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been applied to tliem. Polybius (Megal. Hift. 1. iv. 

 palTim p. 270, &c. Ed. Calauboa.) fpeaks of them as a 

 turbulent people ; feldom at peace among themfclvcs, and 

 geneially at war with their neighbours ; utter ilrangers to 

 all fenie of fricndiliip, or principles of honour ; ready to 

 betray their friends whenever they had the leail profpert of 

 deriving any advantage from their treachery ; and, in ftiort, 

 as perfons who were regarded by the other iiates of Greece as 

 outlaws and public rubbers. In war, however, they were 

 bold and enterprihng ; inured to hardlhip and labour ; and 

 jealous of their liberties, in defence of which they were 

 ready to iacrllice their lives. 



The conititutioa of the ^Etolian republic was formed in 

 imitation of that of the Achnsans, and with a view of 

 counterafting their growing power. It was governed by a 

 general aflembly, a prjetor, and other magiftrates of in- 

 ferior rank and authority. The general alfcmbly ufually 

 met once a year, and on extraordinary occalions it was 

 iummoiied by the praetor more frequently ; and this na- 

 tional council poflefled the whole power of enafting laws, 

 declaring war, making peace, and concluding alliances with 

 other ftates. Each city of the JEtoVian alliance deputed 

 members, compofing a council which was called the Apo- 

 cleti, and which coniiiled of the moft eminent men of the 

 nation, whofe office relcmbltd that of the demuirgi among 

 the Acha:ans. Their chief magiilrates, in fubordination to 

 the prietor, were the general of the horfe, the public fe- 

 cretary, and the ephori. The republic of ^lolia, thi.-.. 

 tormed and governed, dilHnguifhed itfelf above all the other 

 nations of Greece, in oppoling the ambitious defigns of the 

 Macedonian princes. Having kindled the Cleomenic war, 

 and that of the allies, called the Social war, in the heart of 

 Peloponnefus, with a view of humbling tlieir antagonifts the 

 Achcans, they refilled for three years, with the aihllance 

 of the Eleans and Laccdxmonians, the united forces of 

 Achaia and Macedon ; but they were at laft obliged to 

 purchafe a peace by furrendering to Philip the whole of 

 Acarnania. But as they gave it up with reluftance, they 

 were anxious to feize the firft favourable opportunity that 

 occurred for regaining it. AVith this view they concluded 

 an alliance with the Romans, Ante Chrift. 2 1 1 ; which was 

 ratified two years after it was formed, by both nations. 

 The articles of which it confided were ordered by the 

 ftnate to be depofited in the capitol, as a hilling monument 

 of their firll alliance with the Greek nation. Hoililities, 

 however, immediately commenced, as foon as the treaty 

 was concluded. Whilft the forces of Philip were employed 

 in Macedon, the y^itolians entered Acarnania ; where they 

 found a veiy detemiined and vigorous oppoiition. Not- 

 withllanding the affillance which they were likely to derive 

 from Lxvinus, the Roman General, who had projedled the 

 alliance with them, they were intimidated by the refolution 

 of the Acarnanians, and returned home without attemptiniT 

 to provoke a people who had declared their purpofe either 

 to conquer or die. Diverted from profeeutuig their firil 

 defign, they turned their arms againfl Anticyra, a city of 

 the Locri, and aided by the Romans, compelled it to fur- 

 render. This fucccfs encouraged them to march into 

 Achaia, and to oppofe the forces of Philip. The hoilile 

 armies met near Lamia, a city of Piithiotis, where the 

 jEtolians were twice defeated. After this vitlory Philip 

 was prevailed upon by an embaffy from Ptolemy Phllopater, 

 king of Egypt, and by deputies from the iilands of Chios 

 and Rhodes, and the city of Athens, to grant the iEtolians 

 a truce of thirty days, and to enter into a negociation for 

 peace. Polybius has preferved (1. xi. Cf'4. p. 626) one of 

 the fpeeches which was delivered on this occalion, and 



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which may be confidered as a mafter-picce of the kind. 

