Epirus was split into two states with the Molossians siding with the Macedonians and the Chaonians and Thesprotians siding with Rome. The latter were centred in Phoenice under the leadership of Charops.

After the Roman conquest (167 BC), the region of Epirus was devastated, except for the pro-Roman cities in Chaonia; including Phoenice, which had limited Roman occupation at first. The