been of late advanced by the abilities of Philip the present King who though he might have pretended a cause where none was yet was there some occasion of offence given him though but counted a necessary allay to his rising fortune so terrible to the Persian Empire Vide Arrianum lib. 1. pag. 41. For when with great preparations he had besieged Periathus a Citie of Thrace Ochus gave order to his Lieutenants to assist the besieged which was so powerfully done as his design miscarried Yet he having brought all Greece to his beck and established his interest sufficiently in Europe resolved upon Asia and assembling the estates at Corinth procured himself to be declared General of all Greece for the Persian War for which he made mighty preparations imposing a certain number of Souldiers upon every Citie The next Spring he sent over as before him into Asia three Captains Parmenio Amyntas and Attalus under pretence of freeing the Greek Cities there which hapned the same year that Arses died and he lived himself not long after being stabbed by one Pausanias as he was solemnizing the nuptials of his daughter Cleopatra with Alexander King of Epirus Hereupon Darius who before studied how to turn the War into Macedonia thought himself secure despising the youth of Alexander his son and Successor who exceeded not the age of 20 years 20. But Alexander being a young man of a great and restlesse spirit and of wisdom valour far above his age overcame all difficulties both in Greece and Asia which his Enemies had raised getting himself to be chosen in a little time General of the one as his father had been and in the other suppressing betimes the sedition of the Army of Attalus by taking of him out of the way and most vehemently burnt with a desire of the Conquest of the Persian Empire from an endeavour after which he might by no means be diverted Having either by fair or foul means setled his matters in Europe Diodorus ad Olymp. 111. ann 3. Justin lib. 11. Arrianus lib. 1. he passed over into Asia two years after his fathers death and landed at Troas with a Fleet of sixty long ships He first cast a spear out upon the shore and leaped out in a frisking manner as taking possession of the Continent Then presently he made a visit to the Tombs of Achilles and Ajax to whom he made a parentation and mustered the Army he had brought over with him Concerning the number of Forces those that were there present themselves have not agreed in their relation but according to the greatest probability there were of foot 13000 Macedonians Alexander of Macedonia invadeth Asia of the Associates 7000. and 5000 Mercenaries besides of Odrysae Triballi and Illyrians 5000. and 1000 Archers with such as fought with Darts Of horse there were 1800 Macedonians 1800 Thessalonians and of other Graecians 600. besides a Guard of 900 Thracians and Paeonians Diodorus ad Olymp. 111. ann 2. 21. Darius after he had heard how Alexander was declared General of Greece and was much spoken of for his valour shook off his former security and buckled himself to preparation for resistance He got together a considerable Navy and raised great Forces for command of which he made choice of most expert Captains and amongst the rest of Memnon the Rhodian a man very excellent in Military matters whom he sent into Phrygia with a band of 5000 Mercenaries to reduce Cyzicus to his obedience He passed over the Hill Ida and on a sudden set upon the Citie and had well-nigh taken it but the Defendants making strong resistance he plundred the Territories adjacent and then retreated with much booty In the mean while Parmenio one of the three Captains sent into Asia by Philip and who stood close to the interest of Alexander took by storm Strynium a Town of Phrygia and sold the inhabitants From thence he went to Pitanes to attempt the same upon it but Memnon coming upon him struck such a terrour into his men that he was forced to raise his siege After this Callas with a band of Macedonians and Mercenaries ingaged with the Persians in a battel at Troas but being overmatched in numbers he was worsted and betook himself to Rhaeteum These things fell out before the passage of Alexander into Asia 22. After (a) Diodorus ad Olymp. 111. ann 3. Alexander was landed the Persian Captains met to consult about carrying on the War whom Memnon advised by no means to hazard a battel with him but to lay waste the Countrey before him thereby to hinder his march any farther for want of necessaries and then to passe all their Forces over into Macedonia and so to transfer the seat of the War into Europe This wholesom Counsel was rejected as below the Persian courage and a resolution taken to ingage so that gathering their forces together they marched into Phrygia towards the Hellespont and pitched their Tents upon the River Granicus which runneth through the plains of Adrastea intending it as a defence to them (b) Valer. Maximus l. 7. cap. 3. Exter Exemp 4. Pausan Eliac lib. 2. Alexander in his way thither passed by Lampsacus the inhabitants of which either having