[20] The decree was brought into the Peloponnese by C. Popilius and Cn. Octavius in B.C. 171. See Livy, 43, 17, ne quis ullam rem in bellum magistratibus Romanis conferret præter quam quod Senatus censuisset. Cp. Polyb. 28, [3].
[25] Thus Appius Claudius Cento would be hostile from the rejection of his illegal demand for 5000 men. One of the common grounds of offence had long been the refusal of Philopoemen and other Strategi to summon an assembly to meet a Roman officer unless he came duly authorised with a definite communication from the Senate. On this ground Quintus Caecilius was refused in B.C. 185 (Polyb. 23, [19]) and also Titus Flamininus in B.C. 183 (Polyb. 24, [5]). See Freeman’s Federal Government, pp. 652-655. And no doubt other cases of a similar nature would occur, generally leading to an unfavourable report at Rome.
[26] Polyb. 30, [13]. Thirlwall, vol. viii. p. 419.
[27] Pausanias, 7, 10, 7-12.