by Fran Moriarty

Created on: July 27, 2009   Last Updated: July 28, 2009

The Roman Republic was confronted by many armies over time. These armies were commanded by clever and ingenious leaders such as, Hannibal of Carthage and King Mithridates of Pontus. Pontus was a state along the southeastern coast of the Black Sea. Although Mithridates scored only one victory against Rome, he was generally recognized as one of the great threats to the Republic.

Born Eupator Dionysius, he became King Mithridates as an infant. His mother ruled in his place. She eliminated any possible threat to the throne by killing off his brothers. This raised the suspicion that she may have poisoned her husband as well. The young king was carried from the castle and remained in hiding until he reached an age that he could replace his mother. He imprisoned her and may have had her executed. His only remaining family was his sister, Lodice. He married her.

He challenged the Roman expansion eastward from Greece. In 89 BC, Mithridates and his generals confronted the Roman Army. Mithridates swept through Asia Minor slaughtering every Roman encountered. As many as 80,000 Romans were butchered. As he moved into Greece he was confronted with five legions of Roman soldiers. Mithridates fled back to Pontus where a shaky peace ensued for a few years.

In 83 BC, Mithridates once again began to spread the discontent of Rome throughout the neighboring provinces. Under his growing influence, provinces of Asia Minor refused to pay tax. Mithridates sent representatives to stir up insurrection in Spain and Gaul. His ships committed acts of piracy in the Mediterranean where Rome now dominated the trade. He may even have established contact with the rebellious armies of slaves that were threatening Rome from the inside. He was striking Rome's economy. He ambassadors carried the message that Mithridates would attack Rome from the East.

Mithridates stepped in when Rome Bithynia in 73 BC. He was driven back and chased into exile in Armenia. Mithridates lived there in exile for four or five years. He returned to Pontus in 68 BC. Rome saw him as such a danger that Pompey was given the task to end this threat. He decisively defeated Mithridates..

As Mithridates hid from the Roman legionnaires, he began to develop plans to invade Italy. His son overthrew his father. Mithridate's death appears to have been assisted suicide. He could not succumb to poison and had to plead with an aide to dispatch him with a sword.

Rome demonstrated its fear of Mithridatesa and the threat he imposed on Rome. Three of Rome's greatest military leaders were dispatched to deal with Mithridates. Sulla, Lucullus, and Pompey are distinguished and successful military leaders. When Pompey finally produced Mithridates' body, he was greeted by recognition as achieving a "great success" and awarded the title Magnus (the great). Two days of celebration welcomed Pompey back to Rome. He paraded in a magnificent jeweled chariot leading a column of vanquished peoples and carts laden with treasure. Rome had survived yet another menace.

Indeed it was the greatest threat to Rome. Mithridates had twice raised a fearsome army to meet the Romans. His army consisted of 250,000 foot soldiers, 50,000 cavalry and 400 ships. He incited insurrection against Rome. He damaged Rome's trade. He was an inferior that caused such a drain on Roman resources. Mithridates was ready for confrontation. He wanted Rome.

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