already revolted to the Persian or else suspected of such an intent he resolved utterly to destroy As he was thus minded Anaximenes an Historian of that place well known formerly to his father and also to him presented himself to him to whom he swore in so many words that he would not grant what he was about to ask which the other readily apprehending desired of him that he would destroy Lampsacus so that with his sharpnesse of wit beâ—ng circumvented he was constrained to spare it against his will 23. Alexander having with great trouble and danger passed the River Granicus then (a) Diodorus ibid. ingaged with the Persians in a great and bloody battel wherein much valour was shewn on both sides The battel of Granicus Spithrobates a Persian Satrapa of Ionia and Son in Law to Darius a man of a great courage with a strong body of Horse fell upon the Macedonians whom no one being able to sustain Alexander himself grapled with him a fierce combat ensued he wounding the King who yet at length slew him But Rosaces his brother coming in upon Alexander gave him such a blow on the head as broke his helmet and lightly wounded him and a second had killed him outright but that Clitus Sirnamed Niger a Macedonian putting spurs to his Horse in good time cut off the hand of the Barbarian A great conflict then ensued betwixt the principal Persians and Macedonians and many of the former lost their lives upon the place amongst which of most special note were Atyxes and Pharnaâ—es brother to the wife of Darius and Mithrobarzanes Captain of the Cappadocians These being slain those that opposed Alexander began to flye and afterwards all the rest of the 100000 foot which the Persians brought
200 Gallies 10000 most valiant Souldiers and out of Egypt it self raised 80000 foot Agesilaus the King of Lacedaemon he also procured to come to him Xenoph. Plutarch Aemilius Probus in Agesilao promising him the command of all his forces Upon the report of his landing all sorts of presents were dispatched to him but the Courtiers finding no Train nor any thing of State about him onely an old man little of stature not at all trimmed but with coarse and old Clothes sitting on the shore upon the grasse they greatly despised him and were seized with wonder at his poornesse of spirit when they beheld how amongst the presents taking the Meal Calves and Geese to himself he gave the sweet Meats and Oyntments to be divided amongst the slaves Tachos King of Egypt strengthneth himself And Tachos himself gave him not the chief command according to his promise deriding him for the smalnesse of his stature and saying that the fable was fulfilled in him the Mountains are in Travel and a Mouse is brought forth to which with anger and scorn he answered that afterwards he should have cause to think him a Lyon Diod. Plutarch 95. With Tachos also was Chabrias the Athenian though not sent from the State as was Agesilaus but on his own account who advised him wanting Treasure to command his richest sort of subjects to furnish him with as much money as they could spare and he would repay them out of his yearly Tributes which course he following got great store of money and yet injured no man To him he committed his Fleet to Agesilaus the conduct of the 10000 mercenary Graecians to Nectanebus his son or rather the son of his brother 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or sister being called his Nephew reserving to himself the command over all and though Agesilaus advised him rather to manage the War by his Lieutenants Nectanebus King of Egypt and stay in Egypt he sayled into Phoenicia the Spartan following him though against his dignity and disposition Coming into Phoenicia he sent Nectanebus against the Cities in Syria to whom came a message from the Viceroy of Egypt left there by Tachos signifying that he had revolted and now invited him to seize upon the Kingdom to which he consenting drew presently to his party all the Officers by gifts and the Souldiers by large promises Tachos now being in fear of his own servants and Agesilaus whom he derided betook himself to Sidon and thence to Artaxerxes by whom he was courteously entertained though not declared General in the Egyptian War and so by the help of Agesilaus recovered his Kingdom as Diodorus writeth 96. Another King besides these two was made by the Egyptians of Mendesium of whom 10000 arose and for him made War upon Nectanebus Plutarch Xenoph Cornelius Nepos Diodorus ut suprà The case being thus Agesilaus took part with Nectanebus whom he thought more to favour the Graecians took the other prisoner and confirmed him in the Kingdom who importuning him to stay and winter with him he refused hasting homewards Agesilaus having served him in his return dieth for that he knew the Lacedaemonian State to be at this time ingaged in a War destitute of Treasure and yet to keep strangers in constant pay for want of their own men Nectanebus when he would not stay dismissed him with great gifts and honours giving him 220. or 230 Talents for the maintenance of the War