11, 15, 20; Mem-
to him ; but the important islands of Cos and non, 32, 33.
to him ; but the important islands of Cos and non, 32, 33.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - b
, surnamed EUPATOR, and had by these means established himself firmly on
also Dionysus, but more commonly known by the the throne of Pontus (under which name was com-
name of the Great (a title which is not, how- prised also a part of Cappadocia and Paphlagonia),
ever, bestowed on him by any ancient historian), he began to turn his arms against the neighbouring
was the son and successor of the preceding. We nations. On the West, however, his progress was
have no precise statement of the year of his birth, hemmed in by the power of Rome, and the minor
and great discrepancies occur in those concerning sovereigns of Bithynia and Cappadocia enjoyed
his age and the duration of his reign. Strabo, the all-powerful protection of that republic. But
who was likely to be well informed in regard to on the East his ambition found free scope. He
the history of his native country, affirms that he subdued the barbarian tribes in the interior, be
was eleven years old at the period of his accession tween the Euxine and the confines of Armenia,
(x. p. 477), and this statement agrees with the including the whole of Colchis and the province
account of Appian, that he was sixty-eight or called Lesser Armenia (which was ceded to him by
sixty-nine years old at the time of his death, of its ruler Antipater), and even extended his con-
which he had reigned fifty-seven. Memnon, on quests beyond the Caucasus, where he reduced to
the other hand (c. 30, ed. Orell. ), makes him subjection some of the wild Scythian tribes that
thirteen at the time when he ascended the throne, bordered on the Tanaïs. The fame of his arms
and Dion Cassius (xxxv. 9) calls him above seventy and the great extension of his power led Parisades,
years old in B. C. 68, which would make him at king of the Bosporus, as well as the Greek cities of
least seventy-five at his death, but this last account Chersonesus and Olbia, to place themselves under
is certainly erroneous. If Appian's statement his protection, in order to obtain his assistance
concerning the length of his reign be correct, we against the barbarians of the North—the Sarmil-
may place his accession in B. c. 120.
tians and Roxolani, Mithridates entrusted the
We have very imperfect information concerning conduct of this war to his generals Diophantus and
the earlier years of his reign, as indeed during the Neoptolemus, whose efforts were crowned with
whole period which preceded his wars with the complete success : they carried their victorious artis
minor
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from the Tanaïs to the Tyras, totally defeated the as their sovereign. Mithridates hereapon invaded
Roxolani, and rendered the whole of the Tauric Cappadocia again, and drove out thiz new com-
Chersonese tributary to the kingdom of Pontus. petitor, who died shortly after. But the Roman
A fortress called the tower of Neoptolemus, at the senate now interfered, and appointed a Cappadocian
mouth of the river Tyras (Dniester), probably named Ariobarzanes to be king of that country
marks the extreme limit of liis conquests in that (B. C. 93). Mithridates did not renture openly to
direction ; but be is said to have entered into oppose this nomination, but he secretly instigated
friendly relations with and possessed much influ- Tigranes, king of Armenia, to invade Cappadocia,
ence over the Getae and other wild tribes, as far as and expel Ariobarzanes. The latter, being wholly
the borders of Thrace and Macedonia After the unable to cope with the power of Tigranes, im-
death of Parisades, the kingdom of Bosporus itself mediately fled to Rome ; and Sulla, who was at
was incorporated with his dominions. (Strab. vii. the time praetor in Cilicia, was appointed to rein-
p. 306, 307, 309-312, xi. p. 499, xii. p. 540, state him, B. c. 92. Mithridates took no part in
541, 555; Appian, Mithr. 15; Memnon, c. 30 ; preventing this; and clearly as all things were in
Justin. xxxvii. 3; Niebuhr, K%. Schrift. p. 388— fact tending to a rupture between him and Rome,
390. )
he still continued nominally to enjoy the friendship
While he was thus extending his own 50- and alliance of the Roman people which had been
vereignty, he did not neglect to strengthen himself bestowed by treaty upon his father. (Justin.
by forming alliances with his more powerful neigh. xxxviii. 1-3; Appinn, Mithr. 10, 12, 14; Mem-
bours, especially with Tigranes, king of Armenia, non, c. 30 ; Plut. Sull. 5. ) But this state of things
to whom he gave his daughter Cleopatra in mar- did not last long ; and the death of Nicomedes II. ,
riage, as well as with the warlike nations of the king of Bithynia, by opening a new field to the
Parthians and Iberians. He thus found himself in ambition of Mithridates, at length brought matters
possession of such great power and extensive re- to a crisis. That monarch was succeeded by his
sources, that he began to deem himself equal to a eldest son Nicomedes III. , but Mithridates took
contest with Rome itself. Many causes of dis- the opportunity, on what pretext we know not, to
sension had already arisen between them, and the set up a rival claimant in the person of Socrates, a
Romans had given abundant proofs of the jealousy, younger brother of Nicomedes, whose pretensions
with which they regarded the rising greatness of he supported with an army, and quickly drove
Mithridates, but that monarch had hitherto avoided Nicomedes out Bithynia, B. C. 90. It appears to
an open rupture with the republic. Shortly after have been about the same time that he openly
his accession they had taken advantage of his invaded Cappadocia, and for the second time ex-
minority to wrest from him the province of Phrygia, pelled Ariobarzanes from his kingdom, establishing
which had been bestowed by Aquillius upon his his own son Ariarathes in his place. Both the
father. (Justin. xxxviii. 5; Appian, Mithr. i. fugitive princes had recourse to Rome, where they
57. ) At a subsequent period also they had inter- found ready support: a decree was passed that
posed to prevent him from making himself master of Nicomedes and Ariobarzanes should be restored to
Paphlagonia, to which kingdom he claimed to be their respective kingdoms, and the execution of it
entitled by the will of the last inonarch. (Justin. was confided to two consular legates, the chief of
xxxvii. 4. ) On both these occasions Mithridates whom was M'. Aquillius, while L. Cassius, who
submitted to the imperious mandates of Rome ; commanded in the Roman province of Asia, was
but he was far from disposed to acquiesce per- ordered to support them with what forces he had
manently in the arrangements thus forced upon at his disposal. (Appian, Mithr. 10, 11, 13;
him for a time, and it can hardly be doubted that Justin. xxxvii. 3,5; Memnon, c. 30;
Liv. Epit.
he was already aiming at the conquest of the neigh- lxxiv. )
bouring states which enjoyed the protection of the It is not very easy to understand or account for
Roman republic, with a view to make himself the conduct of Mithridates at this period, as related
master of the whole of Asia Cappadocia above all to us in the very imperfect accounts which we
appears to have been the constant object of his possess. It seems probable that he was emboldened
ambition, as it had indeed been that of the kings to make these direct attacks upon the allies of
of Pontus from a very early period. Ariarathes Rome by the knowledge that the arms of the re-
VI. , king of that country, had married Laodice, public were sufficiently occupied at home by the
the sister of Mithridates, notwithstanding which, Social War, which was now devastating Italy.
the latter procured his assassination, through the But, although that war did in fact prevent the
agency of one Gordius. His design was probably Romans from rendering any efficient support to the
to remove his infant nephews also, and unite Cap-monarchs whose cause they had espoused, Mithri-
padocia to his own dominions ; but Laodice having dates offered no opposition to their proceedings,
thrown herself upon the protection of Nicomedes, but yielded once more, as it would seem, to the very
king of Bithynia, he tumed his arms against that name of Rome, and allowed the consular legates
monarch, whom he expelled from Cappadocia, and and L. Cassius, at the head of a few cohorts only,
set up Ariarathes, one of the sons of Laodice, and to reinstate both Nicomedes and Ariobarzanes.
his own nephew, as king of the country. But it He even went so far as to put to death Socrates,
was not long before he found a cause of quarrel whom he had himself incited to lay claim to the
with the young man whom he had thus established, throne of Bithynia, and who now, when expelled
in consequence of which he invaded his dominions by the Romans, naturally sought refuge at his
with a large army, and having inrited him to a court. (Appian, Mithr, ll; Justin. xxxviii. 5. )
conference, assassinated him with his own hand. Yet about this time we are told, that ambassadors
He now placed an infant son of his own, on whom having been sent to him by the Italian allies that
he had bestowed the name of Ariarathes, upon the were in arms against Rome to court his alliance,
throne of Cappadocia, but the people rose in re he promised to co-operate with them, when he had
bellion, and set up the second son of Ariarathes Vi. first expelled the Romans from Asia. (Diod.
