PERSEUS (c.212 n.c.-?). The last King of Macedonia, the eldest son of Philip Y. He was born about n.c. 212. He was from his earliest years trained to a military life, and, having com passed through intrigue the death of his brother Demetrius, who was a favorite both with the Macedonians and with the Romans, and whom he for that reason regarded as a dangerous rival, he ascended the throne on the death of his father in B.C. 179. A struggle with Rome was inevitable, and Perseus was well prepared for it. His treasury and magazines were full, his army amounted to over 40,000 trained men, his alliances were strong. and he was himself popular with his subjects and neighbors. He sought, however, to postpone the inevitable as long as possible, but matters came to an open rupture in 171. In that year the Consul Publius Licinius Crassus was sent against him. The blunder of the Romans saved Perseus. Crassus
was defeated at CalHeinus in Thessaly. But Perseus failed to follow up his victory, and the war was continued without decisive result for a number of years. Finally, in the month of March, 168, Lucius Aimilins Paulus arrived in Greece to take command of the Roman forces, and on June 22d of the same year the Mace donian army was utterly defeated in the battle of Pydna. Perseus lied, but afterwards fell with all his treasures into the hands of the Romans. After gracing the triumph of the con sul at Rome, he was held in captivity several years at Alba Fucens, in Italy, where he at length died. Consult: Droysen, Gesehichte des licllenismus (2d ed., Gotha. 1377-7S): Freeman, History of Federal Gorernment (2d ed., New York, 1S93) ; Mahaffy, A IcromIcr'A Empire (New York, ISSS).