Third Mithridatic War — Lucullus and Pompey vs Mithridates
Mithridates used the decade between the Second and Third Wars to rebuild his military, adopting Roman training methods and equipping his infantry with Roman-style armour. When Nicomedes IV of Bithynia died in 75 BCE and bequeathed his kingdom to Rome, Mithridates struck — invading Bithynia with a massive army in 73 BCE. Lucius Licinius Lucullus was assigned the command. He proved a military genius, winning engagement after engagement while avoiding pitched battle — a Fabian strategy that steadily ground down Mithridates' forces. By 71 BCE Mithridates was driven from Pontus and fled to his son-in-law Tigranes II of Armenia. Lucullus pursued, invading Armenia in 69 BCE. He defeated Tigranes at the Battle of Tigranocerta despite being outnumbered perhaps four to one. But Lucullus's men refused to go further. Veterans demanded discharge; equestrian businessmen whose financial interests Lucullus had regulated lobbied against him in Rome. By 67 BCE his army was in open mutiny. The Lex Manilia of 66 BCE transferred command to Pompey. Pompey defeated Mithridates decisively at the Lycus River in 66 BCE. Mithridates took poison — but he had taken small doses his whole life as protection and was immune. He had to order a Gallic officer to run him through with a sword. He was 69 years old and had fought Rome for 25 years.
- Year: 73 BCE
- Category: Military
