Treaty of Phoenice
Encyclopedia
The Treaty of Phoenice, also known as the Peace of Phoenice, was a treaty ending the First Macedonian War
. It was drawn up at Phoenice
in 205 BC
.
The Greek political balance between Macedon
under Philip V
and the Aetolian League
was upset by the war between Rome
and Carthage
. Philip, seeking to enhance his position, raised a fleet and sent emissaries to Hannibal, then occupying part of Italy
. Fearing that Philip could offer overt military assistance, Rome hoped to confine the Macedonians to the east of the Roman province of Illyria
. Between 214 and 212 BC, Philip made two unsuccessful attempts to invade Illyria by sea and halting progress by ground, eventually succeeding in capturing the port of Lissus and gaining the province's capitulation.
At this point, Rome was able to spur the Aetolians into an alliance against Philip. For two years the allies warred with Macedonia, achieving minor military victories, and politically gaining more allies from among the Greek city-states. When the Romans retired from the field, Philip's forces advanced against the Aetolians, turning the fortunes of the war. In the end, the Macedonians largely regained their original position, and the Romans and Aetolians were ready to make peace.
The treaty formally acknowledged the favorable position of Macedonia, including the capture of Illyria, but Philip effectively repudiated his alliance with Hannibal. The conditions allowed that Rome would control the Parthinians, Dimallum, Bargulum, and Eugenium, and Macedonia, pending approval of the Senate of Rome, would control Atintania. Other parties to the treaty included Prusias of Bithynia, the Achaeans, the Boeotians, the Thessalians, the Acarnanians, and the Epirots, on the side of Philip, and the Ilians, Attalus, Pleuratus, Nabis of the Lacedaemonians, the Eleans, the Messenians, and Athenians, on the side of Rome.
First Macedonian War
The First Macedonian War was fought by Rome, allied with the Aetolian League and Attalus I of Pergamon, against Philip V of Macedon, contemporaneously with the Second Punic War against Carthage...
. It was drawn up at Phoenice
Phoenice
Phoenice or Phoenike was an ancient Greek city in Epirus and capital of the Chaonians. It was also the location of the Treaty of Phoenice which ended the First Macedonian War, as well as one of the wealthiest cities in Epirus until the Roman conquest. During the early Byzantine period, Phoenice...
in 205 BC
205 BC
Year 205 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Africanus and Dives...
.
The Greek political balance between Macedon
Macedon
Macedonia or Macedon was an ancient kingdom, centered in the northeastern part of the Greek peninsula, bordered by Epirus to the west, Paeonia to the north, the region of Thrace to the east and Thessaly to the south....
under Philip V
Philip V of Macedon
Philip V was King of Macedon from 221 BC to 179 BC. Philip's reign was principally marked by an unsuccessful struggle with the emerging power of Rome. Philip was attractive and charismatic as a young man...
and the Aetolian League
Aetolian League
The Aetolian League was a confederation of tribal communities and cities in ancient Greece centered on Aetolia in central Greece. It was established, probably during the early Hellenistic era, in opposition to Macedon and the Achaean League. Two annual meetings were held in Thermika and Panaetolika...
was upset by the war between Rome
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 Carthage
Carthage
Carthage , implying it was a 'new Tyre') is a major urban centre that has existed for nearly 3,000 years on the Gulf of Tunis, developing from a Phoenician colony of the 1st millennium BC...
. Philip, seeking to enhance his position, raised a fleet and sent emissaries to Hannibal, then occupying part of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Fearing that Philip could offer overt military assistance, Rome hoped to confine the Macedonians to the east of the Roman province of Illyria
Illyria
In classical antiquity, Illyria was a region in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula inhabited by the Illyrians....
. Between 214 and 212 BC, Philip made two unsuccessful attempts to invade Illyria by sea and halting progress by ground, eventually succeeding in capturing the port of Lissus and gaining the province's capitulation.
At this point, Rome was able to spur the Aetolians into an alliance against Philip. For two years the allies warred with Macedonia, achieving minor military victories, and politically gaining more allies from among the Greek city-states. When the Romans retired from the field, Philip's forces advanced against the Aetolians, turning the fortunes of the war. In the end, the Macedonians largely regained their original position, and the Romans and Aetolians were ready to make peace.
The treaty formally acknowledged the favorable position of Macedonia, including the capture of Illyria, but Philip effectively repudiated his alliance with Hannibal. The conditions allowed that Rome would control the Parthinians, Dimallum, Bargulum, and Eugenium, and Macedonia, pending approval of the Senate of Rome, would control Atintania. Other parties to the treaty included Prusias of Bithynia, the Achaeans, the Boeotians, the Thessalians, the Acarnanians, and the Epirots, on the side of Philip, and the Ilians, Attalus, Pleuratus, Nabis of the Lacedaemonians, the Eleans, the Messenians, and Athenians, on the side of Rome.