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## p. 1098 (#1114) ##########################################
1098
MITHRIDATES.
MITHRIDATES.
Xxxvii. Evo. Phol. p. 540. ). It is difficult to judge efforts, was ultimately compelled to abandon the
whether he was really meditating a war with siege. After this he made a fruitless attempt upon
Rome, but did not yet consider bis preparations the city of Patara in Lycia ; and then resigning
sufficiently advanced to commence ihe contest, or the command of the war in that quarter to his
was desirous by a show of moderation to throw general, Pelopidas, took up his winter-quarters at
upon the Romans the odium of forcing on the war. Pergamus, where he gave himself up to luxury and
If the latter were his object, his measures were enjoyment, especially to the society of his newly-
certainly not ill chosen ; for it is clear even from married wife Monima, a Greek of Stratoniceia.
the accounts transmitted to us, that whatever may (Appian, Mithr. 21, 23—27. ) It was in the
have been the secret desigris of Mithridates, the midst of these revelries that he issued the san-
immediate occasion of the war arose from acts of guinary order to all the cities of Asia to put to
aggression and injustice on the part of the Romans death on the same day all the Roman and Italian
and their allies.
citizens who were to be found within their walls.
No sooner was Nicomedes replaced on the throne So hateful had the Romans rendered themselves
of Bithynia than he was urged by the Roman during the short period of their dominion, that
legates to invade the territories of Mithridates, into these commands were obeyed with alacrity by
which he made a predatory incursion as far as almost all the cities of Asia, who found the oppor-
Amastris. Mithridates offered no resistance, but tunity of gratifying their own vengeance at the
sent Pelopidas to the Romans to demand satis same time that they earned the favour of Mithri
faction, and it was not until his ambassador was dates, by carrying into effect the royal mandate
sent away with an evasive answer that he prepared with the most unsparing cruelty. The number of
for immediate hostilities, B. C. 88. (Appian, Mithr. those who perished in this fearful massacre is stated
11—15. ) His first step was to invade Cappadocia, by Memnon and Valerius Maximus at eighty thou-
from which he easily expelled Ariobarzanes for the sand persons, while Plutarch increases the amount
third time. Shortly afterwards his two generals, to a hundred and fifty thousand. (Appian, Mithr.
Neoptolemus and Archelaus, advanced against 22, 23; Memnon, 31, Plut. Sull. 24 ; Liv. Epit.
Bithynia with an army of 250,000 foot and 40,000 lxxviii. ; Dion Cass. Fr. 115; Eutrop. v. 5; Oros.
horse. They were met by Nicomedes, supported vi. 2; Flor. iii. 5 ; Cic. p. Leg. Manil. 3, pro Flacc.
by the presence of the Roman legate Aquillius and 24, 25; Tac. Ann. iv. 14 ; Val Max. in 2.
Mancinus, with such forces as they had been able ext. 3. )
to raise in Asia, but with very few Roman troops, But while he thus created an apparently insu-
on the banks of the river Amneius in Paphlagonia, perable barrier to all hopes of reconciliation with
when a great battle ensued, which terminated in Rome, Mithridates did not neglect to prepare for
the complete victory of the generals of Mithridates. the approaching contest ; and though he remained
Nicomedes fled from the field, and, abandoning inactive himself at Pergamus, he was busily em-
Bithynia without another blow, took refuge at ployed in raising troops and collecting ships, so
Pergamus. Aquillius was closely pursued by that in the spring of B. C. 87 he was able to send
Neoptolemus, compelled to fight at disadvantage, Archelaus to Greece with a powerful Aleet and
and again defeated ; and Mithridates, following up army. During the subsequent operations of that
his advantage, not only made himself master of general [ARCHELAUS), Mithridates was continually
Phrygia and Galatia, but invaded the Roman pro- sending fresh reinforcements both by land and sea to
vince of Asia. Here the universal discontent of his support ; besides which he entrusted the com-
the inhabitants, caused by the oppression of the mand of a second army to his son Arcathias, with
Roman governors, enabled him to overrun the orders to advance through Thrace and Macedonia,
whole province almost without opposition : the to co-operate in the war against Sulla. The in-
Roman officers, who had imprudently brought this tended diversion was prevented by the death of
danger upon themselves, were unable to collect any Arcathias ; but the following year (B. C. 86) Taxiles
forces to oppose the progress of Mithridates, and followed the same route with an army of 110,000
two of them, Q. Oppius and Aquillius himself, the men ; and succeeded in uniting his forces with
chief author of the war, fell into the hands of the those of Archelaus. Their combined armies were
king of Pontus. (Appian, Mithr. 15–21; Mem- totally defeated by Sulla at Chaeronea ; but Mi-
non, 3) ; Justin. xxxviii. 3; Liv. Epit. lxxvi. thridates, on receiving the news of this great
lxxvii. lxxviii. ; Oros. vi. 2 ; Eutrop. v. 5; Flor. disaster, immediately set about raising fresh levies,
jï. 6; Strab. xii. p. 562. )
and was soon able to send another army of 80,000
These events took place in the summer and men, under Dorylaus to Euboea. Meanwhile,
autumn of B. C. 88; before the close of that year his severities in Asia, coupled with the disasters of
they were known at Rome, and Sulla was ap- his arms in Greece, seem to have produced a general
pointed to take the command in the war which spirit of disaffection ; the cities of Chios, Ephesus,
was now inevitable. Meanwhile, Mithridates con- and Tralles, besides others of less note, drove out
tinued his military operations in Asia, with a view his governors and openly revolted : and the assas
to make himself master of the whole of that country sination of the tetrarchs of Galatia, whom he put
before the Romans were prepared to attack him. to death from suspicions of their fidelity, led to the
All the cities of the main land except Magnesia loss of that important province. (Appian, Mithr.
and some of those of Lycia had opened their gates 27, 29, 35, 41-49; Plut. Sull.
11, 15, 20; Mem-
to him ; but the important islands of Cos and non, 32, 33. ) He now also found himself threat.
Rhodes still held out ; and against them Mithri- ened with danger from a new and unexpected
dates now directed his arms. Cos was quickly quarter. While Sulla was still occupied in Greece,
subdued ; but the Rhodians were well prepared the party of Marius at Rome had sent a fresh arms
for defence, and possessed a powerful fleet; so that to Asia under L. Flaccus, to carry on the war at
Mithridates, though he commanded his fleet and once against their foreign and domestic enemies ;
army in person, and exerted the most strenuous and Fimbria, who had obtained the command of
## p. 1099 (#1115) ##########################################
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this force by the assassination of Flaccus (FIM- | left in command by Sulla, was eager for some' op:
BRIA), now advanced through Bithynia to assail portunity of earning the honour of a triumph, and
Mithridates, B. C. 85. The king opposed to him a he now (B. C. 83), under the Alimsy pretext that
powerful army, under the command of his son, Mithridates had not yet evacuated the whole of
Mithridates, seconded by three of his generals; but Cappadocia, marched into that country, and not
this was totally defeated by Fimbria, who quickly only made himself master of the wealthy city of
followed up his advantage, and laid siege to Per Comana, but even crossed the Halys, and laid
gamus itself: from hence, however, Mithridates waste the plains of Pontus itself
. To this flagrant
fled to Pitane, where he was closely blockaded by breach of the treaty so lately concluded, the Roman
Fimbria ; and had Lucullus, the quaestor of Sulla, general was in great measure instigated by Arche
who commanded the Roman fleet in the Aegaean, laus, who, finding himself regarded with suspicion
been willing to co-operate with the Marian general, by Mithridates, had consulted his safety by tight,
it would have been impossible for the king to avoid and was received with the utmost honours by the
falling into the hands of his enemies. But the dis Romans. Mithridates, who had evidently been
sensions of the Romans proved the means of safety wholly unprepared to renew the contest with
to Mithridates, who made his escape by sea to Rome, offered no opposition to the progress of Mu-
Mitylene. (Appian, Mithr. 51, 52; Plut. Lucull. rena ; but finding that general disregard his re-
3; Memnon, 34 ; Oros. vi. 2; Liv. Epit. lxxxii. monstrances, he sent to Rome to complain of his
lxxxiii. ) It was not long afterwards that he re aggression. But when in the following spring
ceived the tidings of the complete destruction of his (B. C. 82) he found Murena preparing to renew hig
armies in Greece, near Orchomenus ; and the news hostile incursions, notwithstanding the arrival of a
of this disaster, coupled with the progress of Fim- Roman legate, who nominally commanded him to
bria in Asia, now made Mithridates desirous to desist, he at once determined to oppose him by
treat for peace, which he justly hoped to obtain force, and assembled a large army, with which be
on more favourable terms than he could otherwise met the Roman general on the banks of the Halys.
