Epulon
Encyclopedia
Epulon was an Illyria
n king of Histria
in northern Illyria. Livy
who described the Roman wars against the Histrians call him a king. However Epulon wasn't truly a king in the sense that Livy thought, but the leader of the Histrian tribe, selected by the tribal council. Epulon warred against a series of commanders sent by the Roman Republic
during a period of Roman expansionism
in the first half of the 2nd century BC until his death in 177 BC. Epulon is also known as Epulo, Epulone or Aepulo.
Conflict between the Histrians and the Romans
was inevitable, as soon as the Romans conquered various peoples of northern Italy
and the Adriatic Venenti. Therefore at the same time as when the Romans were at war with the southern Illyrians of the Ardiaean Kingdom, wars started also against the northern Illyrians of the northern Adriatic and eastern Alps
. The first war between the Histrians and Rome
began in 221 BC
. The colony of Aquilea was founded to enforce a defensive boundary between the Illyrians but the Histrians saw this as a danger to their independence.
In 181 BC
the Histrians with their own right attempted to inhibit the construction of the city but the Roman general, Q. Fab Buteoni won another battle against them and established peace. Later in that year, Epulon became king of the Histrians. Epulon was a warlike and uncompromising leader. Immediately as he got the throne e prepared for battle against the Romans. The Romans would not allow for any surprises and in 178 BC
they sent an army under A. Manli Vulzonin. to Aquilea. The fate of the war swinged in both directions. As a result Rome sent even greater forces in 177 BC
. The Histrians made a successful attack on a Roman camp and drove the legions in panic who quickly fled. Epulon's forces took a great booty of valuables, equipment , food and wine. After initial successes in defeating his enemies at Aquilea, Epulon was defeated in northern Istria
and forced to withdraw his forces to the Histrian capital of Nesactium.
Before attacking Nesactium the Romans captured other important Histrian centers in Istria. It is said that the Romans were at first unable to take Nesactium and did not made any success in their lengthy siege of the city. Under C. Claudius Pulcher
who had brought two new legions, the success of their assault changed only when the Romans in a few days, diverted a river which protected Nesactium and provided them with water. The histrians chose to fight rather than to surrender the city. The Histrians killed their women and children and threw them from the city walls while at the same time fought the Romans. When Epulon realised that the Romans had won, he committed suicide by stabbing himself with a sword to avoid Roman captivity. The survivors were killed or captured. After the fall of Nesactium other Istrian cities so suffered the same faith. Soon all of Istria was conquered as well as the independence of the Histrians. According to Livy, 5,632 Histrians were sold into slavery.
Illyria
In classical antiquity, Illyria was a region in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula inhabited by the Illyrians....
n king of Histria
Istria
Istria , formerly Histria , is the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea. The peninsula is located at the head of the Adriatic between the Gulf of Trieste and the Bay of Kvarner...
in northern Illyria. Livy
Livy
Titus Livius — known as Livy in English — was a Roman historian who wrote a monumental history of Rome and the Roman people. Ab Urbe Condita Libri, "Chapters from the Foundation of the City," covering the period from the earliest legends of Rome well before the traditional foundation in 753 BC...
who described the Roman wars against the Histrians call him a king. However Epulon wasn't truly a king in the sense that Livy thought, but the leader of the Histrian tribe, selected by the tribal council. Epulon warred against a series of commanders sent by the Roman Republic
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
during a period of Roman expansionism
Expansionism
In general, expansionism consists of expansionist policies of governments and states. While some have linked the term to promoting economic growth , more commonly expansionism refers to the doctrine of a state expanding its territorial base usually, though not necessarily, by means of military...
in the first half of the 2nd century BC until his death in 177 BC. Epulon is also known as Epulo, Epulone or Aepulo.
Conflict between the Histrians and the Romans
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
was inevitable, as soon as the Romans conquered various peoples of northern Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and the Adriatic Venenti. Therefore at the same time as when the Romans were at war with the southern Illyrians of the Ardiaean Kingdom, wars started also against the northern Illyrians of the northern Adriatic and eastern Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
. The first war between the Histrians and Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
began in 221 BC
221 BC
Year 221 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Asina and Rufus/Lepidus...
. The colony of Aquilea was founded to enforce a defensive boundary between the Illyrians but the Histrians saw this as a danger to their independence.
In 181 BC
181 BC
Year 181 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Cethegus and Tamphilus...
the Histrians with their own right attempted to inhibit the construction of the city but the Roman general, Q. Fab Buteoni won another battle against them and established peace. Later in that year, Epulon became king of the Histrians. Epulon was a warlike and uncompromising leader. Immediately as he got the throne e prepared for battle against the Romans. The Romans would not allow for any surprises and in 178 BC
178 BC
Year 178 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Brutus and Vulso...
they sent an army under A. Manli Vulzonin. to Aquilea. The fate of the war swinged in both directions. As a result Rome sent even greater forces in 177 BC
177 BC
Year 177 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Pulcher and Gracchus...
. The Histrians made a successful attack on a Roman camp and drove the legions in panic who quickly fled. Epulon's forces took a great booty of valuables, equipment , food and wine. After initial successes in defeating his enemies at Aquilea, Epulon was defeated in northern Istria
Istria
Istria , formerly Histria , is the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea. The peninsula is located at the head of the Adriatic between the Gulf of Trieste and the Bay of Kvarner...
and forced to withdraw his forces to the Histrian capital of Nesactium.
Before attacking Nesactium the Romans captured other important Histrian centers in Istria. It is said that the Romans were at first unable to take Nesactium and did not made any success in their lengthy siege of the city. Under C. Claudius Pulcher
Gaius Claudius Pulcher (consul 177 BC)
Gaius Claudius Pulcher, a.k.a. Caius Claudius , consul in 177 BC, was the son of Appius Claudius Pulcher consul in 212 BC, and he was the father of Appius Claudius Pulcher, consul in 143 BC....
who had brought two new legions, the success of their assault changed only when the Romans in a few days, diverted a river which protected Nesactium and provided them with water. The histrians chose to fight rather than to surrender the city. The Histrians killed their women and children and threw them from the city walls while at the same time fought the Romans. When Epulon realised that the Romans had won, he committed suicide by stabbing himself with a sword to avoid Roman captivity. The survivors were killed or captured. After the fall of Nesactium other Istrian cities so suffered the same faith. Soon all of Istria was conquered as well as the independence of the Histrians. According to Livy, 5,632 Histrians were sold into slavery.