Why the Roman Senate Tried to Stop Roman Expansion

A History of Mankind (196)

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Elite Romans knew that, behind the East’s façade of ancient glory, lurked political chaos and infighting; meanwhile, the complex conversion of Greece and Pergamum into Roman provinces was challenging enough that few in the senate felt any appetite to take over more Hellenistic lands.

In 133 BC, a bastard half-brother of Attalus III called Aristonicus had voided his sibling’s non-donation of Pergamum to Rome, with the support of the exiled Graeco-Italian philosopher Gaius Blossius – a friend of the murdered Tiberius Gracchus who had interpreted Attalus III’s will in such a Roman-friendly way that many felt the whole kingdom was now Roman.

Aristonicus’ revolt was put down by the Romans after four years, and wealthy Pergamum did become the Roman province of Asia as Attalus III had intended. Aristonicus himself was captured, paraded through Roman, and strangled in the Tullianum Prison.

The conflict, however, marked an example for many as Aristonicus’ allies managed to kill a Roman consul in paradoxical circumstances¹ and created much unrest in the countryside due to his promises of freedom for slaves and serfs who supported his cause.