End of the 1st Mithridatic War
After the Romans captured Mithridates' headquarters in Pergamum, Mithridates was ready to make peace. Since Sulla wished to return to Rome to deal with his opponents there, the terms of the peace treaty were not as onerous for Mithridates as they would have been otherwise.
Terms of the Treaty of Dardanus
Sulla and Mithridates signed a peace treaty known as the (Treaty of Dardanus, 85/4 B.C.) at the end of the First Mithridatic War. According to the Treaty of Dardanus, Mithridates was still a friend of Rome. Mithridates retained Pontus, the rest of his territories, his status as ally of Rome, but had to abandon his part of Paphlagonia and Asia, restore Bithynia to Nicomedes and Cappadocia to Ariobarzanes, return his prisoners, pay 2-3000 talents as war indemnity, and provide Sulla with 70-80 fully equipped ships.
83-63 B.C.
Second Mithridatic War
When Mithridates failed to live up to his agreement to leave Cappadocia, a second Mithridatic War broke out in 83. Propraetor Lucius Licinius Murena invaded Pontus, but was forced to withdraw. In 81, peace was declared that still followed the terms of the treaty of Dardanus.
At the time of the slave rebellion of Spartacus, Rome sent in Lucius Licinius Lucullus and Aurelius Cotta to deal with Mithridates. Lucullus' troops turned out to be in no shape to fight.
Third Mithridatic War
In 75 or 74 Nicomedes III of Bithynia died, bestowing his kingdom upon Rome. Threatened by Rome having power so near him, Mithridates took his largest force into the neighboring kingdom, occupied Bithynia, and sent smaller forces against Asia, Cappadocia and Phrygia.
In return, to repel Mithridates from Asia, the Roman Senate sent Lucius Licinius Lucullus to deal with Mithridates, and Marcus Aurelius Cotta with a fleet to occupy Bithynia. Lucullus found troops in dire need of discipline. Training them kept him from helping Cotta. Mithridates easily defeated Cotta at Chalcedon. He then beseiged Cyzicus.
Finally equipped with barely-disciplined troops, Lucullus severed Mithridates' land-communication, while the besieged citizens of Cyzicus held out long enough to convince Mithridates to change his mind and withdraw.
Next: Mithridates in Retreat...