at home with which taking ship he sayled homewards though in the midst of Winter making haste lest through his absence the State should do nothing the next Summer but being carried by Tempest into a desart place called the Haven of Menelaus lying betwixt Cyrene and Egypt he there fell sick and died His friends laying his Corps in Wax for want of Honey carried it to Lacedaemon where it was buried according to his worth and dignity 97. About the time of his death died also Artaxerxes the King of Persia Plutarch in Artaxerxe Justin lib. 10. after he had reigned 43 years He had 115 sons of which three onely were legitimate Darius Ariaspes and Ochus the rest being begotten of Concubines Artaxerxes dieth having before his death made Darius King who plotting against him of which he kept 360. with which yet he could not be contented without the addition of Atossa his own daughter his own mother to please him becoming a Bawd to his incestuous affections When he was grown old perceiving his sons to strive about the succession and especially Ochus who although the youngest hoped by the means of Atossa to procure the Kingdom of him fearing lest after his death he might do as his Uncle Cyrus had formerly done contrary to the custom of Persia which admitted not of two Kings at the same time he made Darius the eldest now 50 years old King whilest he lived lest his death should involve the Empire in civil broils It was the fashion for him that was made King to ask and receive something at the hands of him that made him according to which Darius asked Aspasia to wife which formerly having been Concubine to Cyrus Artaxerxes took and afterwards married He out of indulgence to him first granted his request for that she being a free woman and no slave might chuse whether she would have him and hoping she would refuse but she willingly accepting of the thing and he then repenting of what he had rashly promised consecrated her as a Nun to Diana that she might live for the remainder of her dayes a single life Darius hereby incensed through the provocation of Tiribazus who bore Artaxerxes malice for defrauding him of his daughter Amistris whom he promised to him but married her himself entred with 50 of his brethren into a conspiracy against the life of his father Is put to death and the plot being revealed by an Eunuch was put to death with his complices Darius being removed out of the way Ochus was more inflamed with a desire of reigning to which he was more incensed by Atossa his sister But he feared two of his brothers Ariaspes legitimate and the elder and one Arsames who though base born and the younger yet was much esteemed for his wisdom and especially beloved by his father Both of them he resolved to destroy Ochus his wicked practices for the Kingdom the former by his cunning and the later by down-right cruelty for he hired some who never ceased to tell Ariaspes as a great secret that his father was resolved to make him away by a cruel and shamefull death and so often inculcating it unto him as speedily to be done drove him to that fear and desperation that he poysoned himself Artaxerxes mourned for him but knowing the kind of his death and suspecting the cause yet through extream age was unable to search into the matter and find it out onely he imbraced Arsarmes more affectionatly than ever and not obscurely signified
occasion of the social War which had been partly promised them 36 years before by Flaccus the Consul who being earnest for it was diverted into Gall by the Senate and afterwards joyned himself in the Tribuneship with the younger Gracchus to no purpose endeavouring with him the passing of it with whom also as is formerly shewn he lost his life Now again their expectation was heightned by Drusus but then was he murdered and all the great ones banished who stood for them by a Law which the Equites by force of Arms obtained who hoped that having the power of Judicature in themselves the profit would be great which would arise in ridding away their Enemies They also thought they had reason enough to expect this privilege from that Citie which was maintained both in its subsistence and Empire by their valour they ever sending out forces double in number to those of the Romans Upon these grounds they resolved to procure by force what could not be by fair means obtained sending Messages to and fro and for the performance of what was agreed on receiving Hostages from one another 26. This being known late enough at Rome so busied with its private seditious contests Spies were sent out into the several quarters One of them seeing a young man of Asculum carried into another Citie as an Hostage therewith acquainted Servilins the Proconsul who going to Asculum and chiding the Citizens was set upon and slain together with all the Romans After this the Conspiracy being quite discovered all broke out into open Rebellion the Marsi Peligni Vestini Marrucini Ferentani Hirpini Picentes Pompeiani Venusini Apulians Lucanians and the old Enemies of the Romans the Samnites They thought good