 The negotiation, however, proved iinfuccefsful ; and tlic 

 war was renewed with confiderable, though temporary, ad- 

 vantage on the part of tlie ilitoliaiis and their confederates. 

 During the abfence of Philip, they podefl'ed thcmfclves of 

 feveral cities : but upon his return, being abandoned by the 

 Romans, they were under a neceflity of concluding a peace 

 upon very unfaroin-able terms. Ante Chrill. 204. This 

 peace was of fhort duration. An extraordinary diet was held 

 at Naupaflus, in which the friendlhip and alliance of the 

 yEtoliaiis were folicited by Philip, and alio by the two 

 powerful republics of Athens and Rome. The Romans, 

 however, prevailed (Ante Chriit. 201), and the vEtolians, 

 after fonie previous conquells, entered Theflaly, wh;;rethey 

 were met by Philip, and, after a conliderable flaughter, 

 totally routed. Next year they rallied again, and re-en- 

 tered ThelTaly, plundering and dellroying wherever they 

 came, and citiier putting the inhabitants to the fvvord, or 

 felling them for flaves to the bell bidder. The ./Etolians 

 maintained their attachment to the Romans during the 

 courfc of the war, and were favoured by the Roman com- 

 manders above the other nations of Greece ; but after the 

 battle of Cynocephaloe, in which Philip was entirely de- 

 feated, their mutual affection abated. The ./Etolians ar- 

 rogated to themfelves the glory of this vitlory ; and Fla- 

 mlnlus, the Roman general, mortified their vanity and 

 excited their refentment, by granting a truce to the de- 

 puties of Philip without confulting them. When a nego- 

 ciation for peace between Philip and the Romans com- 

 menced, the jEtolians obllriifted it ; and it was con- 

 cluded Ante Chrill. 196, without their concurrence. 

 DilTatisiied with the conduct of the Romans on this occa- 

 fn)n, they meditated revenge, and exerted themfLlves in 

 railincr new enemies againll their former allies. They made 

 their lirll attempt in tlie affembly of the Amphydlions, but 

 failing here, they had recourfe to Antiochus king of Syria, 

 Nabis tyrant of Lacedsmon, and even to Phihp king of 

 Macedon. They were immediately joined by Nabis ; and 

 having concerted a plan for feizing on three cities, which 

 were reckoned the bulwarks of Greece, viz,. Chalcis in 

 Euboea, Demetrias in Theffaly, and Lacedsmon in the 

 center of Peloponnefus, they proceeded to the execution 

 of it. Having fucceeded by llratagem in gaining pofTclfion 

 of Demetrias, Antiochus, who had declared in their favour, 

 determined to land in this place; and in the year (Ante 

 Chrill. 192) he arrived in Greece ; and in a diet held at 

 I^amia, he was honoured with the title of generahnimo, or 

 commander in chief of all the Greek armies againfl Rome. 

 The king of Syria having gained polTefrion of Chalcis, was 

 joined by feveral of the Greek Hates, who renounced their 

 alliance with Rome : but Chalcis in the event proved no 

 lefs fatal to Antiochus than Capua had been to Hannibal. 

 During his relidence in this city he formed a connection 

 with the daughter of Cleoptoiemus, one of the chief citi- 

 zens, and married her. Such was the ardour of his at- 

 tachnjent to the new queen, that he feemed to forget Rome, 

 Greece and Syria. The king fpent the winter in feallings- 

 and rejoicings ; his example infecled the officers of his 

 army ; the ioldiers abandoned themfelves to idleness and 

 deba!!chei7 ; and mutiny and diforder nnivorfally prevailed. 

 The Romans availed themfelves of thefe circumllanccs ; and • 

 in the year Ante Chrill. 191, declared w:ir againfl him, and 

 difpatched a powerful army into Greece. The jEtolians 

 could afford him little afhllancc ; nor was he able to flay 

 the progrefs of the Roman army, till they compelled him 

 to take refuge firfl in Chalcis, and afterwards to fet fail for 

 Alia and retire to Ephcfus. The yEtoUans were flrongly 



fortified 



