Roman eastern polıcy from the thırd macedonıan war to the campaıgn of pompey and pıracy on the southern coast of Asıa mınor (167-67 b.c.)

Abstract

Abstract: The spread of piratical activities along the southern coasts of Asia Minor during the Ist and IInd centuries B.C., was directly related to the eastern policy of Rome. Roman policies, intended to weaken the Seleucids, and particularly Rhodes, which was actively fighting against piracy, created a great vacuum of authority along the southern coasts of Asia Minor. The expansion of piracy in accordance with the political situation within the region was not initially regarded as a threat by Rome. In fact Rome, in need of numerous slaves in the middle of the IInd century B.C. indirectly supported piracy through purchasing the slaves procured by the pirates. However, the establishment of the province of Asia upon the territory of the former Attalid kingdom, which was bequeathed to Rome by Attalos III, who died in 133 B.C., increased for Rome the political and economic importance of Anatolia. In parallel with this increasing importance of Anatolia, some military and political measures were taken by Rome against piracy. Consequently, after the military campaign of M. Antonius against pirates in 102 B.C., the province of Cilicia was founded through the separation of the southern part of the Asia according to the Lex de Provinciis Praetoriis passed in 100 B.C. Although the governors of Cilicia, following M. Antonius, over the next 35 years fought against piracy in the region it could not be permanently stopped. However, with the expedition of Pompey against the pirates, who was granted extraordinary powers, in 67 B.C., piracy on the southern costs of Asia Minor eventually ceased to be a primary problem for Rome.