Upon Philip's death in Macedon (179 BCE), his son, Perseus of Macedon, attempts to restore Macedon's international influence, and moves aggressively against his neighbors.

When Perseus is implicated in an assassination plot against an ally of Rome, the Senate declares the third Macedonian War.

Initially, Rome does not fare well against the Macedonian forces, but in 168 BCE, Roman legions smash the Macedonian phalanx at the Battle of Pydna.

Perseus is later captured and the kingdom of Macedon divided into four puppet republics that Rome controls.