A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

280 PHILIPPUS. PIlILIPPUS.
he was able to conclude a treaty with Scerdilaidas, Paeonia, which was well calculated to check the
king of Illyria, who undertook to assail the Aeto- inroads of the Dardanians, and afterwards invaded
lians by sea. Early in the ensuing spring (B.C. Thessaly, where he reduced the Phthiotic Thebes.
219) Philip entered Epeirus with an army of 15,000 The Achaeans, on their side, had raised large
foot and 800 horse, and was quickly joined by the forces, and carried on the war with much success
whole forces of the Epeirots and Acarnanians; but in the Peloponnese. Meanwhile, events of far
ills successes were limited to the reduction of some greater importance had been passing in Italy, and
forts and towns on the frontiers of Aetolia and the news of the battle of Thrasymene, which reached
Acarnania, and to the ravage of the adjoining Philip while he was celebrating the Nemean games
country, when he was recalled to Macedonia by at Argos, determined him to listen to the overtures
the news of an invasion of the Dardanians. The for peace which had been renewed by the neutral
barbarians, indeed, retired on hearing of his return, powers, the Chians, Rhodians, and Ptolemy, king
but Philip spent the remainder of the summer and of Egypt. A treaty was soon brought about, by
autumn in Thessaly, and it was not until the whlch it was agreed that both parties should re-winter had already set in, and his Achaean allies tain what they then possessed; and thus ended,
had begun to despair of his arrival, that he sud- after a duration of three years, the contest comdenly presented himself at Corinth at the head of monly known as the Social War. (Polyb. v. 24,
a small but select army. This unexpected ma- 29, 30, 97-105.)
nceuvre was completely successful; he surprised During the course of these events it is certain
and totally defeated a force of Aetolian and Eleian that the character of Philip appears in the most fatroops under Euripidas, and following up his ad- vourable light. Throughout the military operations
vantage, took the strong fortress of Psophis by a he displayed uncommon abilities. His daring and
sudden assault, laid waste without opposition the rapid movements disconcerted all the plans of his
rich plains of Elis, and then advancing into Tri- enemies; and the boldness of his conceptions was
phiylia, made himself master of the whole of that accompanied with a vigour and skill in the execuregion, though -aboundillg in strongholds, within tion of them, which might have done credit to the
six days. After this brilliant campaign, he took oldest and most practised general. But his military
up his quarters at Argos for the remainder of the talents were accompanied with merits of a still
winter. (Polyb. iv. 37, 57, 61-82.) higher order. His policy inclined always to the
The ensuing spring (B.c. 218) he first turned side of clemency and moderation, and he had estahis attention to the reduction of the important blished a well-earned popularity throughout Greece,
island of Cephallenia, but failed in an attack on by repeated proofs of generosity and good faith.
the city of Palae in consequence of the treachery So high, indeed, was his character in these respects,
and misconduct of one of his own officers, Leontius, that all the cities of Crete are said to have voluntawho purposely prevented the troops under his rily united in placing themselvesunderhis protection
command from carrying the breach by assault. and patronage (Polyb. vii. 12; Plut. A-dat. 48).
Hereupon Philip abandoned the enterprise; but Unfortunately these favourable dispositions were
landing suddenly at the head of the Ambracian not destined to last long; and the change that
gulf, he penetrated unexpectedly into the heart of subsequently came over his character appears to
Aetolia, where he surprised the capital city of have commenced almost immediately after the close
Thermus, in which all the wealth and treasures of of the Social War. It is scarcely probable, as sugthe Aetolian leaders were deposited. The whole gested by Plutarch, that his naturally evil disposition
of these fell into the hands of the king, and were had been hitherto restrained by fear, and that he
either carried off or destroyed, together with a now first began to show himself in his true colours;
vast quantity of arms and armour; but not content Polybius more plausibly ascribes the change in his
with this, Philip set fire to the sacred buildings, character to the influence of evil counsellors;
and destroyed all the statues and other works of though these very probably did no more than acart with which they were adorned. The Aetolians celerate the natural effects too often produced by
in vain attacked his army on his retreat, and he the intoxication of success and the possession of
succeeded in carrying off the spoils in safety to his arbitrary power at an early age. It is certain at
fleet. (Polyb. v. 2-9, 13, 14.) Having by this least that the evil counsellors were not wanting.
sudden blow struck terror into the Aetolians them- Apellies and the other officers to whom the chief
selves, he next turned his arms against their Pelo- posts in the administration had been confided by
ponnesian allies, and returningin all haste to Corinth, Antigonus Doson, had hoped to hold the unconassembled the Achaean forces, and invaded Laconia trolled direction of affairs, under the reign of the
before the Spartans had heard of his having quitted young king, and could ill brook to see their power
Aetolia.'Descending the valley of the Eurotas he supplanted by the growing influence of Aratus,
passed close to Sparta itself, laid waste the whole who at this period chiefly swayed the counsels of
country as far as Taenarus and Malea, and on his Philip. Having failed in repeated attempts to unreturn totally defeated the forces with which Ly- dermine the power of the Achaean leader, by
curgus had occupied the heights near Sparta, in calumnies and intrigues, they went so far as to
order to intercept his retreat. (Id. v. 17-24.) engage in the most treasonable schemes for frusAn attempt was now made by the Chians and trating all the designs of Philip himself, and
Rhodians to effect a peace by their mediation; but thwarting the success of his military enterprizes.
though Philip consented to a truce for the purpose Their machinations were at length discovered,
of carrying on the negotiations, these proved abor- and Apelles himself, together with Leontius and
tive, and the war was still continued. The opera- Megaleas, the partners of his guilt, were severally
tions of the next year (B. C. 217) were less brilliant, put to death. (Polyb. iv. 76, 82-87, v. 2, 4, 14
but fortune still favoured the arms of Philip and -]16, 25-28; Plut. A-art. 48.)
his allies; the king, who had returned to Mace- But the removal of these adversaries was far
donia, took the important fortress of Bylazora, in from giving to Aratus the increased power and in