In 215 BC news of an alliance between Carthage and Philip V fell into Roman hands with the capture of Philip V’s envoys and dispatches. To meet this new danger 09Valerius Laevinus (fl.229-206 BC), the praetor in command at Tarentum, was ordered to organise a fleet to watch from Apulia for any activity from Philip around the area of Illyria.
In 214 BC Philip appeared in the Adriatic with a fleet, and laid siege to the Roman naval bases of Oricum and Apollonia. He succeeded in taking Oricum, but Laevinus arrived with a force, recaptured Oricum and relieved Apollonia. Philip was forced to burnt his boats (to prevent them falling into enemy hands) and to withdraw overland. Laevinus wintered with the fleet at Oricum. In the same year Philip’s friend Demetrius was killed during a raid on Messene.
At Rome the Senate relied upon Laevinus and his squadron to protect Illyria and southeast Italy. This meant that during the next two years Philip, by keeping well away from the coast where towns such as Dyrrhachium and Apollonia were held by Laevinus, was able to take the inland towns of Atintania and Dimale, and subdue the Dassaretae and Parthini. He then struck north against Scerdilaidas’ Illyrian tribes and recovered his access to the Adriatic by capturing Lissus, near the mouth of the Drilo (=Drin) River, in 212 BC.
In 211 BC Rome concluded a military alliance with the Aetolian League. The Aetolians would conduct operations on land, the Romans at sea. Rome would keep any slaves and other booty taken and Aetolia would keep control of any territory acquired. Near the end of the year Laevinus’ fleet captured Zacynthus and took some towns in Acarnania, which were handed over to Aetolia. In winter 211/10 BC Philip made a sortie against Oricum and Apollonia, but then moved off to the northeast. In the spring Laevinus cooperated with the seizure of Anticyra in Phocis and turned it over to his allies.
Laevinus reported that the army was no longer needed; the fleet was enough to keep Philip in Italy. The senate gave instructions to Laevinus’ successor, 04Sulpicius Galba Maximus (fl.211-193 BC), to dismiss his entire army and retain only the socii navales (‘naval allies’). Galba’s ships were active during the next three years but their successes were indecisive and conquests given to Aetolia. The Romans’ principal objective was for Aetolians to keep Philip occupied on land so that they, the Romans, could concentrate on Hannibal.
In 207 BC Philip invaded Aetolia and the Romans refused to send any help. The next year the Aetolians came to terms with Philip, and the Romans sent eleven thousand men and thirty-five ships under 06Sempronius Tuditanus (fl.216-200 BC). He landed at Dyrrhachium, urged the Parthini and other tribes to rebellion, and besieged Dimale. When Philip arrived Sempronius broke off the siege and withdrew inside the walls of Apollonia. Philip offered battle but the Romans stayed inside the walls, waiting for the Aetolians to move. But they kept their agreement with the king and Rome had no option but to conclude peace herself. At Phoenice in 205 BC it was agreed that Philip was to keep all the lands he gained but he had to pledge not to take action in the Adriatic against Rome.
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