have expected, in consequence of the divided state The action that ensued terminated in the complete
of his enemies. He accordingly commissioned victory of the king ; and Murena, with difficulty,
Archelaus, who was still in Euboea, to open nego- effected his retreat into Phrygia, leaving Cappa-
tiations with Sulla, which led to the conclusion of docia at the mercy of Mithridates, who quickly
a preliminary treaty: but on the conditions of this overran the whole province. But shortly after-
being reported to the king, he positively refused to wards A. Gabinius arrived in Asia, bringing
consent to the surrender of his fleet. Sulla here- peremptory orders from Sulla to Murena to desist
upon prepared to renew hostilities, and in the from hostilities ; whereupon Mithridates once more
spring of the following year (B. C. 84) crossed the consented to evacuate Cappadocia. (Appian, Mithr.
Hellespont; but Archelaus succeeded in bringing 64—66, 67; Memnon, 36. )
about an interview between the Roman general He was now at leisure to complete the reduction
and Mithridates at Dardanus, in the Troad, at which of the Bosporus, which he successfully accomplished,
the terms of peace were definitively settled. Mi- and established Machares, one of his sons, as king
thridates consented to abandon all his conquests in of that country. But he suffered heavy losses in
Asia, and restrict himself to the dominions which an expedition which he subsequently undertook
he held before the commencement of the war ; be against the Achaeans, a warlike tribe who dwelt at
sides which he was to pay a sum of 2000 talents the foot of Mount Caucasus. (Appian, ib. 67. )
for the expences of the war, and surrender to the Meanwhile, he could not for a moment doubt that,
Romans a fleet of 70 ships fully equipped. Thus notwithstanding the interposition of Sulla, the
terminated the first Mithridatic war. The king peace between him and Rome was in fact a mere
withdrew to Pontus, while Sulla turned his arms suspension of hostilities ; and that that haughty
against Fimbria, whom he quickly defeated ; and republic would never suffer the massacre of her
then proceeded to settle the affairs of Asia, and citizens in Asia to remain ultimately unpunished.
re-establish Nicomedes and Ariobarzanes in their (See Cic. pro L. Manil. 3. ) Hence all his efforts
respective kingdoms; after which he returned to were directed towards the formation of an army
Rome, leaving L. Murena, with two legions, to capable of contending not only in numbers, but in
hold the command in Asia. (Appian, Mithr. 54-discipline, with those of Rome ; and with this view
63 ; Plut. Sull. 22–25, Lucull. 4; Memnon, 35; he armed his barbarian troops after the Roman
Dion Cass. Frag. 174—176; Liv. Epit. lxxxiii. ; fashion, and endeavoured to train them up in that
Oros, ri. 2. )
discipline of which he had so strongly felt the effect
The attention of Mithridates was now attracted in the preceding contest. (Plut. Lucull. 7. ) In
towards his own more remote provinces of Colchis these attempts he was doubtless assisted by the
and the Bosporus, where symptoms of disaffection refugees of the Marian party, L. Magius and L.
had begun to manifest themselves: the Colchians, Fannius, who had accompanied Fimbria into Asia ;
however, submitted immediately on the king ap- and on the defeat of that general by Sulla, bad
pointing his son Mithridates to be their governor, taken refuge with the king of Pontus. At their
with the title of king, and even received their new instigation also Mithridates sent an embassy to
ruler with such demonstrations of favour as to ex. Sertorius, who was still maintaining his ground in
cite the jealousy of Mithridates, who, in conse Spain, and concluded an alliance with him against
quence, recalled his son, and placed him in con- their common enemies. (Appian, Mithr. 68 ; Oros.
finement. He now assembled a large force both vi. 2 ; Pseud. Ascon. ad Cic. Verr. i. 34, p. 183,
military and naval, for the reduction of the revolted ed. Orell. ) It is remarkable that no formal treaty
provinces ; and so great were his preparations for seems ever to have been concluded between Mithri-
this purpose, that they aroused the suspicions of the dates and the Roman senate ; and the king had in
Romans, who pretended that they must be in fact vain endeavoured to obtain the ratification of the
designed against them. Murena, who had been terms agreed on between him and Suila (Appian,
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## p. 1100 (#1116) ##########################################
1100
MITHRIDATES:
MITHRIDATES.
-
1
Ib. 67. ). Hence, on the death of the latter, B. C. | in the year 73) to abandon the enterprise and raine
78, Mithridates abandoned all thoughts of peace ; the siege. " But a large detachment of his army,
and while he concluded the alliance with Sertorius which he at first sent off into Bithynia, was inter-
on the one hand, he instigated Tigranes on the cepted and cut to pieces by Lucullus ; and when at
other to invade Cappadocia, and sweep away the length he broke up his camp, his main body, as it
inhabitants of that country, to people his newly moved along the coast towards the westward, was
founded city of Tigranocerta. But it was the death repeatedly attacked by the Roman general, and
of Nicomedes III. , king of Bithynia, at the begin- suffered very heavy loss at the passage of the
ning of the year B. C. 74, that brought matters to Aesepus and Granicus. The king himself pro
a crisis, and became the immediate occasion of the ceeded by sea to Parium, where he collected the
war which both parties had long felt to be inevj- shattered remnants of his forces, and leaving a
table. That monarch left his dominions by will to part of his fleet under Varius to maintain possession
the Roman people ; and Bithynia was accordingly of the Hellespont and the Aegaean, withdrew
declared a Roman province : but Mithridates as himself with the rest, after a fruitless attempt
serted that the late king had left a legitimate son upon Perinthus, to Nicomedia. Here he was soon
by bis wife Nysa, whose pretensions he immedi-threatened by the advance of three Roman armies
ately prepared to support by his arms. (Eutrop. under Cotta and the two lieutenants of Lucullus,
vi. 6 ; Liv. Epit. xciii; Appian, Mithr. 71 ; Epist. Triarius and Voconius Barba. These generals had
Mithrid. ap. Sallust. Hist. iv. p. 239, ed. Gerlach ; made themselves masters in succession of Prusias
Vell. Pat. ii. 4, 39. )
and Nicaea, and were preparing to besiege Mithri-
It was evident that the contest in which both dates himself at Nicomedia, when the king re-
parties were now about to engage would be a ceived intelligence of the defeat of his fleet under
struggle for life or death, which could be terminated Varius at Tenedos, and becoming in consequence
only by the complete overthrow of Mithridates, or apprehensive for the safety of his communications
by his establishment as undisputed monarch of by sea, hastened to set sail for Pontus. On his
Asia. The forces with which he was now pre voyage he encountered a violent storm, by which
pared to take the field were such as might inspire he lost many of his ships, and was himself com-
him with no unreasonable confidence of victory. pelled to make his escape in the light galley of a
He had assembled an army of 120,000 foot soldiers, pirate captain. He obtained, however, an im-
armed and disciplined in the Roman manner, and portant advantage by the surprise of the free city
sixteen thousand horse, besides an hundred scythed of Heracleia, which had hitherto remained neutral,
chariots : but, in addition to this regular army, he but was now compelled to receive a Pontic garrison.
