the Roman
commanders were too incapable and their troops too undisciplined to make
any headway. Nor did Perseus show ability to take advantage of his
opportunities. Furthermore, by his parsimony he lost the chance to win
valuable aid from the Dardanians, Gesatae, and Celts on his borders.
Finally, in 168, the Romans found an able general in the consul Aemilius
Paulus, who restored the morale of the Roman soldiers and won a complete
victory over Perseus in the battle of Pydna. The Macedonian kingdom was at
an end; its territory was divided into four autonomous republics, which
were forbidden mutual privileges of _commercium_ and _connubium_; a yearly
tribute of fifty talents was imposed upon them; and the royal mines and
domains became the property of the Roman state.

*The aftermath of the war.* Having disposed of Macedon the Romans turned
their attention to the other Greek states with the intention of rewarding
their friends and punishing their enemies. Everywhere death or exile
awaited the leaders of the anti-Roman party, many of whose names became
known from the seizure of the papers of Perseus. Although the Achaeans had
given no positive proof of disloyalty 1000 of their leading men, among
them the historian Polybius, were carried off to Italy nominally to be
given the chance of clearing themselves before the Senate but really to be
kept as hostages in Italy for the future conduct of the Confederacy.

The Rhodians, because they had endeavored to secure a peaceful settlement
between Rome and Perseus, were forced to surrender their possessions in
Asia Minor, and a ruinous blow was dealt to their commercial prosperity by
the establishment of a free port at the island of Delos. Eumenes of
Pergamon, whose actions had aroused suspicions, had to recognize the
independence of the Galatians whom he had subdued. Far worse was the fate
of Epirus. There seventy towns were sacked and their inhabitants to the
number of 150,000 carried off into slavery.

Henceforth it was clear that Rome was the real sovereign in the eastern
Mediterranean and that her friends and allies only enjoyed local autonomy,
while they were expected to be obedient to the orders of Rome. This is
well illustrated by the anecdote of the circle of Popilius. During the
Third Macedonian War, Antiochus IV, Epiphanes, King of Syria, had invaded
Egypt. After the battle of Pydna a Roman ambassador, Popilius by name, was
sent to make him withdraw. Popilius met Antioc