6.6

The Third Mithridatic War, 74–63 BCE

Livy, Epitome 93–97. Appian, Mithridatic Wars 10.71–12.83. Plutarch, Lucullus 7–11.

(1) Annō urbis conditae: a variation for the usual expression ab urbe conditā. The year is conceived of as belonging to the city (Hazzard).

L. Liciniō Lūcullō et M. Aurēliō Cottā cōnsulibus: Ablative absolute with form of esse understood (AG 419.a). In 74 BCE, when Lucullus and Cotta were consuls, Nicomedes IV of Bithynia died and bequeathed his kingdom to Rome. The senate accepted and Mithridates immediately invaded Bithynia, which brought about the Third Mithridatic War (Bird).

Nīcomēdēs: Nicomedes IV, surnamed Philopator, was the son and successor of the Nicomedes mentioned in Brev. 4.8 and 4.20. He had been aided by the Romans and was encouraged by them to encroach on the territories of Mithridates. Having no children, he left his kingdom to the Romans (Hazzard).

(2) Mithradātēs: Mithridates VI was king of Pontus, a state of Asia Minor. He is one of the most striking characters of Roman history. Possessed of a large and powerful frame, he was endowed also with a mind of great strength and alertness, indomitable courage, and consuming ambition. It was the desire to extend his realm that brought him into collision with the Romans. In 88 BCE he overran Bithynia, Cappadocia, and the greater part of the Roman province of Asia. In 84 BCE peace was concluded with Sulla. In 83 BCE he again began war. This was brought to an end two years later (Brev. 5.5, 5.6 and 5.8). For the third time he began to wage war in 74 BCE. This was the last and most important war, and, owing to mismanagement on the part of the Romans, was not concluded until 63 BCE when he was driven from his kingdom and forced to take his own life (Brev. 6.14) (Hazzard).

pāce ruptā: ablative absolute with perfect passive participle (AG 419)

habuēre: = habuērunt (syncopated perfect, which is very common)

apud Chalcēdōnam: see Chalcedon

(3) Cȳzicum: Although in 74 and 73 BCE Cotta was defeated by Mithridates on both land and sea and besieged at Chalcedon, Lucullus won several victories in 73 BCE, relieving Cotta and forcing Mithridates to abandon the siege of Cyzicus. The king, after losing almost 100,000 men, was forced to flee to Pontus (Bird).

Lūcullus: Lucius Licinius Lucullus fought in the Civil War on the side of Sulla, was praetor in 77 BCE, and consul in 74 BCE. For eight years he carried on the war against Mithridates with success; but on account of the mutinous spirit of his soldiers and the jealousy of certain Romans, he was unable to bring the war to a close. On his return to Rome he gave himself up to a life of indolence and luxury. He died in 57 BCE (Hazzard).

Bȳzantium: the city of Byzantium was founded by the Megarians in 658 BCE, and was a place of great strategic importance. Constantinople was founded on the same site by the Emperor Constantine the Great in 330 CE. It remained the capital of the Roman Empire of the East until its capture by the Turks in 1453 (Hazzard).

Nāvālī quoque proeliō: the Battle of Tenedos

eius: refers to Mithridates

ad centum ferē mīlia: supply militum.