted the new way of Drawing up into a close Body, imitating the Heroes at Troy in locking their Shields one within another; so that he was the first that found out the Macedonian Phalange.

He was very Courteous and Gaining in his Converse, and wan the Peoples Hearts both by his Bounty at present, and his generous Promises of future Rewards; very Politickly likewise (as it were by so many Engines) defending himself against the many and various * 1.7 Mischiefs that were pressing upon him. For when he discern'd that the Athenians made it their great business to recover Amphipolis, and that Argaeus was endeavour'd to be re∣stor'd to his Kingdom for that end, he left the * 1.8 City of his own accord, suffering them to govern themselves according to their own Laws.

He sent likewise an Ambassador to the Paeones, and some of them he corrupted with Bribes; others he ensnar'd with fair and winning Promises, and for the Present made Peace with them, He prevented likewise Pausanias from being restor'd, by bribing the King that was ready to assist him for that purpose.

In the mean time Manthias the Athenian Admiral being arriv'd at * 1.9 Methone, there lay; but sent Aegaeus before with a Body of Mercenaries to † 1.10 Aegae. Coming to the City, he endeavour'd to perswade the Aegaeans to allow of his Return, and to appear the first for his Restauration to the Kingdom; but none consenting, he went back to Me∣thone.

Presently after, Philip advancing with a well appointed Army, set upon them, and cut off many of the Mercenaries; the rest, who had fled to a Hill near at hand (having first delivered up to him the Fugitives) he dismiss'd by Agreement.

Philip being now Conqueror in this first Battel, greatly encourag'd the Macedonians, and made them hearty and eager to undergo further Toils and Difficulties.

Whilst these things were acting, the Thracians planted a Colony at Crenides, as it was heretofore call'd, which the King afterwards call'd Philippi, after his own Name, and fill'd it with Inhabitants. From this Time Theopompus of Chi••s begins his History of Philip, and continues it in Fifty eight Books, of which Five are controverted.

Afterwards Eucharist us was Archon of Athens, and Quintus Servilius and Lucius Genucius were Consuls at Rome, when Philip sent Ambassadors to Athens with Proposals of Peace, * 1.11 and prevail'd with the People upon the account that he was content to quit all his Right in Amphipolis.

Being therefore thus freed from the War with the Athenians, and hearing that Agis King of the Paeones was dead, he judg'd that a fair Opportunity was offer'd him to in∣vade the Paeones: And to that end he enter'd their Country with a considerable Army, overcame them in Battel, and forc'd them to stoop to the Macedonian Yoke.

But still the * 1.12 Illyrians remain'd an Eye-sore to him, whom his Heart and all his Thoughts were continually at work to bring under. To that end he call'd a General Council, and by a Speech (fitted for the Occasion) having spirited the Soldiers to the War, he led an Army into the Illyrians Country of no less than Ten thousand Foot, and Six hun∣dred Horse.

Bardylis King of the Illyrians hearing of his coming, first sent Ambassadors to Philip to renew the League between them upon these Terms, That both of them should keep those Towns that they then had. To which Philip answer'd, That he was very desirous of Peace; but resolv'd not to admit of it, before that the Illyrians had quitted all the Towns belonging to the Kingdom of Macedon.

The Ambassadors therefore being return'd without effecting any thing, Bardylis (con∣fiding * 1.13 in the Valour of his Soldiers, and encourag'd by his former Victories) march'd forth against his Enemies with a strong Army, having with him Ten thousand choice Foot, and Five hundred Horse.

When the Armies drew near one to another, they suddenly set up a great Shout, and so fell to it. Philip being in the Right Wing with a strong Body of Macedonians, com∣manded his Horse to wheel about, to the end to charge the Enemy in the Flank; and he himself charged the Front; upon which there was an hot Engagement.

On the other side, the Illyrians drew up in a * 1.14 foursquare Body, and valiantly join'd Battel.

The Valour of the Armies on both sides was such, that the issue of the Battel was doubtful a long time; many fell, but many more were wounded; and the Advantage was now here, and then there, according as the Valour and Resolution of the Comba∣tants gave Vigour and Life to the Business.

At length, when the Horse charg'd both upon the Flank and the Rear, and Philip with his stoutest Soldiers fought like a Hero in the Front, the whole Body of the Illyrians were routed, and forc'd to fly outright, whom the Macedonians pursu'd a long way. After many were kill'd in the pursuit, Philip at length gave the Signal to his Men to retire, and erected a Trophy, and bury'd the Dead.

Then the Illyrians sent another Embassie, and procur'd a Peace, having first quitted all the Cities belonging to Macedon. There were slain of the Illyrians in this Battel above Seven thousand Men. Having thus given an account of things done in Macedonia and Illy∣rium, we shall now relate the Affairs of other Nations.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Olymp. 105. An. M. 3612. Ant. Ch. 358.
• * 1.2

  Polymnis was the Father of Epaminon∣das:
• * 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, In a Critical Conjuncture.
• * 1.4

  Ant. Ch. 358.
• * 1.5

  Son of Ae••o∣pus, who for∣merly had U∣surp'd the King∣dom of Mace∣don.
• * 1.6

  Argaeus, another Son of Aeropus.
• * 1.7

  Ant. Ch. 358.
• * 1.8

  Amphipolis.
• * 1.9

  Methone in Macedonia.
• † 1.10

  Aegae in Ma∣cedonia.
• * 1.11

  Olymp. 105. 2. An. M. 3613. Ant. Ch. 357.
• * 1.12

  Illyrium, now Dalmatia; and the Inhabi∣tants Dalma∣tians, or Scla∣vonians.
• * 1.13

  Ant. Ch. 357
• * 1.14

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, like a Til••.