Macedon and Germany

8/9/2019 Macedon and Germany

1/9

74 THE CLASSICAL WEEKLYhence may express the writers' belief that the landsrebelled against their rightful masters; even so, theprecedent for a loose use of rebellatrix may be set orfollowed by such passages.

Mediaeval Evidence: The liberal tendencywhich wehave traced through the fifth century seems recognizedby a glossographer of the seventh: 7roXe,woshoc bellumhoc proelitumhoc rebellum (rebellium20?Goetz .21Against such a background the broad meaning ofrebellis in the later Middle Ages need not be consideredas merely symptomatic of the general breakdown oflinguistic distinctions, but as a final step in the liberalevolution of the re-bell- compounds:Rebellis, Hostis. Litterae Johannis Franc. Regis ann. 1352apud D. Secousse tom. 4. Ordinat. Reg. pag. 116: . . .antecessoresnostri Francorum Reges . . . in quoscumque Rebelles suos manusvoluerunt mittere, victoriam reportarunt. Gaspar Barthius inGlossario ex Baldrici [saec. XII] Hist. Palaest.: Rebellis, pugnax,

belliger.22But the other entries of the Corpus glossariorum andof Du Cange emphasize the 'again' meaning of there-bell- compounds.23Conservative and liberal tendencies seem in balanceto the end. Over against the original and predominant'again' meaning, the 'back' meaning has gained groundthrough the centuries. Re-bell- has come to be oftensynonymouswith re-pugn- and re-sist-.

PAUL R. MURPHYOHIO UNIVERSITY

MACEDON AND GERMANYIn considering the question "Does history repeat

itself ?", Toynbee observes that ". . . historical events thatrepeat themselves may be strictly contemporary or theymay overlap in time or they may be entirely non-con-temporaneous with one another."' On a "... true timescale," Toynbee continues, "these events of 'ancient his-tory' are virtually contemporary with our own lifetime,

however remote they may appear when viewed throughthe magnifying lens of the individual human midget's sub-jective mental vision. . . . The conclusion seems to bethat human history does turn out, on occasions, to haverepeated itself up to date in a significant sense. ..."2

Among the more striking modern repetitions of history"up to date in a significant sense" must certainly be in-cluded the Allied handling of Germanyafter World WarII and the Roman political experiment in Macedoniaafter the defeat of Perseus in the Third MacedonianWar. The forcible removal of Perseus and of Hitlerfrom "absolute" positions in their respective states re-sulted in a series of amazingly parallel developments.These I shall illustrate under six headings, relyinglargely upon quotations from ancient sources, from theworks of modernscholars, and from the daily press.I. LosSES IN MANPOWER AND RESOURCES. Both coun-

tries suffered heavy losses in the war: ". . . it is clearthat the losses in the war were enough to affect seriouslythe manpower of a country as small as Macedonia."3According to the New York Times Magazine of Aug-ust 7, 1949, p. 9, "Women's numerical superioritymake[s] them a major factor in today's Germany."Macedonia's ". . . defeat was followed by the loss ofa large part of the movabie wealth...."4 "Amphipoliswitnessed ... a grand show of all the works of art andother valuables of which the cities of Macedon had beenstript. Of the destination of these outward and visiblesigns of a growing civilization there was no doubt: theships to bear them away to Rome lay ready in theStrymon."5 Germany too has witnessed the removal of

much of her tangible resources. The platforms of allWest German political parties involved in the August,1949 election contain a plank devoted to unequivocalopposition to the further dismantling of German ndustry.Efforts were made to establish a National Anti-Dis-mantling Committeeto cope with the problem. Ironically,Great Britain was scheduled to begin the dismantling ofa synthetic gasoline plant in Gelenkirchen on the dayafter the national election was held.It may be noted also that the practice of "liberating"personal effects, so popular during World War II andafter (cf. the Nezw York Herald Tribune, September27, 1949, p. 10), was not unknown in ancient times.

Plutarch (Aentilius Pauhis 28. 6, Loeb translation):"It was only the books of the king that he [Paulus]allowed his sons, who were devoted to learning,to chooseout for themselves...

20 I have not discussed rebellium, a collateral form of rebellio.In its apparently single appearance in Classical Latin literature(Liv. xlii. 21. 3) it is an editorial conjecture for the rebellinumof the single MS, and is not even generally preferred to thealternative conjecture rebellandum.21 Corpus Glossariorum Latisnorunt, ed. by G. Loewe and G.Goetz (Leipzig, 1888-1923), II, 411, ?57 (from the Codex Har-leianius, saec. VII; cf. ibid., p. xx).22 Charles du Fresne, Sieur Du Cange, Glossarium Mediaeet Infimae Latisnitatis (1678); new edit., ed. Leopold Favre(Paris, 1937-1938), s.v.23 Such is also the case in the Medieval Latin Word-List fromBritish and Irish Sources, ed. by J. H. Baxter and C. Johnson(Oxford, 1934).1 A. J. Toynbee, Civilization on Trial (New York: Oxford Uni-versity Press, 1948), p. 36.

