Roman victory at the Aous dislodged Philip V from a fortified position, paving the way for the decisive battle of Cynoscephalae that ended the Second Macedonian War.
Key Facts
- Date
- 198 BC
- Macedonian casualties
- approximately 2,000
- Roman commander
- Titus Quinctius Flamininus
- Macedonian commander
- Philip V
- Key tactic
- Flanking via secret path shown by local shepherd
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
During the Second Macedonian War, Philip V of Macedon positioned his army in a fortified pass near the Aous River, exploiting terrain to create what appeared to be an unassailable defensive line against the advancing Roman forces under Flamininus.
A local shepherd revealed a hidden path to Flamininus, who led his troops around the Macedonian position and attacked from the rear. The surprise assault rendered Philip's fortified stance untenable and inflicted roughly 2,000 casualties on the Macedonian forces.
Philip V withdrew his surviving army from the pass, ceding control of the region to Rome. The two commanders met again the following year at Cynoscephalae, where Rome achieved a decisive victory that concluded the Second Macedonian War.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Titus Quinctius Flamininus.
Side B
1 belligerent
Philip V.