ROMAN PERIOD

The Battle of Magnesia led to the signing of Apernea Treaty whereby all cities were turned over to the Romans with the exception of Telmessos which was given to the King of Pergamum, Eumenes. The Lycians paid for supporting Antiochus during the war by having all their ships burned at Patara in 1 86 B.C. Rhodes was awarded with Lycian administration for having supported Rome to which the Lycians opposed vehemently, whereupon the Romans convinced Rhodes not to resort to brute force. The Lycians, on the other hand, claimed that they were not turned over to Rhodes as subjects but as allies. When Rhodes clearly indicated that their aim was total and political dominance of Lycia, the Lycians, made it plain that rather than obeying Rhodes They Would carry out their resistance to the bitter end. During the resulting three battles between Rhodes and lycia, the first resulted in the defeat of the Lycians in 186 B.C.

Within the interval between the first and second battle, the Lycian envoy sent to the Roman Senate related incidents of the tyrannica administration of Rhodes and compared it with their splendid and almost independent existence under the rule of Antiochus, as a result of which the Roman Senate tended to favour Lycia.

Three years after the second battle, the third war started in 174 B.C. during which Eumenes, the King of Pergamum supported Lycia. However, this battle ended in 171 B.C. with Rhodes'sovereignty over the whole region. Nevertheless, hortly thereafter, as a result of the Romans wishing to extend their economical and influential power in the Mediterranean countries, as well as increasing pompousness of the Rhodians and some other reasons, lycia was taken back from Rhodes. It was decreed thai all the lycian and Carian cities turned over to the Rhodians were granted their freedom. As a token of their gratitude, the Lycians erected a monument for Jupiter on the Capitolinos Hill in Rome with an inscription in the name of the Lycian League. During the second century B.C.two celebrities, Lisanias and Eudemos, attempted to become tyrants, seizing power at Xanthos and displaying certain activities at Tlos, but their uprising was dealt with by the forces of the Lycian League: At that time the Lycian League was very powerful Our knowledge is very limited about the activities of the Lyciansduring the period from 167 B.C. when they were granted their freedom, until Mithridatic Wars. It is evident that at this time the Roman dominance was definitely existent throughout Lycia. Towards the middle of this century some Lycian cities were threatened by outside forces and in 1 29 B.C. Pergamum became the first Roman province in Anatolia. Lycia was not influenced by the existence of the Roman province in Asia.

 In 88 B.C. when King Mithridates invaded Western Anatolia, the Roman administration was so ineffective that many cities welcomed Mithridates as a saviour.

Only Lycia displayed its loyalty and supported Rome. Because their resistance was Caesar and Pompeius in 49 B.C., the fact that there were five Lycian vessels in Caesar's naval forces during his Alexandrian campaign leads us to the conclusion that they were supporting him.

In 44 B.C. Brutus and Cassius, involved in the assasination of Caesar, decided to attack Rhodes and Lycia. Mainly with the aim of procuring manpower and foodstuffs,Cassius sailed for Rhodes and Brutus attacked Lycia in 42 B.C. Lycians refused to bow to the wishes of Brutus as a result of which Xanthos was invaded and destroyed.

Following the defeat of Cassius and Brutus by Antonius and Octavius at Philippi in 42 B.C.Antonius was granted the orient by Rome and he verified the independence of Lycia. Thus, Lycia was the only region in Asia Minor not dominated by Roman forces.

That good relations continued between Rome and the Lycians for the periods 27 B.C.-14 A.D. as well as (14-37 A.D.) is evidenced by honorary ranks given to emperors and erection of monuments by the Lycians.

In 43 A.D. the Roman Senate approved a proposal by Senator Claudios and declared that Lycia and Pamphilia were united to form a province. The reason for this union was continuous fights of Lycians among themselves. The first governor of the province was O.Veranius. However, even this was not the end of the Lycian independence. Under the reign of Neron(54-68 A.D.) Lycia's sovereignty lived on until Hadrianus.

Hadrianus (117-138 A.D.) visited this region twice to evaluate the existing economic and military power. Pursuant to the great earthquake in 140 A.D. the Romans provided a major aid to the region.

 In 280 A.D. Probus was greatly concerned by the disturbances in Sourthwestern Asia Minor, He was instrumental in establishing peace between Lycia and Pamphilia. The prominence of the Lycian cities continued during the third century as well and the united province of Lycia and Pamphilia lived on happily until the separatioyn by Diadetianus (284-305).

 With the division of Roman Empire into two, Lycian region was within the boundaries of the Eastern Rome and was deemed an important settlement by Anastasios the Second (713-716) whose reign was short-lived. As for Roman influence in Lycia, the Lycian League was very significant until 167A.D. During the first century A.D. there were 70 Lycian cities. It is evident that these cities had quite a prominent role in the Roman period and this was even more significant during the Eastern Roman Empire. At first the Lycian League reached decisions on its own initiative in connection with congresses, war, peace and alliances; but later, barring special occasions, naturally abided by the Roman practices. The Lycian cities established contacts with Rome through their representatives, and the activities of the Lycian League was seriously controlled by Rome throughout the second century. Financially, the Lycians were tax-payers to the Romans.

By virtue of the Roman influence on the Lycians, athletic contests which were popular among Greeks, pankratium, wrestling, gladiator fights, rights with wild animals, hunting, Roman holidays, festivities and celebrations became part of the life-style in Lycian cities. Autonomous in interior affairs but governed by Rome in foreign policy, Lycia no longer had an independent army. Under the reign of Hadrianus military service was obligatory. Public works in Lycia were still very important during the Roman period. The Roman Empire allotted vast amounts for this activity. Most of today's existing works of art are from the Roman period. The total population of Lycia during the Roman period is estimated as 200.000. The Lycian solidarity was more significant during the provincia period, compared to the time of independence. This solidarity was true in cultural aspect as well as in the field of economy. In this instance, notwithstanding the Roman dominance and influence, local cultural values were sustained in Lycia.