2 Ibid., p. 37.3 J. A. 0. Larsen, "Roman Greece," in Tenney Frank, ed.,An Economic Survey of Ancient Rome (Baltimore: The JohnsHopkins Press, 1938), IV, 294. Translations from Livy xlvfollow the version in Larsen's text.4 Ibid.5 W. E. Heitland, The Roman Republic (Cambridge: At theUniversity Press, 1909), II, 121.


2/9

THE CLASSICAL WEEKLY 75II. LIBERATIONF INHABITANTS.Livy (xlv. 18):"First, it was determined that the Macedonians ...should be free, in order to demonstrate to all the worldthat the arms of the Roman people did not bring slavery

to the free but freedom to slaves...." Again, from theproclamation of Paulus (Livy xlv. 29) : ". . . he orderedthat the Macedonians should live free, possessing thesame cities and lands as before, governed by their ownlaws, and creating annual magistrates...."According to the occupationstatute for Western Ger-

many, adopted in April, 1949, ". . . the German peopleshall enjoy self-government to the maximum possibleconsistent with [the] occupation."The New York Times,citing this provision, points out also that "The new Ger-man nation is to have 'full legislative, executive andjudicial powers'-subject to certain limitations." (NewYork Times, August 14, 1949, Section 4, p. 1.)III. DIvIsION INTOZONES. Livy (xlv. 29) : [Paulusordered] that Macedon should be divided into four dis-

tricts.... He then appointed the capitals of the dis-tricts.... In these he ordered that the councils of theseveral districts should be assembled, the public moneydeposited,and the magistrates elected."

Germany in 1949 consists of four "zones of occupa-tion." In actual practice, there are only two "zones":West Germany, comprising the American, British, andFrench zones; and East Germany, the Russian zone.IV. ECONOMICRESTRICTIONS.In Macedonia,the economic development of the future was impeded byhampering restrictions imposed in the settlement of

167."6 Livy (xlv. 29): "[Paulus] then gave notice thatit was determined that there should not be intermarriagenor liberty to purchase lands or houses out of the limitsof their respective districts; that the mines of gold andsilver must not be worked, but that those of iron andcopper might.... He likewise forbade the use of im-ported salt. . He prohibited them from cutting shiptimber themselves or suffering others to cut it." Amodern scholar remarks, "The instructions of the Senateto the commissioners imply that the mines and royalestates had become the property of the Roman state."7

According to the April occupation statute mentionedabove, the Western occupying powers reserved to them-selves power in such fields as reparations, civil aviation,and foreign trade.

"Macedoniaproper was divided into four independentrepublics according to the national geographical lines soclearly marked out by the high mountain ranges andrivers of the country."8 No special effort was made toprovide each section with adequate industries, farms,

seaports, etc., and thus make it self-sufficient. In addi-tion, commerciumt mong the several republics was for-bidden. Faced with declining revenue after the closingof the gold and silver mines, and crippledby restrictionson trade, Macedon soon found her economic situationunbearable.

Since the zones of the Western powers are operatingmore or less cooperatively, the actual dividing line mustbe drawn only between West and East Germany. Cur-rency difficulties have virtually eliminated commerciunsbetween East and West Germany on any large scale.Before the war, West Germany accounted for 86 percent of Germany's total productionof steel, 80 per centof its coal, 61 per cent of its industrial products, butcnly 45 per cent of its farm products. The loss of thefarm market for industrial products and the necessityof importing foodstuffs have contributed to West Ger-many's economic difficulties. Unemployment s generallyconsideredan accurateindicationof the financial state ofa nation; "Although the leaders of the big politicalparties have hanmmered away at national ... questionssince the campaignbegan, here in Schierstein unemploy-ment is more important than an internationalauthorityfor the Ruhr...."9V. REMOVAL OF GOVERNMENTAL OFFICIALS. "Thefriends and courtiers of Perseus, the generals of thearmies, the commandersof the fleets and garrisons, allwho held any employment from him, were to accompanythe consul into Italy, together with their children....`10"It was a cruel mockery when the people of the fourdistricts were called upon to elect an administrativecouncil for each one of them. Notice was given that allthose named in a publishedblack-list were to leave thecountry and report themselves to Italy upon pain ofdeath; a measure which at one stroke removed everyoneconversant with affairs of government, and left thepeople without their natural leaders.""lThe removal of the top Nazis by execution and im-prisonment, the elaborate program of denazificationun-dertaken by the Allies, the difficulties encountered insecuring competentofficials for governmental posts whowere free of any taint of Nazism, all are too familiar towarrant recounting in detail here. It is interesting thatthe Romanprogram of "demacedonification" ent beyond

the boundaries of Macedon: "The arrangements inGreece included . .. the punishment of those who sidedwith Perseus and of others who, rightly or wrongly,were suspected of pro-Macedoniantendencies."12

6 Larseni, loc. cit. (note 3, above).7 Larsen, op. cit. (note 3, above), p. 299.8 Tenney Frank, Roman Imperialism (New York: Macmillan,1914), p. 208.

