PHILIP'S PLAN TO EXTERMINATE THE DARDANIANS

Philip V of Macedon (238 BC – 179 BC) had devised an elaborate scheme, which aimed at the extermination of Macedonia's enemy neighbours - the Dardanians - and the destabilization of Rome. Philip forged an alliance with the Scordisci, a Celtic tribe living in the Sava valley (the only route to Italy),  actively encouraging their raids against Dardanians. At the same time, Philip made an agreement with another Celtic (or Germanic) tribe - the Bastarnae - to grant them a safe passage through Thrace and safely migrate to Dardania from their homelands in the mouth of Danube. Philip's goal was to exterminate the race of the Dardanians with these joint raids and replace their population with the much more friendlier tribe of the Bastarnae. 

Once established in Dardania, the Bastarnae were to be sent onward to devastate Italy. The route ran through the territory of the Scordisci, whom Philip expected to offer no resistance and perhaps even join the campaign, given that they shared similar language and customs with the Bastarnae and would likely be tempted by the prospect of plundering a wealthy nation.

What made Philip's plan particularly shrewd was that he had prepared for either outcome of the Bastarnae's confrontation with Rome. If the Bastarnae were defeated, Philip would still benefit by plundering their remnants, exterminating the Dardani, and claiming Dardania for himself. If they succeeded, Rome would be drawn into a costly new war, freeing Philip to recover the territories he had lost in Greece.  

The plan was never accomplished due to Philip's death in 179 BC and the Bastarnae were informed about the unfortunate outcome on their way to the south.

Titus Livius describes the plan in his Ab Urbe Condita, 40.57:

"Oppressit igitur necopinantes ignarosque omnes Perseus et regnum scelere partum inuasit. peropportuna morsPhilippi fuit ad dilationem et ad uires bello subtrahendas. nam post paucis diebus gens Bastarnarum, diu sollicitata, ab suis sedibus magna peditum equitumque manu Histrum traiecit. inde praegressi, qui nuntiarent regi, Antigonus et Cotto: <Cotto> nobilis erat Bastarna, Antigonus e regiis unus, saepe cum ipso Cottone legatus ad concitandos Bastarnas missus. haud procul Amphipoli fama, in<de> certi nuntii occurrerunt mortuum esse regem. quae res omnem ordinem consilii turbauit. compositum autem sic fuerat, transitum per Thraciam tutum et commeatus Bastarnis ut Philippus praestaret. id ut facere posset, regionum principes donis coluerat, fide sua obligata pacato agmine transituros Bastarnas. Dardanorum gentem delere propositum erat inque eorum agro sedes dare Bastarnis. duplex inde erat commodum futurum, si et Dardani, gens semper infestissima Macedoniae temporibusque iniquis regum imminens, tolleretur, et Bastarnae relictis in Dardania coniugibus liberisque ad populandam Italiam possent mitti. per Scordiscos iter esse ad mare Hadriaticum Italiamque; alia uia traduci exercitum non posse. facile Bastarnis Scordiscos iter daturos: nec enim aut lingua aut moribus [aequales] abhorrere; et ipsos adiuncturos se, cum ad praedam opulentissimae gentis ire uidissent. inde in omnem euentum consilia <ac>commodabantur: siue caesi ab Romanis forent Bastarnae, Dardanos tamen sublatos praedamque ex reliquiis Bastarnarum et possessionem liberam Dardaniae solacio fore; siue prospere <rem> gessissent, Romanis auersis in Bastarnarum bellum recuperaturum se in Graecia, quae amisisset. haec Philippi consilia fuerant."

[English Translation]:

The death of Philip occurred very opportunely as regarded the postponement of hostilities and the concentration of the resources for war. A few days later the tribe of the Bastarnae, after repeated invitations, left their homes and crossed the Hister with a large body of infantry and cavalry. Antigonus and Cotto - a Bastarnian noble - went in advance to inform the king. Antigonus had previously been sent with this same Cotto to induce the Bastarnae to move. Not far from Amphipolis they heard a report, and soon afterwards were met by messengers who announced the king's death. This completely upset their plans. It had been settled that Philip would afford the Bastarnae a safe passage through Thrace and supply them with provisions. To ensure this he had bribed the chiefs in the districts to be traversed and had pledged his word that the Bastarnae would pass through peacefully. It was intended to exterminate the Dardani and to make a home for the Bastarnae in their territory. There was to be a double advantage in this; the Dardani, who had always been bitter enemies to Macedonia, and ready to fall on her in times of misfortune, would be put out of the way, and the Bastarnae could leave their wives and children in Dardania and be sent on to devastate Italy. The way to the Hadriatic and to Italy lay through the Scordisci; that was the only practicable route for an army, and the Scordisci were expected to grant a passage to the Bastarnae without any difficulty, for neither in speech nor habits were they dissimilar, and it was hoped that they would unite forces with them when they saw that they were going to secure the plunder of a very wealthy nation. Thus Philip's plans were adapted to either alternative. If the Bastarnae were defeated by the Romans, the extermination of the Dardani, the plunder of what remained of the Bastarnae, and the unchallenged possession of Dardania would be some consolation to him; if on the other hand they met with success and the Romans were recalled to a war with the Bastarnae, he would win back what he had lost in Greece. Such were Philip's schemes.