A Macedonian <i>Deditio</i>? Philip V and the Missing <i>Foedus</i> with the Romans in 197/196 BCE

Historians have largely accepted that a foedus (treaty) existed between the Romans and Philip V after his defeat at Cynoscephalae in 197 BCE despite it not being provided in any ancient source; instead, the terms imposed on Philip were reported in the form of a senatus consultum. This paper, however, suggests that there was no foedus ending the Second Macedonian War and instead Philip—through ambassadors—performed a deditio (unconditional surrender) to the Romans. A foedus of alliance was subsequently made in the middle of 196 BCE. This has significant implications for the Roman conception of their power over the Macedonian king.