A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

MITHRIDATES. MITHRIDATES. 1101
his escape. He fled'to Comana, where he was farther advance of the Roman general, who turned
again able to assemble a body of 2000 horse, aside into Mesopotamia. Here Mithridates left
but he despaired of opposing the farther progress him to lay siege to the fortress of Nisibis, which
of Lucullus, and accordingly sent his faithful was supposed impregnable, while he himself took
eunuch Bacchides to put to death his wives and advantage of his'absence to invade Pontus, at the
sisters whom he had left at Pharnacia, while he head of a large army, and endeavour to regain poshimself took refuge in the dominions of his son-in- session of his former dominions. The defence of
law Tigranes. It appears that these events took Pontus was confided to Fabius, one of the lieuteplace before the close of the year. B. C. 72. (Plut. nants of Lucullus; but the oppressions of the RoLucull. 14-18; Appian, Mithr. 78-82; Mem- mans had excited a general spirit of disaffection,
non, 43, 44; concerning the chronology see Lu- and the people crowded around the standard of
CULLUS, Vol. II. p. 834, note.) Mithridates. Even the Thracian mercenaries in
Tigranes was at this moment the most powerful the army of Fabius turned against their general,
monarch of Asia [TIGRANES]; but though he had who was totally defeated by Mithridates, and compreviously promised assistance to Mithridates, he pelled to shut himself up in the fortress of Cabeira.
appears to have been unwilling to'engage openly-in Triarius, another of'the Roman generals, now adwar with Rome; and on this account, while he re- vanced to his support with a fresh army, and the
ceived the fugitive monarch in a friendly manner, king retreated before this new adversary, and
and assigned him all that was requisite for main- withdrew to Comana, where he took up his wintertaining his royal dignity, he refused to admit him quarters. But the following, spring (B. c. 67) hosto his presence, and showed no disposition to tilities were resumed on both sides; and Triarius,
attempt his restoration. But the arrogance of the who was anxious to engage Mithridates before
Romans brought about a change in his policy; and Lucullus himself should arrive, allowed himself to
Tigranes, offended at the haughty conduct of Appius be attacked' at disadvantage, and was totally deClaudius, whom Lucullus had sent to demand the feated. The destruction of the Roman army would
surrender of Mithridates, not only refused this have been complete had not the king himself been
request, but determined at once to prepare for war wounded in the pursuit, which was in consequence
with the Romans. Community of interests now checked for a time; but even thus the blow was
led to a complete reconciliation between the two one of the severest which the Roman arms had susmonarchs; and Mithridates, who had spent a year tained for a long period: 7000 of their troops fell,
and eight months in the dominions of his son-in- among which was an unprecedented number of
law without being admitted to a personal interview, officers; and their camp itself was taken. (Dion
was now made to participate in all the councils of Cass. xxxv. 4-6, 8-13; Appian, Mithr. 87Tigranes, and appointed to levy an army to unite 89; Plut. Lucull. 31, 32, 35; Cic. pro Leg. Manil.
in the war. But it was in vain that in the ensuing 9.)
campaign (B. c. 69) he urged upon his son-in-law The advance of Lucullus himself from Mesopothe lessons of his own experience, and advised him tamia prevented Mithridates from following up his
to shun a regular action with Lucullus: Tigranes, advantage, and he withdrew into Lesser Armenia,
confident in the multitude of his forces, gave battle where he took up a strong position near Talaura,
at Tigranocerta and was defeated, before Mithri- to await the approach of Tigranes. He doubtless
dates had been able to join him. But this disaster, expected that the Roman general would quickly
so precisely in accordance with the warnings of resume the offensive; but the farther proceedings
Mithridates, served to raise the latter so high in of Lucullus were paralysed by the mutinous and
the estimation of Tigranes, that from this time for- disaffected. spirit of his own soldiers; and on the
ward the whole conduct of the war was entrusted arrival of Tigranes the two monarchs found themto the direction of the king of Pontus. selves able to overrun almost the whole of Pontus
During the ensuing winter both monarchs were and Cappadocia without opposition. Before the
busily engaged in raising a fresh army, into which close of the year 67 Mithridates saw himself once
Mithridates endeavoured to introduce some dis- more in possession of the greater part of his herecipline, as well as to arm a large body of them ditary dominions. (Plut. Lucull. 35; Appian,
after the Roman fashion. They at the same time Mithr. 90; Dion Cass. xxxv. 14, 17; Cic. pro Leq.
endeavoured to procure the important assistance of Manil. 3.)
the Parthian king, to whom Mithridates addressed But early in the following year (66) the conduct
a letter, urging him to consult his true interest by of the war was entrusted by the Romans to the
espousing their cause before it was too late, and general whose fame was at this moment eclipsing
not to wait until the Romans-attacked him in his all others-the illustrious Pompey, and one of the
turn. Whether the epistle to this effect preserved first measures of the new commander was to secure
among the fragments of Sallust really bears any the friendship and alliance of the Parthian king
resemblance to that. composed by the king of Phraates III., a step by which he not only dePontus we have unfortunately no means of deter- prived Mithridates of all hopes of the co-operation
mining. (Plut. Lucull. 19, 21-23, 25-30; Ap- of that monarch, but precluded him from the suppian, Mithr. 84-87; Memnon, 46, 55-58; Dion port of Tigranes also, by compelling the Armenian
Cass. Fr. 178, xxxv. 1-3; Liv. Epit. xcviii.; Oros. king to look to the defence of his own dominions
vi. 3; Eutrop. vi. 8, 9; Epist. Mithr. ad Arsacem, against the Parthian. Thus thrown back upon his
ap. Sail. Hist. iv. p. 238, ed. Gerlach.) own resources, Mithridates made overtures - for
But the Parthian king still wavered, and in the peace; but Pompey would listen to no terms exfollowing summer (B. C. 68), Lucullus crossed the cept those of unqualified submission and the surTaurus, penetrated into the heart of Armenia, and render of all Roman deserters, and these conditions
again defeated the allied monarchs near the city of the king of Pontus rejected with. scorn. He stiU
Artaxata. But the early severity of the season, found himself at the head of an army of 30,000
and the discontent of his own troops, checked the foot and 2000 horse, with which, however, he did