Treaty of Apamea
Encyclopedia
The Treaty of Apamea of 188 BC
, was peace treaty
between the Roman Republic
and Antiochus III (the Great), ruler of the Seleucid Empire
. It took place after the Romans' victories in the battle of Thermopylae
(in 191 BC
), in the Battle of Magnesia
(in 190
), and after Roman and Rhodian naval victories over the Seleucid navy.
In this treaty, according to Appian, Antiochus III must abandon Europe altogether and all of Asia west of the Taurus
, he had to surrender all the elephants he had, and he should have only twelve war-ships for the purpose of keeping his subjects under control, but he might have more if he were attacked. He should not recruit mercenaries from Roman territory nor entertain fugitives from the same. Antiochus had to give twenty hostages, whom the consul would select, the hostages should be changed every third year, except the son of Antiochus. For the future, he keeps no elephants and pay for the cost of the present war, incurred on his account, 500 Euboic talents down and 2500 more when the Senate ratifies the treaty; and 12,000 more during twelve years, each yearly installment to be delivered in Rome. He shall also surrender to us all prisoners and deserters, and to Eumenes whatever remains of the possessions he acquired by his agreement with Attalus, the father of Eumenes. If Antiochus accepts these conditions without guile we will grant him peace and friendship subject to the Senate's ratification.
Rome gave the control of a large part of Anatolia
to Pergamum, the Roman ally in the battles and ruled by a Romans' client king. Antiochus kept the Pamphylia
and Cilicia
regions in Anatolia. Hellenistic kings generally accepted, for their own lifetimes, any treaty they had signed, on the grounds of honour. On the other hand their heirs did not feel honour bound to accept treaties signed by their predecessors. The naval conditions of this treaty appear to have fallen into abeyance but the other conditions held.
The treaty was formalized at Apamea
in Phrygia
. It allowed the Romans to expand their political hegemony to the East Mediterranean Sea
. But at this time Roman power was still indirect. Rome depended on its capacity to ally itself to second rank powers.
188 BC
Year 188 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Messalla and Salinator...
, was peace treaty
Peace treaty
A peace treaty is an agreement between two or more hostile parties, usually countries or governments, that formally ends a state of war between the parties...
between the Roman Republic
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
and Antiochus III (the Great), ruler of the Seleucid Empire
Seleucid Empire
The Seleucid Empire was a Greek-Macedonian state that was created out of the eastern conquests of Alexander the Great. At the height of its power, it included central Anatolia, the Levant, Mesopotamia, Persia, today's Turkmenistan, Pamir and parts of Pakistan.The Seleucid Empire was a major centre...
. It took place after the Romans' victories in the battle of Thermopylae
Battle of Thermopylae (191 BC)
The Battle of Thermopylae was fought in 191 BC between a Roman army led by consul Manius Acilius Glabrio and a Seleucid force led by King Antiochus III the Great. The Romans were victorious, and as a result, Antiochus was forced to flee Greece. It was described by Appian and by Livy at...
(in 191 BC
191 BC
Year 191 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Nasica and Glabrio...
), in the Battle of Magnesia
Battle of Magnesia
The Battle of Magnesia was fought in 190 BC near Magnesia ad Sipylum, on the plains of Lydia , between the Romans, led by the consul Lucius Cornelius Scipio and his brother, the famed general Scipio Africanus, with their ally Eumenes II of Pergamum against the army of Antiochus III the Great of the...
(in 190
190
Year 190 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Aurelius and Sura...
), and after Roman and Rhodian naval victories over the Seleucid navy.
In this treaty, according to Appian, Antiochus III must abandon Europe altogether and all of Asia west of the Taurus
Taurus Mountains
Taurus Mountains are a mountain complex in southern Turkey, dividing the Mediterranean coastal region of southern Turkey from the central Anatolian Plateau. The system extends along a curve from Lake Eğirdir in the west to the upper reaches of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers in the east...
, he had to surrender all the elephants he had, and he should have only twelve war-ships for the purpose of keeping his subjects under control, but he might have more if he were attacked. He should not recruit mercenaries from Roman territory nor entertain fugitives from the same. Antiochus had to give twenty hostages, whom the consul would select, the hostages should be changed every third year, except the son of Antiochus. For the future, he keeps no elephants and pay for the cost of the present war, incurred on his account, 500 Euboic talents down and 2500 more when the Senate ratifies the treaty; and 12,000 more during twelve years, each yearly installment to be delivered in Rome. He shall also surrender to us all prisoners and deserters, and to Eumenes whatever remains of the possessions he acquired by his agreement with Attalus, the father of Eumenes. If Antiochus accepts these conditions without guile we will grant him peace and friendship subject to the Senate's ratification.
Rome gave the control of a large part of Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
to Pergamum, the Roman ally in the battles and ruled by a Romans' client king. Antiochus kept the Pamphylia
Pamphylia
In ancient geography, Pamphylia was the region in the south of Asia Minor, between Lycia and Cilicia, extending from the Mediterranean to Mount Taurus . It was bounded on the north by Pisidia and was therefore a country of small extent, having a coast-line of only about 75 miles with a breadth of...
and Cilicia
Cilicia
In antiquity, Cilicia was the south coastal region of Asia Minor, south of the central Anatolian plateau. It existed as a political entity from Hittite times into the Byzantine empire...
regions in Anatolia. Hellenistic kings generally accepted, for their own lifetimes, any treaty they had signed, on the grounds of honour. On the other hand their heirs did not feel honour bound to accept treaties signed by their predecessors. The naval conditions of this treaty appear to have fallen into abeyance but the other conditions held.
The treaty was formalized at Apamea
Apamea (Phrygia)
Apamea or Apameia – previously, Kibotos , hê Kibôtos or Cibotus – was an ancient city in Phrygia, Anatolia, founded by Antiochus I Soter , near, but on lower ground than, Celaenae .-Geography:It overlooks the Ghab valley and the site is now partly occupied by the city of...
in Phrygia
Phrygia
In antiquity, Phrygia was a kingdom in the west central part of Anatolia, in what is now modern-day Turkey. The Phrygians initially lived in the southern Balkans; according to Herodotus, under the name of Bryges , changing it to Phruges after their final migration to Anatolia, via the...
. It allowed the Romans to expand their political hegemony to the East Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
. But at this time Roman power was still indirect. Rome depended on its capacity to ally itself to second rank powers.
Sources
- Polybius of MegalopolisPolybiusPolybius , Greek ) was a Greek historian of the Hellenistic Period noted for his work, The Histories, which covered the period of 220–146 BC in detail. The work describes in part the rise of the Roman Republic and its gradual domination over Greece...
, World History, 21.42: text of the treaty - Appian of AlexandriaAppianAppian of Alexandria was a Roman historian of Greek ethnicity who flourished during the reigns of Trajan, Hadrian, and Antoninus Pius.He was born ca. 95 in Alexandria. He tells us that, after having filled the chief offices in the province of Egypt, he went to Rome ca. 120, where he practised as...
, Syriaca, 39: text of the treaty