was supported by a vast number of auxiliaries Afrer this he returned to Sinope. (Appian, Mitkr.
from the barbarian tribes of the Chalybes, Achaeans, 69–78 ; Plut. Lucull. 7–13; Memnon, 37-42;
Armenians, and even the Scythians and Sarmatians. Liv. Epit. xciii. xcv. ; Eutrop. vi. 6. )
His fleet also was so far superior to any that the The great army with which Mithridates had
Romans could oppose to him, as to give him the commenced the war was now annihilated ; and he
almost undisputed command of the sea. These was not only compelled to retire into his own
preparations, however, appear to have delayed him dominions, but was without the means of opposing
so long that the season was far advanced before he the advance of Lucullus into the heart of Pontus
was able to take the field, and both the Roman itself. But he now again set to work with inde-
consuls, Lucullus and Cotta, had arrived in Asia fatigable activity to raise a fresh army; and while
Neither of them, however, was able to oppose his he left the whole of the sea-coast of Pontus open
first irruption ; he traversed almost the whole of to the invaders, he established himself in the interior
Bithynia without encountering any resistance ; and at Cabeira, where he soon gathered a numerous
;
when at length Cotta ventured to give him battle force around his standard, while he sent to his son
under the walls of Chalcedon, he was totally de- Machares and his son-in-law Tigranes, to request
feated both by sea and land, and compelled to take succours and auxiliaries. Lucullus, having in vain
refuge within the city. Here Mithridates at first tried to allnre him to the relief of Amisus, the siege
prepared to besiege him, but soon changed his in- of which he continued throughout the winter, on
tention, and moved with his whole army to Cyzicus, the approach of spring (B. C. 72) advanced into the
to which important city he proceeded to lay siege, interior, and took up a position opposite to him at
both by sea and land. His military engines and Cabeira Mithridates was superior in cavalry, on
works were managed by a Greek named Niconides, which account the Roman general avoided an
who displayed the utmost skill and science in this action in the plains, and the campaign was chiefly
department; while the attacks of the besieging occupied with mutual attempts to cut off each
forces were unremitting. But the Roman general other's convoys of provisions, which led to repeated
Lucullus, who had advanced from Phrygia to the partial engagements, with various vicissitudes of
relief of Cotta, and followed Mithridates to Cyzicus, fortune. At length a large detachment of the
had been allowed, by the negligence of the king, king's army was entirely cut off, and Mithridates
or the treachery, as it was said, of the Roman L. hereupon determined to remove his camp: but the
Magius, who enjoyed a high place in his confidence, orders to this effect by some mismanagement gave
to occupy an advantageous position near the camp rise to a panic in the undisciplined multitudes
of Mithridates, where he almost entirely cut him which composed his army; great confusion arose,
off from receiving supplies by land, while the and Lucullus having sent his cavalry to take ad-
storms of the winter prevented him from depending vantage of this, a general rout was the consequence.
on those by sea. Hence it was not long before Mithridates himself with difficulty made his way
famine began to make itself felt in the camp of through the tumult, and must have fallen into
Mithridates, and all his assaults upon the city the hands of the Romans, had not the cupidity
having been foiled by the courage and resolution of some of his pursuers, who stopped to plunder
of the besieged, he was at length compelled (early a mule laden with gold, given him time to effect
## p. 1101 (#1117) ##########################################
MITHRIDATES.
1101
MITHRIDATES:
!
his escape. He led to. Comana, wbere he was farther advance of the Roman general, who tumed
ayain able to assemble a body of 2000 horse, aside into Mesopotamia Here Mithridates left
but he despaired of opposing the farther progress him to lay siege to the fortress of Nisibis, which
of Lucullus, and accordingly sent his faithful was supposed impregnable, while he himself took
eunuch Bacchides to put to death his wives and advantage of his absence to invade Pontus, at the
sisters whom he had left at Pharnacia, while he head of a large army, and endeavour to regain pos
himself took refuge in the dominions of his son-in- session of his former dominions The defence of
law Tigranes. It appears that these events took Pontus was confided to Fabius, one of the lieute-
place before the close of the year B. c. 72. (Plut nants of. Lucullus ; but the oppressions of the Ro
Lucull. 14—18; Appian, Mithr. 78-82 ; Mem- mans had excited a general spirit of disaffection,
non, 43, 44 ; concerning the chronology seo Lue and the people crowded around the standard of
CULLUS, VOL II. p. 834, note. )
Mithridates Even the Thracian mercenaries in
Tigranes was at this moment the most powerful the army of Fabius turned against their general,
monarch of Asia (TIGRANES); but though he had who was totally defeated by Mithridates, and com-
previously promised assistance to Mithridates, he pelled to shut himself up in the fortress of Cabeira
appears to have been unwilling to engage openly in Triarius, another of the Roman generals, now ad-
war with Rome; and on this account, while he re vanced to his support with a fresh army, and the
ceived the fugitive monarch in a friendly manner, king retreated before this new adversary, and
and assigned him all that was requisite for main- withdrew to Comana, where he took up his winter-
taining his royal dignity, he refused to admit him quarters. But the following spring (B. C. 67) hos-
to his presence, and showed no disposition to tilities were resumed on both sides ; and Triarius,
attempt his restoration. But the arrogance of the who was anxious to engage Mithridates before
Ror ns brought about a change in his policy ; and Lucullus himself should arrive, allowed himself to
Tigranes, offended at the haughty conduct of Appius be attacked at disadvantage, and was totally de.
Claudius, whom Lucullus had sent to demand the feated. The destruction of the Roman army would
surrender of Mithridates, not only refused this have been complete had not the king himself been
request, but determined at once to prepare for war wounded in the pursuit, which was in consequence
with the Romans. Community of interests now checked for a time ; but even thus the blow was
led to a complete reconciliation between the two one of the severest which the Roman arms had sug-
monarchs; and Mithridates, who had spent a year tained for a long period : 7000 of their troops fell,
and eight months in the dominions of his son-in- among which was an unprecedented number of
law without being admitted to a personal interview, officers ; and their camp itself was taken. . - (Dion
was now made to participate in all the councils of Cass. xxxv. 4–6, 8-13; Appian, Mithr. 87-
Tigranes, and appointed to levy an army to unite 89; Plut. Lucull. 31, 32, 35; Cic. pro Leg. Manila
in the war. But it was in vain that in the ensuing 9. )
campaign (B. C. 69) he urged upon his son-in-law The advance of Lucullus himself from Mesopo-
the lessons of his own experience, and advised him tamia prevented Mithridates from following up his
to shun a regular action with Lucullus : Tigranes, advantage, and be withdrew into Lesser Armenia,
confident in the multitude of his forces, gave battle where he took up a strong position near Talaura
at Tigranocerta and was defeated, before Mithri- to await the approach of Tigranes. He doubtless
dates had been able to join him. But this disaster, expected that the Roman general would quickly
so precisely in accordance with the warnings of resume the offensive ; but the farther proceedings
Mithridates, served to raise the latter so high in of Lucullus were paralysed by the mutinous and
the estimation of Tigranes, that from this time for- disaffected spirit of his own soldiers ; and on the
ward the whole conduct of the war was entrusted arrival of Tigranes the two monarchs found them-
to the direction of the king of Pontus.
selves able to overrun almost the whole of Pontus
During the ensuing winter both monarchs were and Cappadocia without opposition. Before the
busily engaged in raising a fresh army, into which close of the year 67 Mithridates saw himself once
Mithridates endeavoured to introduce some dis- more in possession of the greater part of his here
cipline, as well as to arm a large body of them ditary dominions. (Plut. Lucull. 35; Appian,
after the Roman fashion. They at the same time Mithr. 90; Dion Cass. xxxv.
