Galatian War
Galatian War | |
---|---|
Asia Minor, present day Turkey | |
Result | Roman Allied victory |
Orgiagon
Chiomara
2,800 Pergamese troops
The Galatian War was a war between the
The Romans had just defeated the
These defeats forced the Galatians to sue for peace and the Romans returned to the coast of Asia Minor. However, when Manlius Vulso returned to Rome, he was charged with threatening the peace between the Seleucids and Rome. He was cleared and was granted a triumph by the Senate.
Prelude
In 191 BC,
The Seleucids
This war was the first occasion on which a Roman general had started a war without the permission of the senate or the people.[6] This was a dangerous precedent and this became an example for the future.[6]
Manlius started his war preparation by summoning the Pergamese to help.
March inland
The combined Roman-Pergamese army started their march from
They marched inland through the upper
"Not only had Moagĕtes shown himself the most determined enemy of Rome, of all the princes in Asia, but had done his very best to overthrow their empire, and deserved punishment rather than friendship."[11]
The envoys were terrified by his angry response and asked the consul to meet the tyrant for an interview to which Vulso agreed.[11] The next day the tyrant emerged from the city and pleaded with Vulso to accept the fifteen talents. Vulso replied:
"If he did not pay five hundred talents, and be thankful that he was allowed to do so, he would not loot the country, but he would storm and sack the city."[11]
The tyrant however, was able to persuade Vulso to reduce the price to 100 talents and promised to provide him with 1,000
The consul agreed to the offer. He entered Termessian territory, allowing them to enter his alliance for fifty talents and for their withdrawal from Sindian territory.
The consul reached the Rhotrine Springs and he was once again met by Seleucus. Seleucus took the injured and sick Romans with him to
The army marched deeper inland and pitched camp near a Galatian stronghold called Cuballum.[15] While they were there, the Galatian cavalry attacked the army's advance guard and caused significant casualties before the Roman cavalry counter-attacked and drove back the Galatians with heavy losses.[15] The consul, knowing that he was in reach of the enemy, decided to move forward more cautiously.[15]
Battle of Mount Olympus
The Romans and the Pergamenese arrived at the city of
The Tolostobogii occupied Mount Olympus, while the Tectosagi and the Trocmi went to another mountain.
Battle of Ancyra
After the Roman victory at
The Romans spent the next two days scouting the surrounding area and on the third day they met the Galatian army consisting of 50,000 men.[22] The Romans started the battle by attacking with their skirmishers. Again the Galatians were decimated by the hail of missiles, so much so that Galatian centre were shattered by the first charge of the legions and fled in the direction of their camp.[22] The flanks stood their grounds for longer but were eventually forced to retreat.[22] The Romans chased them, plundered the Galatian camp as the surviving Galatians fled across the river to join the women, children and the Trocmi.[9][23]
Aftermath
These two crushing military defeats forced the Galatians to sue for peace.
Vulso remained in Asia Minor for another year.[6] During that time he concluded the Treaty of Apamea with Antiochus[24] and divided the lands of the Asia Minor coast between Pergamum and Rhodes.[6][25] When the Galatian envoys came, Vulso told them that King Eumenes II of Pergamum would give them the terms of the peace when he arrived back from Rome.[26]
Vulso began his return journey to Rome in 188 BC and arrived in 187 BC.[6] When he returned to Rome, he received much criticism because of his unauthorised war against the Galatians.[27] However, he eventually overcame the arguments and was awarded a triumph by the Senate.[28]
Citations
- ^ Livy 35.43 Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Livy 36.19 Archived 2008-05-17 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Livy 36.21 Archived 2008-05-17 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Livy 37.44 Archived 2009-03-27 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Livy 37.45 Archived 2009-03-27 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Smith, A Smaller History of Rome, 112
- ^ a b c d e f Livy 38.12 Archived 2009-06-17 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b Pennell [1]
- ^ a b c Mommsen [2]
- ^ a b Livy 38.13 Archived 2009-06-17 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c d e f g Polybius 21.34
- ^ a b c Polybius 21.35
- ^ a b Polybius 21.36
- ^ Livy 38.15 Archived 2009-06-17 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c d e f g h Livy 38.18 Archived 2009-06-17 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Livy 38.19 Archived 2009-06-17 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Livy 38.20 Archived 2009-06-17 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b Livy 38.21 Archived 2009-06-17 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Livy 38.22 Archived 2009-06-17 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Livy 38.23 Archived 2009-06-17 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c d e Livy38.25 Archived 2009-06-17 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c Livy 38.26 Archived 2009-06-17 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c d Livy 38.27 Archived 2009-06-17 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Livy 38.38 Archived 2009-06-17 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Livy 38.39 Archived 2009-06-17 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Livy 38.37 Archived 2009-06-17 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Livy 38.45 Archived 2009-06-17 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Livy 38.50 Archived 2009-06-17 at the Wayback Machine
References
Primary sources
- ISBN 0-14-044318-5.
- ISBN 0-14-044362-2.
On-line sources
- Mommsen, Theodor (2004-05-01). "A History of Rome. Vol III". Project Gutenberg. Retrieved 2007-07-16.
- Pennell, Robert (2004-11-01). "Ancient Rome : from the earliest times down to 476 A. D." Project Gutenberg. Retrieved 2007-07-16.
- Smith, William (2006-11-01). "A Smaller History of Rome". Project Gutenberg. Retrieved 2007-07-16.