1-Acest articol este copiat .
2-Istoria ramane pasiunea mea nr-1.
“If Rome is set on war, then Macedon will respond with courage.”
The Romans, under the Consul Crassus, pressed east through the hills of Illyria and into Macedon, while Perseus marched south to ravage the Roman allies. The Roman fleet sailed around the Gulf of Corinth, joining their allies from Pergamon to attack the Macedonian allies in Boetia. When Perseus appeared a mile from the Roman camp, the skirmishers of both sides engaged in fighting, though it did not escalate into full scale battle. For three days Perseus attempted to draw Crassus into battle, which he refused. Withdrawing five miles from the Roman camp, the legions finally marched out in full to pit themselves against the phalanx at the Battle of Callinicus.
The forces of both sides were fairly even, with cavalry and skirmishers deployed on the wings. Neither cavalry made headway against the enemy infantry, and after a delay the phalanx marched out against the legions. As the phalangites began to push the Romans back to their camp, Perseus was advised that continuing the battle was an unnecessary risk, and he left the field. Despite being a strategic victory for Perseus, his retreat left it as a draw. Around 2,000 legionaries were dead on the field, compared to 400 Macedonians. Crassus withdrew his camp to across the river, blaming his Aetolian allies for spreading panic amongst the troops in their disorder.
Perseus attempted to use the victory to negotiate a swift peace with Rome, offering higher and higher tribute amounts which were dismissed by Crassus, who had just been reinforced by Numidian infantry and elephants. Crassus insisted that peace was only achievable if Perseus surrendered himself and allowed Rome to determine the fate of Macedon. When Perseus learnt that the Romans were storing grain and dumping hay in front of their camp, he sought to raze it, though when his night attack was discovered his force was made to retreat, amidst skirmishes with the Romans.
When Perseus learnt of two legions gathering supplies, he hurried with his cavalry and light infantry to meet them. Taking them by surprise, he captured 600 men and 1,000 carts, ordering the rest to surrender when they locked shields atop a hill. He sought to swiftly deploy his phalanx against them, but they arrived at the same time Crassus arrived to save his men with war elephants and auxiliaries. Perseus saw his force pushed back through a ravine, forced to discard many of the wagons and losing around 300 men, though the Roman losses were around 2,500.
Frustrated with the lack of progress against Macedon, Crassus sought to take the war to Boetia instead. Raiding cities and the countryside, the people of the region sought Roman protection, saying the commander of his fleet was “oppressive to his allies, and despicable to his enemies.” Fearing the Illyrian king Gentius may side with Perseus, two further legions were sent across the Adriatic, and allied auxiliary forces raised. The Roman commander Appius was tricked into thinking a Cretan town, which supported Macedon, would open its doors for him. Taking part in a night march, his men were ambushed, and only 1,000 from his two legions escaped. The Senate received news of these reverse, along with news that Crassus’ troops were thin as he had allowed many of them leave to swell his popularity. With Perseus in the ascendancy, his cause was further swelled by the outbreak of war in Illyria. It appeared as if the Greeks were finally ready to unite to rid themselves of the yoke of Rome.
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