also Dionysus, but more commonly known by the the throne of Pontus (under which name was com-
name of the Great (a title which is not, how- prised also a part of Cappadocia and Paphlagonia),
ever, bestowed on him by any ancient historian), he began to turn his arms against the neighbouring
was the son and successor of the preceding. We nations. On the West, however, his progress was
have no precise statement of the year of his birth, hemmed in by the power of Rome, and the minor
and great discrepancies occur in those concerning sovereigns of Bithynia and Cappadocia enjoyed
his age and the duration of his reign. Strabo, the all-powerful protection of that republic. But
who was likely to be well informed in regard to on the East his ambition found free scope. He
the history of his native country, affirms that he subdued the barbarian tribes in the interior, be
was eleven years old at the period of his accession tween the Euxine and the confines of Armenia,
(x. p. 477), and this statement agrees with the including the whole of Colchis and the province
account of Appian, that he was sixty-eight or called Lesser Armenia (which was ceded to him by
sixty-nine years old at the time of his death, of its ruler Antipater), and even extended his con-
which he had reigned fifty-seven. Memnon, on quests beyond the Caucasus, where he reduced to
the other hand (c. 30, ed. Orell. ), makes him subjection some of the wild Scythian tribes that
thirteen at the time when he ascended the throne, bordered on the Tanaïs. The fame of his arms
and Dion Cassius (xxxv. 9) calls him above seventy and the great extension of his power led Parisades,
years old in B. C. 68, which would make him at king of the Bosporus, as well as the Greek cities of
least seventy-five at his death, but this last account Chersonesus and Olbia, to place themselves under
is certainly erroneous. If Appian's statement his protection, in order to obtain his assistance
concerning the length of his reign be correct, we against the barbarians of the North—the Sarmil-
may place his accession in B. c. 120.
tians and Roxolani, Mithridates entrusted the
We have very imperfect information concerning conduct of this war to his generals Diophantus and
the earlier years of his reign, as indeed during the Neoptolemus, whose efforts were crowned with
whole period which preceded his wars with the complete success : they carried their victorious artis
minor
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from the Tanaïs to the Tyras, totally defeated the as their sovereign. Mithridates hereapon invaded
Roxolani, and rendered the whole of the Tauric Cappadocia again, and drove out thiz new com-
Chersonese tributary to the kingdom of Pontus. petitor, who died shortly after. But the Roman
A fortress called the tower of Neoptolemus, at the senate now interfered, and appointed a Cappadocian
mouth of the river Tyras (Dniester), probably named Ariobarzanes to be king of that country
marks the extreme limit of liis conquests in that (B. C. 93). Mithridates did not renture openly to
direction ; but be is said to have entered into oppose this nomination, but he secretly instigated
friendly relations with and possessed much influ- Tigranes, king of Armenia, to invade Cappadocia,
ence over the Getae and other wild tribes, as far as and expel Ariobarzanes. The latter, being wholly
the borders of Thrace and Macedonia After the unable to cope with the power of Tigranes, im-
death of Parisades, the kingdom of Bosporus itself mediately fled to Rome ; and Sulla, who was at
was incorporated with his dominions. (Strab. vii. the time praetor in Cilicia, was appointed to rein-
p. 306, 307, 309-312, xi. p. 499, xii. p. 540, state him, B. c. 92. Mithridates took no part in
541, 555; Appian, Mithr. 15; Memnon, c. 30 ; preventing this; and clearly as all things were in
Justin. xxxvii. 3; Niebuhr, K%. Schrift. p. 388— fact tending to a rupture between him and Rome,
390. )
he still continued nominally to enjoy the friendship
While he was thus extending his own 50- and alliance of the Roman people which had been
vereignty, he did not neglect to strengthen himself bestowed by treaty upon his father. (Justin.
by forming alliances with his more powerful neigh. xxxviii. 1-3; Appinn, Mithr. 10, 12, 14; Mem-
bours, especially with Tigranes, king of Armenia, non, c. 30 ; Plut. Sull. 5. ) But this state of things
to whom he gave his daughter Cleopatra in mar- did not last long ; and the death of Nicomedes II. ,
riage, as well as with the warlike nations of the king of Bithynia, by opening a new field to the
Parthians and Iberians. He thus found himself in ambition of Mithridates, at length brought matters
possession of such great power and extensive re- to a crisis. That monarch was succeeded by his
sources, that he began to deem himself equal to a eldest son Nicomedes III. , but Mithridates took
contest with Rome itself. Many causes of dis- the opportunity, on what pretext we know not, to
sension had already arisen between them, and the set up a rival claimant in the person of Socrates, a
Romans had given abundant proofs of the jealousy, younger brother of Nicomedes, whose pretensions
with which they regarded the rising greatness of he supported with an army, and quickly drove
Mithridates, but that monarch had hitherto avoided Nicomedes out Bithynia, B. C. 90. It appears to
an open rupture with the republic. Shortly after have been about the same time that he openly
his accession they had taken advantage of his invaded Cappadocia, and for the second time ex-
minority to wrest from him the province of Phrygia, pelled Ariobarzanes from his kingdom, establishing
which had been bestowed by Aquillius upon his his own son Ariarathes in his place. Both the
father. (Justin. xxxviii. 5; Appian, Mithr. i. fugitive princes had recourse to Rome, where they
57. ) At a subsequent period also they had inter- found ready support: a decree was passed that
posed to prevent him from making himself master of Nicomedes and Ariobarzanes should be restored to
Paphlagonia, to which kingdom he claimed to be their respective kingdoms, and the execution of it
entitled by the will of the last inonarch. (Justin. was confided to two consular legates, the chief of
xxxvii. 4. ) On both these occasions Mithridates whom was M'. Aquillius, while L. Cassius, who
submitted to the imperious mandates of Rome ; commanded in the Roman province of Asia, was
but he was far from disposed to acquiesce per- ordered to support them with what forces he had
manently in the arrangements thus forced upon at his disposal. (Appian, Mithr. 10, 11, 13;
him for a time, and it can hardly be doubted that Justin. xxxvii. 3,5; Memnon, c. 30;
Liv. Epit.
he was already aiming at the conquest of the neigh- lxxiv. )
bouring states which enjoyed the protection of the It is not very easy to understand or account for
Roman republic, with a view to make himself the conduct of Mithridates at this period, as related
master of the whole of Asia Cappadocia above all to us in the very imperfect accounts which we
appears to have been the constant object of his possess. It seems probable that he was emboldened
ambition, as it had indeed been that of the kings to make these direct attacks upon the allies of
of Pontus from a very early period. Ariarathes Rome by the knowledge that the arms of the re-
VI. , king of that country, had married Laodice, public were sufficiently occupied at home by the
the sister of Mithridates, notwithstanding which, Social War, which was now devastating Italy.
the latter procured his assassination, through the But, although that war did in fact prevent the
agency of one Gordius. His design was probably Romans from rendering any efficient support to the
to remove his infant nephews also, and unite Cap-monarchs whose cause they had espoused, Mithri-
padocia to his own dominions ; but Laodice having dates offered no opposition to their proceedings,
thrown herself upon the protection of Nicomedes, but yielded once more, as it would seem, to the very
king of Bithynia, he tumed his arms against that name of Rome, and allowed the consular legates
monarch, whom he expelled from Cappadocia, and and L. Cassius, at the head of a few cohorts only,
set up Ariarathes, one of the sons of Laodice, and to reinstate both Nicomedes and Ariobarzanes.
his own nephew, as king of the country. But it He even went so far as to put to death Socrates,
was not long before he found a cause of quarrel whom he had himself incited to lay claim to the
with the young man whom he had thus established, throne of Bithynia, and who now, when expelled
in consequence of which he invaded his dominions by the Romans, naturally sought refuge at his
with a large army, and having inrited him to a court. (Appian, Mithr, ll; Justin. xxxviii. 5. )
conference, assassinated him with his own hand. Yet about this time we are told, that ambassadors
He now placed an infant son of his own, on whom having been sent to him by the Italian allies that
he had bestowed the name of Ariarathes, upon the were in arms against Rome to court his alliance,
throne of Cappadocia, but the people rose in re he promised to co-operate with them, when he had
bellion, and set up the second son of Ariarathes Vi. first expelled the Romans from Asia. (Diod.
