A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

2. A.HostiliusMancinus, L. F. A. N., was praetor urbanus B. C. 180, and consul B. C. 170 with A. Atilius Serranus. In his consulship he had the conduct of the war against Perseus, king of Macedonia; but from the fragmentary nature of the accounts that have come down to us, we are unable to form any definite idea of the campaign. So much, however, seems certain, that he conducted the war for the most part on the defensive. He remained in Greece for part of the next year (B. C. 169) as proconsul; and after passing the winter in Thessaly, he endeavoured to penetrate into Macedonia, but was obliged to retire before the superior force of Perseus. [For the details see PERSEUS.] In the same year he surrendered the command to his successor, the consul Q. Marcius Philippus, leaving behind him the reputation of having kept his soldiers in good discipline, and preserved the allies from injury, although he had performed no exploit worthy of mention. (Liv. 40.35, 43.4_11, 17, 44.1; Plb. 27.14, 28.3, &c.; Plut. Aemsil. Paul. 9.)