a country of ancient Greece, comprehending all that tract now called the Deppotat, or Little Greece. It was parted on the east by the river Evenus, now the Fidari, from the Locranes Ozoë; on the west, from Acarnania by the Achelous; on the north, it bordered on the country of the Dorians and part of Epirus; and, on the south, extended to the bay of Corinth.

The Etolians were a restless and turbulent people; seldom at peace among themselves, and ever at war with their neighbours; utter strangers to all sense of friendship or principles of honour; ready to betray their friends upon the least prospect of reaping any advantage from their treachery: in short, they were looked upon by the other states of Greece no otherwise than as outlaws and public robbers. On the other hand, they were bold and enterprising in war; incurious to labour and hardships; undaunted in the greatest dangers; jealous defenders of their liberties, for which they were, on all occasions, willing to venture their lives, and sacrifice all that was most dear to them. They distinguished themselves above all the other nations of Greece, in opposing the ambitious designs of the Macedonian princes; who, after having reduced most of the other states, were forced to grant them a peace upon very honourable terms. The constitution of the Eolian republic was copied from that of the Achaean, and with a view to form, as it were, a counter alliance; for the Eolians bore an irreconcilable hatred to the Acheans, and had conceived no small jealousy at the growing power of that state. The Cleomenic war, and that of the allies, called the social war, were kindled by the Eolians in the heart of Peloponnesus, with no other view but to humble their antagonists the Acheans. In the latter, they held out, with the assistance only of the Eleans and Lacedemonians, for the space of three years, against the united forces of Achaia and Macedon; but were obliged at last to purchase a peace, by yielding up to Philip all Acarnania. As they parted with this province much against their will, they watched all opportunities of wresting it again out of the Macedonian's hands; for which reason they entered into an alliance with Rome against him, and proved of great service to the Romans in their war with him: but growing insolent upon account of their services, they made war upon the Romans themselves. By that warlike nation they were overcome, and granted a peace on the following severe terms: 1. The majesty of the Roman people shall be revered in all Eolia. 2. Eolia shall not suffer the armies of such as are at war with Rome to pass through her territories, and the enemies of Rome shall be likewise the enemies of Eolia. 3. She shall, in the space of 100 days, put into the hands of the magistrates of Corcyra all the prisoners and deserters she has, whether of the Romans or their allies, except such as have been taken twice, or during her alliance with Rome. 4. The Eolians shall pay down in ready money, to the Roman general in Eolia, 200 Euboic talents, of the same value as the Athenian talents, and engage to pay 30 talents more within the five years following. 5. They shall put into the hands of the con-