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## p. 1098 (#1114) ##########################################
1098
MITHRIDATES.
MITHRIDATES.
Xxxvii. Evo. Phol. p. 540. ). It is difficult to judge efforts, was ultimately compelled to abandon the
whether he was really meditating a war with siege. After this he made a fruitless attempt upon
Rome, but did not yet consider bis preparations the city of Patara in Lycia ; and then resigning
sufficiently advanced to commence ihe contest, or the command of the war in that quarter to his
was desirous by a show of moderation to throw general, Pelopidas, took up his winter-quarters at
upon the Romans the odium of forcing on the war. Pergamus, where he gave himself up to luxury and
If the latter were his object, his measures were enjoyment, especially to the society of his newly-
certainly not ill chosen ; for it is clear even from married wife Monima, a Greek of Stratoniceia.
the accounts transmitted to us, that whatever may (Appian, Mithr. 21, 23—27. ) It was in the
have been the secret desigris of Mithridates, the midst of these revelries that he issued the san-
immediate occasion of the war arose from acts of guinary order to all the cities of Asia to put to
aggression and injustice on the part of the Romans death on the same day all the Roman and Italian
and their allies.
citizens who were to be found within their walls.
No sooner was Nicomedes replaced on the throne So hateful had the Romans rendered themselves
of Bithynia than he was urged by the Roman during the short period of their dominion, that
legates to invade the territories of Mithridates, into these commands were obeyed with alacrity by
which he made a predatory incursion as far as almost all the cities of Asia, who found the oppor-
Amastris. Mithridates offered no resistance, but tunity of gratifying their own vengeance at the
sent Pelopidas to the Romans to demand satis same time that they earned the favour of Mithri
faction, and it was not until his ambassador was dates, by carrying into effect the royal mandate
sent away with an evasive answer that he prepared with the most unsparing cruelty. The number of
for immediate hostilities, B. C. 88. (Appian, Mithr. those who perished in this fearful massacre is stated
11—15. ) His first step was to invade Cappadocia, by Memnon and Valerius Maximus at eighty thou-
from which he easily expelled Ariobarzanes for the sand persons, while Plutarch increases the amount
third time. Shortly afterwards his two generals, to a hundred and fifty thousand. (Appian, Mithr.
Neoptolemus and Archelaus, advanced against 22, 23; Memnon, 31, Plut. Sull. 24 ; Liv. Epit.
Bithynia with an army of 250,000 foot and 40,000 lxxviii. ; Dion Cass. Fr. 115; Eutrop. v. 5; Oros.
horse. They were met by Nicomedes, supported vi. 2; Flor. iii. 5 ; Cic. p. Leg. Manil. 3, pro Flacc.
by the presence of the Roman legate Aquillius and 24, 25; Tac. Ann. iv. 14 ; Val Max. in 2.
Mancinus, with such forces as they had been able ext. 3. )
to raise in Asia, but with very few Roman troops, But while he thus created an apparently insu-
on the banks of the river Amneius in Paphlagonia, perable barrier to all hopes of reconciliation with
when a great battle ensued, which terminated in Rome, Mithridates did not neglect to prepare for
the complete victory of the generals of Mithridates. the approaching contest ; and though he remained
Nicomedes fled from the field, and, abandoning inactive himself at Pergamus, he was busily em-
Bithynia without another blow, took refuge at ployed in raising troops and collecting ships, so
Pergamus. Aquillius was closely pursued by that in the spring of B. C. 87 he was able to send
Neoptolemus, compelled to fight at disadvantage, Archelaus to Greece with a powerful Aleet and
and again defeated ; and Mithridates, following up army. During the subsequent operations of that
his advantage, not only made himself master of general [ARCHELAUS), Mithridates was continually
Phrygia and Galatia, but invaded the Roman pro- sending fresh reinforcements both by land and sea to
vince of Asia. Here the universal discontent of his support ; besides which he entrusted the com-
the inhabitants, caused by the oppression of the mand of a second army to his son Arcathias, with
Roman governors, enabled him to overrun the orders to advance through Thrace and Macedonia,
whole province almost without opposition : the to co-operate in the war against Sulla. The in-
Roman officers, who had imprudently brought this tended diversion was prevented by the death of
danger upon themselves, were unable to collect any Arcathias ; but the following year (B. C. 86) Taxiles
forces to oppose the progress of Mithridates, and followed the same route with an army of 110,000
two of them, Q. Oppius and Aquillius himself, the men ; and succeeded in uniting his forces with
chief author of the war, fell into the hands of the those of Archelaus. Their combined armies were
king of Pontus. (Appian, Mithr. 15–21; Mem- totally defeated by Sulla at Chaeronea ; but Mi-
non, 3) ; Justin. xxxviii. 3; Liv. Epit. lxxvi. thridates, on receiving the news of this great
lxxvii. lxxviii. ; Oros. vi. 2 ; Eutrop. v. 5; Flor. disaster, immediately set about raising fresh levies,
jï. 6; Strab. xii. p. 562. )
and was soon able to send another army of 80,000
These events took place in the summer and men, under Dorylaus to Euboea. Meanwhile,
autumn of B. C. 88; before the close of that year his severities in Asia, coupled with the disasters of
they were known at Rome, and Sulla was ap- his arms in Greece, seem to have produced a general
pointed to take the command in the war which spirit of disaffection ; the cities of Chios, Ephesus,
was now inevitable. Meanwhile, Mithridates con- and Tralles, besides others of less note, drove out
tinued his military operations in Asia, with a view his governors and openly revolted : and the assas
to make himself master of the whole of that country sination of the tetrarchs of Galatia, whom he put
before the Romans were prepared to attack him. to death from suspicions of their fidelity, led to the
All the cities of the main land except Magnesia loss of that important province. (Appian, Mithr.
and some of those of Lycia had opened their gates 27, 29, 35, 41-49; Plut. Sull.
11, 15, 20; Mem-
to him ; but the important islands of Cos and non, 32, 33. ) He now also found himself threat.
Rhodes still held out ; and against them Mithri- ened with danger from a new and unexpected
dates now directed his arms. Cos was quickly quarter. While Sulla was still occupied in Greece,
subdued ; but the Rhodians were well prepared the party of Marius at Rome had sent a fresh arms
for defence, and possessed a powerful fleet; so that to Asia under L. Flaccus, to carry on the war at
Mithridates, though he commanded his fleet and once against their foreign and domestic enemies ;
army in person, and exerted the most strenuous and Fimbria, who had obtained the command of
## p. 1099 (#1115) ##########################################
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this force by the assassination of Flaccus (FIM- | left in command by Sulla, was eager for some' op:
BRIA), now advanced through Bithynia to assail portunity of earning the honour of a triumph, and
Mithridates, B. C. 85. The king opposed to him a he now (B. C. 83), under the Alimsy pretext that
powerful army, under the command of his son, Mithridates had not yet evacuated the whole of
Mithridates, seconded by three of his generals; but Cappadocia, marched into that country, and not
this was totally defeated by Fimbria, who quickly only made himself master of the wealthy city of
followed up his advantage, and laid siege to Per Comana, but even crossed the Halys, and laid
gamus itself: from hence, however, Mithridates waste the plains of Pontus itself
. To this flagrant
fled to Pitane, where he was closely blockaded by breach of the treaty so lately concluded, the Roman
Fimbria ; and had Lucullus, the quaestor of Sulla, general was in great measure instigated by Arche
who commanded the Roman fleet in the Aegaean, laus, who, finding himself regarded with suspicion
been willing to co-operate with the Marian general, by Mithridates, had consulted his safety by tight,
it would have been impossible for the king to avoid and was received with the utmost honours by the
falling into the hands of his enemies. But the dis Romans. Mithridates, who had evidently been
sensions of the Romans proved the means of safety wholly unprepared to renew the contest with
to Mithridates, who made his escape by sea to Rome, offered no opposition to the progress of Mu-
Mitylene. (Appian, Mithr. 51, 52; Plut. Lucull. rena ; but finding that general disregard his re-
3; Memnon, 34 ; Oros. vi. 2; Liv. Epit. lxxxii. monstrances, he sent to Rome to complain of his
lxxxiii. ) It was not long afterwards that he re aggression. But when in the following spring
ceived the tidings of the complete destruction of his (B. C. 82) he found Murena preparing to renew hig
armies in Greece, near Orchomenus ; and the news hostile incursions, notwithstanding the arrival of a
of this disaster, coupled with the progress of Fim- Roman legate, who nominally commanded him to
bria in Asia, now made Mithridates desirous to desist, he at once determined to oppose him by
treat for peace, which he justly hoped to obtain force, and assembled a large army, with which be
on more favourable terms than he could otherwise met the Roman general on the banks of the Halys.
