Pydna June 22, 168 BC Strategic Context Following the death of Philip V of Macedon in 179 BC, Perseus of Macedon hopes to renew his father’s ambition of conquering Greece. This leads to tensions and eventual war with Pergamum, which is expanding quickly under the leadership of King Eumenes. Rome, more concerned with Macedonian power and its alliances with anti-Roman factions in Thrace, sides with Pergamum, resulting in an indecisive war BC. Dissatisfied with this result, the Roman Senate appoints Lucius Aemilius Paullus as commander of the army to properly subdue Macedon. In June 168 BC, Paullus advances, outflanking Macedonian mountain positions, and forcing Perseus to retreat to Pydna. There the two armies encamp for days until a skirmish erupts into a full-scale battle. Stakes + A Macedonian victory would preserve its existence and end Roman influence in Greece. + A Roman victory would effectively end Macedonian independence and pacify Greece. By Jonathan Webb, 2011 ©

Pydna, 168 BC Strength  Macedonians  Well  Romans  Well  Perseus  20,000 legionnaires  21,000 phalangites  Lucius Aemilius Paullus  19,000 other infantry  4,000 cavalry  2,000 cavalry  15,000 other infantry By Jonathan Webb, 2011 ©  22 war elephants

Macedonians (Perseus) Romans (Paullus) Paullus deploys alongside his experienced heavy infantry, the legionnaires, at the center. They are flanked by lighter infantry on each side, Greek allies on their left, Latin allies on their right. Paullus places his few cavalry on each flank, and his war elephants on the right wing. Perseus deploys his compact infantry phalanx at the center. It is flanked by lighter infantry on each side, mercenaries on its left, Thracians on its right. Perseus deploys an experimental anti-elephant unit opposite the Roman war elephants in the hopes of neutralizing them; Perseus holds his cavalry back on each wing awaiting the result of this experiment, himself occupying a position on the right wing. Perseus orders his infantry forward without committing his cavalry. The Thracians on the right surge ahead of the slow-moving phalanx to engage Paullus’ Greek allied infantry. The Macedonian phalanx advances gradually as a single mass, pinning down the Roman legionnaires and gaining an early advantage with its long spears over their swords. The Pelignians, stationed with the Latin allied infantry, attempt a counter-attack – their commander resorting to tossing their standard into the enemy ranks to incite them – but are repulsed with heavy loss and pushed back by the Macedonian mercenaries. The Macedonian phalanx simply pushes the Roman legionnaires back, their long spears continuing to outrange the Roman sword. However, as the Roman legionnaires fall back, the Macedonian phalanx becomes increasingly disordered as it advances over rough hilly terrain. The tight, dense formation begins to show disruption and breaks in its cohesion; a gap between the phalanx and the left wing also widens as the Roman war elephants prepare to enter the battle. Paullus orders the legionnaires to break down into smaller units to infiltrate the disrupted phalanx though many of which are already doing so on their own initiative. The Roman legionnaires exploit any and all gaps, forcing the Macedonian phalangites to drop their long spears and resort to their ineffective short swords. The Roman attack is particularly effective on the phalanx’s exposed left flank. Paullus also orders a war elephant charge which routs the anti-elephant corps and threatens the entire Macedonian left wing. With war elephants on the field, Perseus cannot commit his cavalry and influence the battle. The Roman war elephants smash the Macedonian mercenaries, hitting their left flank and rear. Meanwhile, the Roman legionnaires continue to slaughter the Macedonian phalangites as their formation disintegrates and routs; only a small unit of the phalanx maintains its resolve and fights to the last. With the collapse of the phalanx, Perseus and the cavalry flee. Macedonians (Perseus) 21,000 phalangites 19,000 other infantry 4,000 cavalry Romans (Lucius Aemilius Paullus) 20,000 legionnaires 15,000 other infantry 2,000 cavalry 22 war elephants

Pydna, 168 BC Casualties & Aftermath Macedonians:Romans: 31,000 or 70% 1,000 or 3% By Jonathan Webb, 2011 © The Romans captured Perseus shortly after the battle, ending the war. The Roman Senate decided to deal with Macedon harshly to avoid any future troubles, occupying its territory and disarming is citizens. The Romans imprisoned anyone believed to have been involved with Perseus indefinitely and even vilified King Eumenes of Pergamum, whose territory became a Roman vassal as a result of the power shift in the region. In 150 BC, Macedon again became a problem for Rome when Andriscus claimed to be heir to Perseus and led a popular uprising; the uprising was crushed once again near Pydna in 148 BC.

The Art of Battle: Animated Battle Maps By Jonathan Webb, 2011 ©