War of Aristonicus

The War of Aristonicus (133/2[1] – 129 BC;[2] also known as the Revolt of Aristonicus) was a military conflict between the Roman Republic, with its allies, and Aristonicus, also called Eumenes III, a claimant to the Pergamene throne. Attalus III, Permagene king until his death in 133 BC, willed the kingdom to Rome; Aristonicus' invasion of Pergamum, the intervention of local Anatolian powers, and Roman attempts to assert their claim precipitated the conflict.

The Romans and their local allies were victorious after some setbacks, capturing Aristonicus at the Stratonicea in Lydia in 130 BC under then-consul Marcus Perperna. Manlius Aquillius succeeded Perperna in command and, after some years in the province, returned to Rome in 126 BC in triumph. The settlement of the annexed Pergamene kingdom, dubbed the Roman province of Asia, continued to be debated at least until 123 BC.[3]

  1. ^ Potter 1988, p. 293, noting that inscriptions "refer to the outbreak of the war in their region before Rome made any decision with regard to the kingdom", implying conflict started immediately after Attalus' death; Livy Per., 59.2, noting "Aristonicus... occupied Asia" in 132.
  2. ^ Gruen 1984, p. 607. "Aquillius wiped out the last vestiges of Aristonicus' movement in 129".
  3. ^ Broughton 1951, p. 513, noting a tribune of 123 BC, called Aufeius, proposing a bill to settle affairs in the province that was vetoed by Gaius Gracchus.