9 Drew Middleton, "As Schierstein Goes to the Polls," NewYork Times Magazine, August 14, 1949, p. 40.10 V. Duruy, The History of Rome, trans. M. M. Ripley andW. J. Clarke, ed. J. P. Mahaffy (E3oston: Jewett Publishing Com.pany, 1883), II, 178.11 Heitland, loc. cit. (note 5, above).12 Larsen, op. cit. (note 3, above), p. 300.


3/9

76 THE CLASSICAL WEEKLYVI. RESURGENCE OF NATIONALISM. But perhaps themost significant parallel between the two conqueredstates is the problem of nationalism. Rome took elabo-rate precautionsto prevent such a development n Mace-donia. Livy (xlv. 18): "Finally lest if there shouldbe a general council of the nation, some base flattererof the populace might some time or other convertinto pestilent licentiousness the liberty granted withwholesome moderation, it was decided that Macedoniashould be divided into four districts...." Modernscholars have noted the anti-nationalistic character ofthe Roman program: "... the country was cunninglydivided into four republics, and in such a way thattribes naturally connected together were severed fromone another, and were annexed to a different republicwith which they had no national connection. The objectof this measure was to destroy all national feeling ineach of the four states."13 "Probablythere had existed

a group of wealthy men holding estates in variousparts of Macedonia. Such a group would tend todevelop a feeling of solidarity extending to the entirecountry and so nullify its division and keep alive afeeling for unity. Whatever there was of such a classat the time was exiled . .. and the growth of a groupof the kind in the future was impededby the [economic]restrictions mentioned."'14 "In order to break up thenational feeling that might readily emerge into perilousaction if a pretender to the throne should appear, con-nubium and commercium were declared void betweenthe four various states."'15"In cutting up a kingdom, she [Rome] was on thisoccasion cutting up a nation; the process was painful,and led to troublesome consequences. .. . It was nolight thing to violate a national unity that had over-come local and tribal diversities. . . . That the peoplewere pleased with 'freedom,' that is, with the abolitionof the monarchy, was plainly nothing but a Romanfiction."'16 "The monarchy was abolished, and in itsplace Aemilius and ten commissioners set up a federalcouncil of representatives drawn from all four states.. . . But this ingeniousconstitutionalexperimentbroughtno contentment; for the Macedonians were much at-tached to their kings and altogether unripe for self-government. .."17 Finally: "The people [Macedonians]had never taken kindly to the system of the four re-

publics, with their officialsand assemblies and machineryof more or less popular government. They were arustic population, used to obedience in military service.... In 164 their discontent and unrest were alreadyknown at Rome. "..18

Macedonia's four republics managed to survive foran uneasy eighteen years. Polybius (xxxi. 12, xxxv. 4)speaks of civil strife, even (xxxi. 17) of the murder ofthe senators of one republic. Finally, in 149, the long-awaited pretender to the throne appeared in the personof Andriscus, "pseudo-Philip," "... who had rallied aroyalist party on the pretence of being a son of Per-seus, so that he succeeded for the moment in reunitingMacedonia under a stolen crown."19 In 148, after afourth Macedonian war, Rome finally resigned herselfto the annexation of Macedonia, and peace was estab-lished.The obvious implication is that, in spite of Rome'sdeliberate efforts, nationalism in Macedonia was nevereradicated. In a similar manner,the rise of nationalismin Germany in 1949 is occasioning no little concernamong political observers. Thomas Mann, in an inter-view upon his arrival in the United States after a tour

of Germany in the summer of 1949, reported: "I didnot speak to one honest German who was not deeplyconcerned about increasing nationalism in his country.... The great majority of the people complain, 'UnderHitler we were much better off.' "20So there the matter stands, at least for the present.The results of the August, 1949 election indicate thatKonrad Adenauer, leader of the Christian Democrats,is the first Chancellor of the new German Republic.Beyond Germany's own ill-fated Weimar Republic,Adenauer may well look to Rome's Macedonianrepub-lics. Andriscus, the "successor"to Perseus; Hitler, the"successor"to Wilhelm-if history continues to repeatitself, it might be well to leave a blank space for theseemingly inevitable "successor" to Hitler.EDWARD C. ECHOLS

UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA

REVIEWSThe Historical Work of Ammianus Marcellinus.By E. A. THOMPSON. Cambridge: At the UniversityPress; New York: Macmillan, 1947. TPp.xii, 145.$2.50.

