After the defeat of
Perseus at the battle of Pydna in 168 BC, the
Romans divided
Macedonia into four separate autonomous administrative regions (ΜΕΡΙΔΕΣ); the first (ΠΡΩΤΗΣ) lay east of the Strymon with its capital at
Amphipolis, the second (ΔΕΥΤΕΡΑΣ) between the Strymon and
Axios with its capital at
Thessalonica, the third between the
Axios and Peneos with its capital at
Pella, and the fourth included most of Upper
Macedonia with its capital at
Heraclea Lynci. Livy informs us that initially all commerce between the regions, exploitation of the silver and gold mines and the importation of salt were forbidden. Almost all the coinage of this period is struck in the name of the first region and runs parallel to the mass coinages of
Thasos and
Maroneia from about 158 BC. No silver is known from the third and fourth regions, and only a small number of
rare tetradrachms from the second region. These four regions only lasted until 148 BC when the country was finally united to constitute a
Roman Province and proceeded to issue coins under the authority of its legatus
pro praetore.
Livy's
History of Rome, Book 45, Section 18
First of all it was resolved that the Macedonians and Illyrians should be free peoples, so that it might be clear to all the world that the arms of Rome did not carry slavery to the free, but on the contrary freedom to the enslaved; and also that amongst those nations which enjoyed liberty, the security and permanence of their liberty rested under the protection of Rome, whilst on the other hand those who lived under the rule of kings might be led to believe that their kings were all the more just and merciful through the respect they felt for Rome, and if ever their sovereigns began war, the issue of the war would bring victory to Rome and liberty to the people. It was also resolved to abolish all contracts for working the mines of Macedonia, which afforded a considerable revenue, and also all leases of the royal domains; these could not be carried on without the tax-farmer, and wherever the tax-farmer flourished either the law lost its authority or the subjects their liberty. Nor were the Macedonians able to work them themselves, for where those in charge found plunder ready to their hand there were never lacking causes for quarrels and riots. The national council was suppressed, lest some unprincipled flatterer of the mob should turn the safe and reasonable liberty which had been granted into a dangerous and fatal licence. Macedonia was to be divided into four cantons, each to have its own council, and the tribute to Rome was to be half what they had been accustomed to pay to the king. The same regulations were made in the case of Illyria. The other measures were left to the generals and commissioners, as they would be dealing with matters on the spot and would be able to make more definite arrangements.