have expected, in consequence of the divided state The action that ensued terminated in the complete
of his enemies. He accordingly commissioned victory of the king ; and Murena, with difficulty,
Archelaus, who was still in Euboea, to open nego- effected his retreat into Phrygia, leaving Cappa-
tiations with Sulla, which led to the conclusion of docia at the mercy of Mithridates, who quickly
a preliminary treaty: but on the conditions of this overran the whole province. But shortly after-
being reported to the king, he positively refused to wards A. Gabinius arrived in Asia, bringing
consent to the surrender of his fleet. Sulla here- peremptory orders from Sulla to Murena to desist
upon prepared to renew hostilities, and in the from hostilities ; whereupon Mithridates once more
spring of the following year (B. C. 84) crossed the consented to evacuate Cappadocia. (Appian, Mithr.
Hellespont; but Archelaus succeeded in bringing 64—66, 67; Memnon, 36. )
about an interview between the Roman general He was now at leisure to complete the reduction
and Mithridates at Dardanus, in the Troad, at which of the Bosporus, which he successfully accomplished,
the terms of peace were definitively settled. Mi- and established Machares, one of his sons, as king
thridates consented to abandon all his conquests in of that country. But he suffered heavy losses in
Asia, and restrict himself to the dominions which an expedition which he subsequently undertook
he held before the commencement of the war ; be against the Achaeans, a warlike tribe who dwelt at
sides which he was to pay a sum of 2000 talents the foot of Mount Caucasus. (Appian, ib. 67. )
for the expences of the war, and surrender to the Meanwhile, he could not for a moment doubt that,
Romans a fleet of 70 ships fully equipped. Thus notwithstanding the interposition of Sulla, the
terminated the first Mithridatic war. The king peace between him and Rome was in fact a mere
withdrew to Pontus, while Sulla turned his arms suspension of hostilities ; and that that haughty
against Fimbria, whom he quickly defeated ; and republic would never suffer the massacre of her
then proceeded to settle the affairs of Asia, and citizens in Asia to remain ultimately unpunished.
re-establish Nicomedes and Ariobarzanes in their (See Cic. pro L. Manil. 3. ) Hence all his efforts
respective kingdoms; after which he returned to were directed towards the formation of an army
Rome, leaving L. Murena, with two legions, to capable of contending not only in numbers, but in
hold the command in Asia. (Appian, Mithr. 54-discipline, with those of Rome ; and with this view
63 ; Plut. Sull. 22–25, Lucull. 4; Memnon, 35; he armed his barbarian troops after the Roman
Dion Cass. Frag. 174—176; Liv. Epit. lxxxiii. ; fashion, and endeavoured to train them up in that
Oros, ri. 2. )
discipline of which he had so strongly felt the effect
The attention of Mithridates was now attracted in the preceding contest. (Plut. Lucull. 7. ) In
towards his own more remote provinces of Colchis these attempts he was doubtless assisted by the
and the Bosporus, where symptoms of disaffection refugees of the Marian party, L. Magius and L.
had begun to manifest themselves: the Colchians, Fannius, who had accompanied Fimbria into Asia ;
however, submitted immediately on the king ap- and on the defeat of that general by Sulla, bad
pointing his son Mithridates to be their governor, taken refuge with the king of Pontus. At their
with the title of king, and even received their new instigation also Mithridates sent an embassy to
ruler with such demonstrations of favour as to ex. Sertorius, who was still maintaining his ground in
cite the jealousy of Mithridates, who, in conse Spain, and concluded an alliance with him against
quence, recalled his son, and placed him in con- their common enemies. (Appian, Mithr. 68 ; Oros.
finement. He now assembled a large force both vi. 2 ; Pseud. Ascon. ad Cic. Verr. i. 34, p. 183,
military and naval, for the reduction of the revolted ed. Orell. ) It is remarkable that no formal treaty
provinces ; and so great were his preparations for seems ever to have been concluded between Mithri-
this purpose, that they aroused the suspicions of the dates and the Roman senate ; and the king had in
Romans, who pretended that they must be in fact vain endeavoured to obtain the ratification of the
designed against them. Murena, who had been terms agreed on between him and Suila (Appian,
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## p. 1100 (#1116) ##########################################
1100
MITHRIDATES:
MITHRIDATES.
-
1
Ib. 67. ). Hence, on the death of the latter, B. C. | in the year 73) to abandon the enterprise and raine
78, Mithridates abandoned all thoughts of peace ; the siege. " But a large detachment of his army,
and while he concluded the alliance with Sertorius which he at first sent off into Bithynia, was inter-
on the one hand, he instigated Tigranes on the cepted and cut to pieces by Lucullus ; and when at
other to invade Cappadocia, and sweep away the length he broke up his camp, his main body, as it
inhabitants of that country, to people his newly moved along the coast towards the westward, was
founded city of Tigranocerta. But it was the death repeatedly attacked by the Roman general, and
of Nicomedes III. , king of Bithynia, at the begin- suffered very heavy loss at the passage of the
ning of the year B. C. 74, that brought matters to Aesepus and Granicus. The king himself pro
a crisis, and became the immediate occasion of the ceeded by sea to Parium, where he collected the
war which both parties had long felt to be inevj- shattered remnants of his forces, and leaving a
table. That monarch left his dominions by will to part of his fleet under Varius to maintain possession
the Roman people ; and Bithynia was accordingly of the Hellespont and the Aegaean, withdrew
declared a Roman province : but Mithridates as himself with the rest, after a fruitless attempt
serted that the late king had left a legitimate son upon Perinthus, to Nicomedia. Here he was soon
by bis wife Nysa, whose pretensions he immedi-threatened by the advance of three Roman armies
ately prepared to support by his arms. (Eutrop. under Cotta and the two lieutenants of Lucullus,
vi. 6 ; Liv. Epit. xciii; Appian, Mithr. 71 ; Epist. Triarius and Voconius Barba. These generals had
Mithrid. ap. Sallust. Hist. iv. p. 239, ed. Gerlach ; made themselves masters in succession of Prusias
Vell. Pat. ii. 4, 39. )
and Nicaea, and were preparing to besiege Mithri-
It was evident that the contest in which both dates himself at Nicomedia, when the king re-
parties were now about to engage would be a ceived intelligence of the defeat of his fleet under
struggle for life or death, which could be terminated Varius at Tenedos, and becoming in consequence
only by the complete overthrow of Mithridates, or apprehensive for the safety of his communications
by his establishment as undisputed monarch of by sea, hastened to set sail for Pontus. On his
Asia. The forces with which he was now pre voyage he encountered a violent storm, by which
pared to take the field were such as might inspire he lost many of his ships, and was himself com-
him with no unreasonable confidence of victory. pelled to make his escape in the light galley of a
He had assembled an army of 120,000 foot soldiers, pirate captain. He obtained, however, an im-
armed and disciplined in the Roman manner, and portant advantage by the surprise of the free city
sixteen thousand horse, besides an hundred scythed of Heracleia, which had hitherto remained neutral,
chariots : but, in addition to this regular army, he but was now compelled to receive a Pontic garrison.
