Philip V of Macedon in Polybius' Histories: Politics, History, and Fiction

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Philip V of Macedon in Polybius' Histories: Politics, History, and Fiction offers a historiographical and literary study of Polybius' portrait of Philip V and aims to advance our knowledge of both the Macedonian king and the historian. It takes a chronological and thematic approach, exploring how Polybius' political, historiographical, and didactic aims impact the king's depiction from beginning to end. The first half focuses on political and rhetorical aspects: it highlights the embedded Achaean perspective of the narrative and how this fundamentally shapes Philip's image; it re-evaluates key character-defining episodes, such as the sack of Thermum and the attempt on Messene; and it problematizes Polybius' claim that Philip became increasingly treacherous and tyrannical towards the Greeks after 215 BC. The second half explores how Polybius develops his interpretation of the king through ideological and literary means: it investigates how Polybius uses cultural politics to blacken Philip's image and justify the exchange of Macedon and Rome as hegemonic powers in the Greek world; it rationalizes his use of a tragic mode for Philip's last years, examining the implications this styling has for our historical understanding of the king; and it considers how tensions between Polybius' narrative and commentary on Philip may be the result of his combination of historiographical and biographical modes of presentation. It finishes by resituating Philip in the broader context of the Histories, drawing comparisons between his portrait and that of other kings and leaders, and discussing how kings are shaped by and contribute to the arguments in the Histories. Cover Philip V of Macedon in Polybius’ Histories: Politics, History, and Fiction Copyright Acknowledgements Contents Map Greece, Macedonia, and Asia Minor, c.221‒179 BC Eastern Mainland Greece Central Peloponnese List of Abbreviations Introduction Philip V and the Antigonid Dynasty Polybius of Megalopolis Further Historiographical, Literary, and Documentary Evidence for Philip V The State of the Field: Philip V The State of the Field: Polybius Polybius’ Purpose, Methodology, and Audience Tyche: The ‘Director’ of the Symploke and the Fate of Macedon The Structure and Aim of This Volume 1: Constructing Macedon and the World Through an Achaean Perspective Part 1: Polybius’ Achaean Perspective The Use and Adaptation of Aratus’ Memoirs The ‘Secret Negotiations’ with Macedon in 227  The Defence of Achaean Actions: Mantinea and Aristomachus Aratus of Sicyon: The Best of the Achaeans Part 2: The Relationship Between Aratus, Achaea, and Antigonus Doson Macedon and Achaea: A Partnership of Negotiation Conclusion 2: The Darling of the Greeks Turns into a Tyrant Part 1: The Attack on Thermum, 218 BC The Laws of War and the Justice of Retaliation Kingly vs. Tyrannical Behaviour Aratus’ Involvement and the Loyalty of His Allies Benefits to Finances and Morale An Oversight and a Concession Part 2: The Attempt on Messene, 215 BC Practical and Strategic Considerations Keeping the Faith of the Achaean League Aratus of Sicyon and Demetrius of Pharus: The Hero and the Villain Conclusion 3: Philip V and His Greek Allies The Sources and the Question of ‘the Greeks’ Part 1: Philip’s Treatment of His Allies Before Messene (220‒215 BC) Philip V as Hegemon of the Symmachy Philip and the Achaean League Philip’s Kingly Behaviour Part 2: Philip’s Treatment of His Allies After Messene (215‒196 BC) 215‒205 BC: To the End of the First Macedonian War The Expectations of the King and His Allies 205‒200 BC: To the Start of the Second Macedonian War Philip, Rhodes, and Crete Cius and Prusias of Bithynia Aetolian Territory and Thasos (202 BC) Philip and Acarnania 200‒196 BC: To the End of the Second Macedonian War Losing Territory and Faith Philip’s Changing Behaviour and Desperation Part 3: The Loyalty and Defection of Philip’s Greek Allies The Achaean League The Boeotian League The Acarnanian League Conclusion 4: Philip and the Romans Part 1: Polybius and the Macedonian–Roman Question in the Second Century BC A World in Two Minds The Missing Case of Macedon Polybius’ Answer: Cultural Politics, Hellenism, and Barbarism Hellenism, Barbarism, and the Cycle of Constitutions Part 2: Hellenic Rome, Barbaric Macedon The Romans: Barbarians to Hellenes (264–200 BC) The Greekness and Barbarity of Philip V Philip’s Early Years: Kingship and Hellenism (221–215 BC) Interlude: Book 6 and Polybius on Kingship and Tyranny The Slide into Tyranny and Barbarity (215–204 BC) Beyond Tyranny into Insanity and Beastlike Behaviour, 203–200 BC Proclaimed Tyrant and Unspoken Barbarian Part 3: The War against the Barbarian: The Second Macedonian War (200–196 BC) The Conference of Nicaea, 198 BC: Macedon vs. Aetolia (Plb. 18.1–5) The Conference of Nicaea, 198 BC: Philip vs. Flamininus (Plb. 18.6–12) An Uncertain Turning-Point: The Battle of Cynoscephalae, 197 BC (Plb. 18.18–27) The Weakness of Macedon and the Strength of Rome Explained The Roman Takeover of the Hellenic Cause: Flamininus, the Saviour of the Greeks Conclusion: Reversals of Conduct 5: A Tragic King Part 1: Polybius’ Account of Philip’s Final Years (183–179 BC) Philip’s War of Revenge Against Rome: A Polybian Mistake? Polybius’ Case for Philip’s Universal Ambition: Thematic Repetition Hindsight and Teleology The Pact Between the Kings The Consistency and Decisiveness of Philip Part 2: The Tragic Mode of Philip’s Last Years Tragedy, Education, and Political Morality Philip as a Tragic Figure: Historical Implications Conclusion 6: Woven History, Woven Lives Part 1: Polybius on Biographical Material in History A Biographical Reading of Polybius’ Histories Polybius’ ‘Political Biography’ of Philip V of Macedon Part 2: One Man Among Many Part 3: A Comparison of Philip’s Portrait with Other Kings (and Hannibal) Kings Predecessors: Philip II and Alexander the Great Contemporaries: Ptolemy IV and Antiochus III Ptolemy IV Philopator Antiochus III Successors: Perseus (& Eumenes II) Hannibal Conclusion Conclusion Bibliography Primary Literature Secondary Literature Index Locorum General Index