was appointed to command in Asia, though Scipio wished for
the post. The matter was decided by the Assembly, and the
influence of the Gracchan party surely contributed to the result.

325. The boundaries of the new province Asia had no
doubt been fixed by the Senate in general terms, leaving dis-
cretion to the commissioners in dealing with the further districts.
Not to annex too much, but to reward client-kings with territories
of doubtful present value, was a practice well established. So a
wide region was added to Cappadocia. The district known as
the Greater Phrygia was important from its position and wealth.
Nicomedes of Bithynia and Mithradates IV of Pontus both
wanted it. The latter got it, having it was said bribed Aquilius.
But he did not keep it long. The award was challenged in
Rome as the needless sacrifice of a valuable property. It seems
that before this king's death in 120 the concession was with-
drawn, and another safe outlet found for Roman capital. For
the present Asia included Mysia Lydia and Caria, with most of
the adjacent islands.

326. In the North and West there were a few movements
worth noting. In 129 the consul C. Sempronius Tuditanus made
a campaign in northern Illyria, probably to keep the peace of the
Adriatic and secure the route to the East. In Sardinia a rebellion
in 126 was not put down till 124. Gaius Gracchus served there
as quaestor. He did as his brother had done in Spain, winning
the confidence of the natives and being otherwise helpful. So the
Senate, in order to keep him away from politics, continued the
consul L. Aurelius Orestes in command. This meant by custom
the detention of his quaestor, but Gracchus saw through the trick
and returned to Rome in 124. In the South of Transalpine Gaul
the Romans again intervened to protect their old ally Massalia.
This time also the enemy were a Ligurian tribe, the Salluvii or
Salyes, in the country north of Massalia and east of the Rhone.
In 125 the consul M. Fulvius Flaccus defeated them, and by 123
they were no longer a menace to the Massaliots. The land-route
to Spain was now safer, and a step was taken which indicates that
the possibility of a forward policy was now in view. In 122, at a
spot behind the Massaliot territory, where there were some hot
springs, the proconsul C. Sextius founded a military station called
Aquae Sextiae (Aix en Provence). In 123 the consul Q. Caecilius
Metellus conquered and occupied the Balearic isles. Thus the

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