first to send to Rome to complain but the Messengers could not be admitted without repentance for what was already done Preparations for it Hereupon the War vvas committed to both the Consuls L. Julius Caesar and P. Rutilius Lupus to vvhom vvere added Cn. Pompeius Strabo father to Pompey the Great C. Marius vvho had been six times Consul L. Sylla Licinius Crassus C. Perpenna Q. Caepio Q. Metellus Pius son to the Numidian M. Marcellus Val. Messala and T. Didius vvho vvere all sent vvith Proconsular power The forces on either side amounted to 100000 fighting men Rutilius the Consul quickly lost his life falling into an ambush laid for him by the Marsi and many other blows did the Romans receive The Romans receive many blows so that they vvere forced to list such as once had been slaves The bodies of the Consul and those of several others being carried into the Citie the sight of them so discouraged the people that the Senate made a decree that thenceforth the slain should be buried vvhere they died vvhich as a prudent example vvas followed by the Enemy 27. None succeeded Rutilius all the year for that Caesar could not come to a new Election but his Army vvas committed to Marius his Lieutenant and Q. Caepio Caepio vvas killed not long after being intrapped by Popedius one of the Italian Generals Marius now alone commanding the forces did good service as did also Sylla For the following year Cn. Pompeius Strabo and L. Porcius Cato vvere made Consuls Now the Senate thought fit to make such Italians free of the Citie as had not revolted vvhich thing established those vvho something vvavered in their minds and took off the courage of the other already ingaged Yet they chose them not into any of the 35 Tribes but placed them by themselves behind all so that as in voting they could not hinder the rest so seldom vvere they called to vote at all vvhich afterwards considered though not at present vvrought some disturbance Cato the Consul did very good service but thereof boasted so much that he compared himself to Marius for vvhich as he vvas fighting against the Marsi he vvas killed in a croud by Marius his son Pompey overthrew the Picentes and Asculani Having long besieged Asculum he defeated the Enemy which sallied forth killed 18000 of the Marsi took 3000. and being got into Asculum caused all the Officers and principal men to be beaten vvith Rods and then beheaded SECT 5. Sylla his Successor in the Consulship overthrew the Samnites and stormed two of their Camps by vvhich successe elevated he vvent stood for and carried that greatest Office A. M. 3917. Ol. 173. ann 1. V. C. 666. This War vvas ended by him after it had endured above two years Sylla endeth the War in the 666 year of the Citie he the said L. Cornelius Sylla and Q. Pompeius Rufus being Consuls 28. What the Italians could not get with armed hand was given them Conquered at first to all except the Lucanians and Samnites and shortly after to them also but ranked by themselves in the same manner as the former After which freedom of the Citie is given to the Conquered Italians having been before this denied to them Not long after this which was a kind of Civil War there were stirs in the Citie about Usury which being rigorously exacted by the Creditors Asellio the Praetor who withstood it was murdered by them Yet hitherto these Seditions in the Citie were managed but by private persons or in a private manner but now came it to that passe that the heads of the factions got whole Armies to themselves and carried on their interests in open War one against another their own Countrey being as the prize and reward of the victory such were the manners and behaviour of those who through the infirmity of the Government were not able to bear that greatnesse of fortune which from the temperance and moderation of their fathers had descended upon them But an occasion to the first Civil War was ministred by that with Mithridates which began ere the Social or Italian ended SECT V. From the War with Mithridates and first Civil War to the combinanation of Pompey Crassus and Caesar termed by Varro Tricipitina which proved the ruin of the Popular Government for the space for 28 years Mithridates King of Pontus 1. MIthridates was King of Pontus a Countrey of Asia Justin lib. 37. Strabo lib. 10. so called because it lieth upon the Euxine Sea thought by some to have been descended from one of the seven Persians who conspired against the Magi that had usurped after the death of Cambyses He was sirnamed Eupator and Dionysus being a man of a vast mind and ambitious spirit Memnon apud Photium Succeeding his father who was a friend of the people of Rome at thirteen years of age within two years he made away his mother who was left partner with him in the Kingdom and after her his brother also and in his youth he subdued the Kings about Phasis beyond Caucasus His vast designs and great attempts Thirty years after his coming to the Kingdom he thought of no lesse than the Empire of Asia the Romans as he fancied being now sufficiently imployed in