Aristoni'cus
2. A natural son of Eumenes II. of Pergamus, who was succeeded by Attalus III. When the latter died in B. C. 133, and made over his kingdom to the Romans, Aristonicus claimed his father's kingdom as his lawful inheritance.
The towns, for fear of the Romans, refused to recognise him, but he compelled them by force of arms; and at last there seemed no doubt of his ultimate success. In B. C. 131, the consul P. Licinius Crassus, who received Asia as his province, marched against him; but he was more intent upon making booty than on combating his enemy, and in an ill-organized battle which was fought about the end of the year, his army was defeated, and he himself made prisoner by Aristonicus.
In the year following, B. C. 130, the consul M. Perperna, who succeeded Crassus, acted with more energy, and in the very first engagement conquered Aristonicus and took him prisoner.
After the death of Perperna, M. Aquillius completed the conquest of the kingdom of Pergamus, B. C. 129. Aristcnuicus was carried to Rome to adorn the triumph of Aquillius, and was then beheaded. (Justin,
36.4;
Liv. Epit. 59;
Vell. 2.4;
Flor. 2.20;
Oros. 5.10; Sail.
Hist. 4; Appian,
App. Mith. 12,
62,
de Bell. Civ. 1.17;
V. Max. 3.4.5; Diod.
Fragm. lib. 34, p. 598; Cic.
de Leg. Agr. 2.33,
Philip.11.8; Ascon.
ad Cic. pro Scaur. p. 24, ed. Orelli.)