was supported by a vast number of auxiliaries Afrer this he returned to Sinope. (Appian, Mitkr.
from the barbarian tribes of the Chalybes, Achaeans, 69–78 ; Plut. Lucull. 7–13; Memnon, 37-42;
Armenians, and even the Scythians and Sarmatians. Liv. Epit. xciii. xcv. ; Eutrop. vi. 6. )
His fleet also was so far superior to any that the The great army with which Mithridates had
Romans could oppose to him, as to give him the commenced the war was now annihilated ; and he
almost undisputed command of the sea. These was not only compelled to retire into his own
preparations, however, appear to have delayed him dominions, but was without the means of opposing
so long that the season was far advanced before he the advance of Lucullus into the heart of Pontus
was able to take the field, and both the Roman itself. But he now again set to work with inde-
consuls, Lucullus and Cotta, had arrived in Asia fatigable activity to raise a fresh army; and while
Neither of them, however, was able to oppose his he left the whole of the sea-coast of Pontus open
first irruption ; he traversed almost the whole of to the invaders, he established himself in the interior
Bithynia without encountering any resistance ; and at Cabeira, where he soon gathered a numerous
;
when at length Cotta ventured to give him battle force around his standard, while he sent to his son
under the walls of Chalcedon, he was totally de- Machares and his son-in-law Tigranes, to request
feated both by sea and land, and compelled to take succours and auxiliaries. Lucullus, having in vain
refuge within the city. Here Mithridates at first tried to allnre him to the relief of Amisus, the siege
prepared to besiege him, but soon changed his in- of which he continued throughout the winter, on
tention, and moved with his whole army to Cyzicus, the approach of spring (B. C. 72) advanced into the
to which important city he proceeded to lay siege, interior, and took up a position opposite to him at
both by sea and land. His military engines and Cabeira Mithridates was superior in cavalry, on
works were managed by a Greek named Niconides, which account the Roman general avoided an
who displayed the utmost skill and science in this action in the plains, and the campaign was chiefly
department; while the attacks of the besieging occupied with mutual attempts to cut off each
forces were unremitting. But the Roman general other's convoys of provisions, which led to repeated
Lucullus, who had advanced from Phrygia to the partial engagements, with various vicissitudes of
relief of Cotta, and followed Mithridates to Cyzicus, fortune. At length a large detachment of the
had been allowed, by the negligence of the king, king's army was entirely cut off, and Mithridates
or the treachery, as it was said, of the Roman L. hereupon determined to remove his camp: but the
Magius, who enjoyed a high place in his confidence, orders to this effect by some mismanagement gave
to occupy an advantageous position near the camp rise to a panic in the undisciplined multitudes
of Mithridates, where he almost entirely cut him which composed his army; great confusion arose,
off from receiving supplies by land, while the and Lucullus having sent his cavalry to take ad-
storms of the winter prevented him from depending vantage of this, a general rout was the consequence.
on those by sea. Hence it was not long before Mithridates himself with difficulty made his way
famine began to make itself felt in the camp of through the tumult, and must have fallen into
Mithridates, and all his assaults upon the city the hands of the Romans, had not the cupidity
having been foiled by the courage and resolution of some of his pursuers, who stopped to plunder
of the besieged, he was at length compelled (early a mule laden with gold, given him time to effect
## p. 1101 (#1117) ##########################################
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MITHRIDATES:
!
his escape. He led to. Comana, wbere he was farther advance of the Roman general, who tumed
ayain able to assemble a body of 2000 horse, aside into Mesopotamia Here Mithridates left
but he despaired of opposing the farther progress him to lay siege to the fortress of Nisibis, which
of Lucullus, and accordingly sent his faithful was supposed impregnable, while he himself took
eunuch Bacchides to put to death his wives and advantage of his absence to invade Pontus, at the
sisters whom he had left at Pharnacia, while he head of a large army, and endeavour to regain pos
himself took refuge in the dominions of his son-in- session of his former dominions The defence of
law Tigranes. It appears that these events took Pontus was confided to Fabius, one of the lieute-
place before the close of the year B. c. 72. (Plut nants of. Lucullus ; but the oppressions of the Ro
Lucull. 14—18; Appian, Mithr. 78-82 ; Mem- mans had excited a general spirit of disaffection,
non, 43, 44 ; concerning the chronology seo Lue and the people crowded around the standard of
CULLUS, VOL II. p. 834, note. )
Mithridates Even the Thracian mercenaries in
Tigranes was at this moment the most powerful the army of Fabius turned against their general,
monarch of Asia (TIGRANES); but though he had who was totally defeated by Mithridates, and com-
previously promised assistance to Mithridates, he pelled to shut himself up in the fortress of Cabeira
appears to have been unwilling to engage openly in Triarius, another of the Roman generals, now ad-
war with Rome; and on this account, while he re vanced to his support with a fresh army, and the
ceived the fugitive monarch in a friendly manner, king retreated before this new adversary, and
and assigned him all that was requisite for main- withdrew to Comana, where he took up his winter-
taining his royal dignity, he refused to admit him quarters. But the following spring (B. C. 67) hos-
to his presence, and showed no disposition to tilities were resumed on both sides ; and Triarius,
attempt his restoration. But the arrogance of the who was anxious to engage Mithridates before
Ror ns brought about a change in his policy ; and Lucullus himself should arrive, allowed himself to
Tigranes, offended at the haughty conduct of Appius be attacked at disadvantage, and was totally de.
Claudius, whom Lucullus had sent to demand the feated. The destruction of the Roman army would
surrender of Mithridates, not only refused this have been complete had not the king himself been
request, but determined at once to prepare for war wounded in the pursuit, which was in consequence
with the Romans. Community of interests now checked for a time ; but even thus the blow was
led to a complete reconciliation between the two one of the severest which the Roman arms had sug-
monarchs; and Mithridates, who had spent a year tained for a long period : 7000 of their troops fell,
and eight months in the dominions of his son-in- among which was an unprecedented number of
law without being admitted to a personal interview, officers ; and their camp itself was taken. . - (Dion
was now made to participate in all the councils of Cass. xxxv. 4–6, 8-13; Appian, Mithr. 87-
Tigranes, and appointed to levy an army to unite 89; Plut. Lucull. 31, 32, 35; Cic. pro Leg. Manila
in the war. But it was in vain that in the ensuing 9. )
campaign (B. C. 69) he urged upon his son-in-law The advance of Lucullus himself from Mesopo-
the lessons of his own experience, and advised him tamia prevented Mithridates from following up his
to shun a regular action with Lucullus : Tigranes, advantage, and be withdrew into Lesser Armenia,
confident in the multitude of his forces, gave battle where he took up a strong position near Talaura
at Tigranocerta and was defeated, before Mithri- to await the approach of Tigranes. He doubtless
dates had been able to join him. But this disaster, expected that the Roman general would quickly
so precisely in accordance with the warnings of resume the offensive ; but the farther proceedings
Mithridates, served to raise the latter so high in of Lucullus were paralysed by the mutinous and
the estimation of Tigranes, that from this time for- disaffected spirit of his own soldiers ; and on the
ward the whole conduct of the war was entrusted arrival of Tigranes the two monarchs found them-
to the direction of the king of Pontus.
selves able to overrun almost the whole of Pontus
During the ensuing winter both monarchs were and Cappadocia without opposition. Before the
busily engaged in raising a fresh army, into which close of the year 67 Mithridates saw himself once
Mithridates endeavoured to introduce some dis- more in possession of the greater part of his here
cipline, as well as to arm a large body of them ditary dominions. (Plut. Lucull. 35; Appian,
after the Roman fashion. They at the same time Mithr. 90; Dion Cass. xxxv.
