Mithridates Gains Control
"Mithridates" > Page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5Greedy Aquilius suggested a course of action that led to the First Mithridatic War and his own ironic execution.
Aquilius suggested that since the Roman proteges in Bithynia and Cappadocia were unable to pay their debt to Rome, they should invade Mithridates' kingdom. To oblige, Nicomedes invaded Pontic territory and closed off the Bithynian Black Sea exit to Pontic ships.
Mithridates' response was to turn to the Romans for help, but he was rebuffed, so he sent his son Ariarathus into Cappadocia to drive Ariobazares out. Mithridates then sent an envoy to the Roman commissioners. The Romans accused the envoy of threatening war, and so began the first Mithridatic War -- without the ratification of the Senate and the Roman people.
Mithridates fought back. Since the Roman troops were not prepared, Mithridates saw that he could push into the Roman province of Asia. He did so, won, killed Aquilius (see below), and ordered the massacre of all (80,000 or, according to Plutarch, 150,000) Italians throughout the area. It is suggested that this was to insure loyalty, because all those involved in the massacre would have had much to dread from Roman vengeance.
Mithridates' reputation for cruelty may not have been deserved. He could also be merciful and generous with the people he conquered.
Some cities that surrendered to Mithridates were rewarded with tax relief. Amnesty was offered those who handed over the Roman generals. Aquilius had fled to the island of Lesbos, but its citizens wanting amnesty, handed him over. Unlike the leniency with which Mithridates had treated another Roman general, Oppius, whom he set free, Aquilius was ridiculed and then forced to endure an ironic death. Since it was his greed that had set the war in motion, Mithridates had molten gold poured into Aquilius' mouth.
Mithridates then attempted to add Greece to his territory. He encountered little resistance from Greeks tired of the tax-farming Roman equites. By the spring of 87, Mithridates controlled almost all of Asia Minor, Greece, Thrace, part of Macedon, and dominated the Black Sea and Aegean, with the help of his general, Archelaus.
Finally free from pressing business at Rome Sulla left for Greece and Asia Minor where he easily stopped Mithridates' aggression.
It was at the beginning of 87 that Sulla was able to leave Italy, once again, for Greece, where he began a string of successful campaigns. For a while the Greeks remained loyal to the Pontic king, but when it became clear the Romans might be able to restore the old order, the Greeks changed sides, preferring usurious Roman tax-collectors to an Oriental despot.
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Mithridates Sources
H. H. Scullard's revised version of F.B. Marsh's Roman World 146-30 B.C.Cambridge Ancient History Vol. IX, 1994.
Mithridates Online Resources
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