Corcyra Submits To the Romans
In this same season one of the Consuls, Gnaeus
B. C. 229, The Roman Consuls, with fleet and army, start to punish the Illyrians. |
Fulvius, started from
Rome with two hundred
ships, and the other Consul, Aulus Postumius,
with the land forces. The plan of Gnaeus was
to sail direct to
Corcyra, because he supposed
that he should find the result of the siege still
undecided. But when he found that he was too
late for that, he determined nevertheless to sail to the island
because he wished to know the exact facts as to what had
happened there, and to test the sincerity of the overtures that
had been made by Demetrius.
For Demetrius,
being in disgrace with Teuta, and afraid of what
she might do to him, had been sending messages
to
Rome, offering to put the city and everything else of which
he was in charge into their hands.
Delighted at the appearance
of the Romans, the Corcyreans not only surrendered the garrison to them, with the consent of Demetrius, but committed
themselves also unconditionally to the Roman
protection; believing that this was their only
security in the future against the piratical incursions of the Illyrians. So the Romans, having admitted
the Corcyreans into the number of the friends of
Rome,
sailed for
Apollonia, with Demetrius to act as their guide for
the rest of the campaign.
At the same time
the other Consul, Aulus Postumius, conveyed
his army across from
Brundisium, consisting of twenty
thousand infantry and about two thousand horse. This
army, as well as the fleet under Gnaeus Fulvius, being
directed upon
Apollonia, which at once put itself under
Roman protection, both forces were again put in motion
on news being brought that
Epidamnus was being besieged
by the enemy. No sooner did the Illyrians learn the
approach of the Romans than they hurriedly broke up the
siege and fled.
The Romans, taking the Epidamnians under
their protection, advanced into the interior of
Illyricum, subduing the Ardiaei as they went.
They were met on their march by envoys from
man tribes: those of the Partheni offered an unconditional
surrender, as also did those of the Atintanes. Both were
accepted: and the Roman army proceeded towards
Issa, which
was being besieged by Illyrian troops. On their arrival, they
forced the enemy to raise the siege, and received the Issaeans
also under their protection. Besides, as the fleet coasted along,
they took certain Illyrian cities by storm; among which was
Nutria, where they lost not only a large number of soldiers,
but some of the Military Tribunes also and the Quaestor.
But they captured twenty of the galleys which were conveying
the plunder from the country.
Of the Illyrian troops engaged in blockading Issa, those
that belonged to Pharos were left unharmed, as a favour to
Demetrius; while all the rest scattered and fled to Arbo.
Teuta herself, with a very few attendants, escaped to Rhizon,
a small town very strongly fortified, and situated on the river
of the same name. Having accomplished all this, and having
placed the greater part of Illyria under Demetrius, and invested
him with a wide dominion, the Consuls retired to Epidamnus
with their fleet and army.
