Alexander Balas
Many different embassies having come to Rome,
B.C. 152. Visit of the young Attalus, son of the late king Eumenes. |
the Senate admitted Attalus,
1 son of king
Eumenes I. For he had arrived at Rome at
this time, still quite a young boy, to be introduced to the Senate, and to renew in his
person the ancestral friendship and connexion
with the Romans.
Demetrius, son of Ariarathes VI. |
After a kindly reception by the Senate and
his father's friends, and after receiving the answer which he
desired, and such honours as suited his time of life, he returned
to his native land, meeting with a warm and liberal reception
in all the Greek cities through which he passed on his return
journey. Demetrius also came at this time, and,
after receiving a fairly good reception for a boy,
returned home.
Then Heracleides entered the Senate, bringing Laodice and
Laodice and Alexander Balas. See ch. 15. |
Alexander with him. The youthful Alexander
first addressed the Senate, and begged the
Romans "to remember their friendship and
alliance with his father Antiochus, and if possible to assist
him to recover his kingdom; or if they could not do that, at
least to give him leave to return home, and not to hinder
those who wished to assist him in recovering his ancestral
crown." Heracleides then took up the word, and, after
delivering a lengthy encomium on Antiochus, came to the
same point, namely, that they ought in justice to grant the
young prince and Laodice leave to return and claim their own,
as they were the true-born children of Antiochus. Soberminded
people were not all attracted by any of these arguments.
The Senate's decree in favour of Alexander and Laodice. |
They understood the meaning of this theatrical
exhibition, and made no secret of their distaste for Heracleides.
But the majority had fallen under the spell of Heracleides's
cunning, and were induced to pass the following decree:
"Alexander and Laodice, children of a king,
our friend and ally, appeared before the Senate
and stated their case; and the Senate gave them
authority to return to the kingdom of their forefathers; and help, in accordance with their request, is hereby
decreed to them." Seizing on this pretext, Heracleides immediately began hiring mercenaries, and calling on some men of
high position to assist him. He accordingly went to Ephesus
and devoted himself to the preparations for his attempt.
2 . . .