First Macedonian War

Part of the Macedonian Wars/Second Punic War

The Mediterranean in 218 BC

Date	214–205 BC
Location	Macedonia and Illyria
Result	Stalemate; Peace of Phoenice

Belligerents

Roman Republic
Kingdom of Illyria
Aetolian League
Kingdom of Pergamon
Kingdom of Sparta
Elis
Messenia

Macedonia
Achaean League

Commanders and leaders

Marcus Valerius Laevinus
Scerdilaidas
Attalus I
Machanidas †

Philip V of Macedon
Philopoemen

The First Macedonian War (214–205 BC) was fought by Rome, allied (after 211 BC) with the Aetolian League and Attalus I of Pergamon, against Philip V of Macedon, contemporaneously with the Second Punic War (218–201 BC) against Carthage. There were no decisive engagements, and the war ended in a stalemate.

During the war, Macedon attempted to gain control over parts of Illyria and Greece, but without success. It is commonly thought that these skirmishes in the east prevented Macedon from aiding the Carthaginian general Hannibal in the war with Rome. The "Peace of Phoenice", a treaty drawn up at Phoenice, in 205 BC, formally ended the war.

Rome's preoccupation with its war against Carthage provided an opportunity for Philip V of Macedon to attempt to extend his power westward. According to the ancient Greek historian Polybius, an important factor in Philip's decision to take advantage of this opportunity was the influence of Demetrius of Pharos.

Demetrius had been, after the First Illyrian War in 229 BC, ruler of most of coastal Illyria. However, in 219 BC, during the Second Illyrian War he was defeated by the Romans and fled to the court of Philip.

Involved in a war with the Aetolians, Philip learned by messenger of the victory of Hannibal over the Romans, at Lake Trasimene in June 217 BC. Philip at first showed the letter only to Demetrius. Perhaps seeing a chance to recover his kingdom, Demetrius immediately advised the young king to make peace with the Aetolians, and turn his attentions toward Illyria and Italy. Polybius quotes Demetrius as saying:

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