This study has been favorablyreviewed in this countryby M. L. W. Laistner (CP, XLIII [1948], pp. 205-7),and it would be an absurd anticlimax for the presentreporter to add much in the way of commendation. Soconcise and so closely reasoned are Mr. Thompson's13 B. G. Niebuhr, The History of Rome, trans. L. Schmitz(Philadelphia: Lea and Blanchard, 1844), IV, 139.14 Larsen, op. cit. (note 3, above), p. 299; cf. also Livy xlv. 32.15 Frank, loc. cit. (note 8, above).16 Heitland, loc. cit. (note 5, above).17 Cyril E. Robinson, A History of Rome (New York: ThomasCrowell Company [1935]), p. 90.

i8 Heitland, op. cit. (note 5, above), II, 150, f.19 M. Cary, A History of Rome (London: Macmillan, 1938),p. 208.20 N. Y. Times, August 13, 1949, p. 3; italics are mine. Cf.Thomas Mann, "Germany Today," New York Times Magasine,September 25, 1949, p. 14.


4/9

"?""...(),,-."(1)"...,","''-,,,,...,,..."(2)""()."".,,,.I.:"...

()."(3)NewYorkTimesMagazine7,1949,.9,"...().""......"(4)"...().:."(5).-

1949.-.,Gelenkirchen."",


5/9

(NewYorkHeraldTribune,27,1949,.10),.(AemiliusPaulus28.6,Loeb)",,()..."

II.(xlv.18):",...,,..."(),(xlv.29):"...,,,..."

,1949,"...."TheNewYorkTimes,"','-."(NewYorkTimes,14,1949,4,.1)III.(xlv.29):"...[]......

,,."1949".""":,,,;,...IV.,"...167(

...)."(6)(xlv.29):"...[](),,.......","


6/9


7/9

...,-."(12)VI.

..(xlv.18):",,,..."-:"...,,

.."(13)".....[]."(14)"-,

."(15)",[];,......'',..,()."(16)"....;

..."(17):"[],.,....164(...)..."(18).(xxxi.12,xxxv.4),(xxxi.17).,149(...),-


8/9

,"-","...,."(19)148(...),,,.

,,.,1949.,1949,:"...,''."(20),.1949,.

,,.,"";,""--,"".EdwardC.EcholsUniversityofAlabamaTheClassicalWeekly,Vol.43,No.5(Dec.19,1949)pp.74-76

:

(1) A. J. Toynbee, Civilization on Trial(New York: Oxford University Press, 1948), .

36.(2)Ibid., . 37.

(3) J. A. O. Larsen, Roman Greece Tenney Frank, ed.,An Economic Survey ofAncient Rome (Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins Press, 1938), IV, 294. Livy

xlv .(4)Ibid.

(5) W. E. Heitland, The Roman Republic (Cambridge: At the University Press, 1909), II,

121.(6) Larsen, loc. cit. ( 3, ).(7) Larsen, loc. cit. ( 3, ), . 299.

(8) Tenney Frank,Roman Imperialism (New York: Macmillan, 1914), . 208.(9) Drew Middleton, As Schierstein Goes to the PollsNew York Times Magazine, 14

, 1949, . 40.(10) V. Duruy, The History of Rome, M. M. Ripley W.J. Clarke, ed. J. P.

Mahaffy (Boston: Jewett Publishing Company, 1883), II, 178.


9/9

(11) Heitland, loc. cit. ( 5, ).(12) Larsen, op. cit. ( 3, ), . 300.

(13) B. G. Neibuhr, The History of Rome, L. Schmitz (Philadelphia: Lea andBlanchard, 1844), IV, 139.

(14) Larsen, op. cit. ( 3, ), . 299; cf. Livy xlv. 32.

(15) Frank, loc. cit. ( 8, ).(16) Heitland, loc. cit. ( 5, ).(17) Cyril E. Robinson,A History of Rome (New York: Thomas Crowell Company

[1935]), . 90.(18) Heitland, op. cit. ( 5, ), II, 150 f.

(19) M. Cary,A History of Rome (London: Macmillan, 1938), . 208.(20)N. Y. Times, 13 , 1949, . 3; . Cf. Thomas Mann,

Germany Today,New York Times Magazine, 25 , 1949, . 14.

Documents

Macedon and Germany