Legatus (Ambassador)
172
Macedonia, Illyria
(Broughton MRR I)
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Sent to the various Greek communities to keep them in alliance with Rome against Macedon, they sailed with a guard to Corcyra and there apportioned regions to each member of the embassy: to Marcius and Atilius, northern and central Greece and the Peloponnese; to the Lentuli, Cephallenia and the western Peloponnese; and to Decimius, King Gentius of Illyria (Liv. 42.37.1-9). Marcius and Atilius proceeded through Epirus and Acarnania to the Thessalian council at Larisa, and then in a conference with Perseus encouraged him to send envoys to Rome under agreement for a truce (Liv. 42.38.1-47.3, cf. 47.1-9; T. Frank, CPh 5 [1910] 358-361). They went on to break up the Boeotian League, placing pro-Roman parties in control and attaching the communities individually to Rome (Polyb. 27.1.1-2.10; Liv. 42.43.4-44.6), and summoned Ser. Cornelius to stay at Chalcis. At Argos they induced the council of the Achaeans to send a guard to Chalcis (Polyb. 27.2.11; Liv. 42.44.7-8), then making an end of these winter activities they rejoined P. Cornelius and returned to Rome (Polyb. 27.2.12; Liv. 42.44.8, principio hiemis !). Decimius in Illyria fell under suspicion of accepting bribes (Liv. 42.45.8). Cf. App. Mac. 11.4. (Broughton MRR I)