BC170-151 Perseus of Macedon

In the twenty years from 170-151 BC, the Roman Republic was still embroiled in the Third Macedonian War fighting Perseus of Macedon (pictured) and peace did not prevail until it ended in 168 BC.

Perseus of Macedon, Philip's son, attempted to restore Macedon's international influence by moving aggressively against his neighbors.

When Perseus was implicated in an assassination plot against an ally of Rome, the Senate declared the third Macedonian War and, initially, Rome did not fare well against the Macedonian forces.

By 168 BC, however, Roman legions had smashed the Macedonian phalanx at the Battle of Pydna.

Perseus was later captured and the kingdom of Macedon divided into four puppet republics. The defeat of Perseus involved massive looting of the conquered cities and the penalties imposed on the defeated states flooded the Roman treasury with wealth.

Entrepreneurial governors, called publicani, would extract harsh taxes from the subject states and greatly increase their own wealth as well as that of the Roman treasury.

It had become apparent to Rome that the empire was a vast money-making machine and empire-building a fabulously lucrative affair.