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

834 LUCULLUS. LUC ULLUS.
submission of the province of Lesser Armenia, sent by Lucullus to Tigranes, to demand the surJ
which had been subject to Mithridates, as well as render of Mithridates, had returned with an unfathe tribes of the Chaldaeans and Tibarenians; vourable answer: intelligence had been also received
after which he returned to complete the subjuga- that the two kings, laying aside all personal differ.
tion of Pontus. Here the cities of Amisus and ences, were assembling large forces and preparing
Eupatoria still held out, but they were both ill for immediate hostilities; and Lucullus now detersuccession reduced by the renewed efforts of Lu- mined to anticipate them by invading the dominions
cullus. He had been especially desirous to save of Tigranes. It was in the spring of B. C. 69,
from destruction the wealthy and important city of that he set out on his march towards Armenia,
Amisus, but it was set on fire by Callimachus him- with a select body of 12,000 foot and 3000 horse,
self previous to evacuating the place; and though leaving his lieutenant Sornatius to command in
Lucullus did his utmost to extinguish the flames, Pontus (where every thing seemed now perfectly
his soldiers were too intent upon plunder to second settled) during his absence. Ariobarzanes fur-:his exertions, and the greater part of the town was nished him assistance on his march through Capconsumed. He, however, endeavoured to repair padocia, and the passage of the Euphrates was
the damage as far as possible, by granting freedom facilitated by an accidental drought, which was
to the city, and inviting new settlers by extensive hailed as a good omen both by the general and his
privileges. Heracleia, which was still besieged by soldiers. From thence he advanced through the
Cotta, did not fall apparently till the following district of Sophene, and crossing the Tigris also
year, a. c. 71; and the capture of Sinope by Lu- directed his march towards Tigranocerta, the capital
-cullus himself, shortly afterwards, completed the of the Armenian king. Tigranes, who had at first
conquest of the whole kingdom of Pontus. About refused to believe the advance of Lucullus, now
the same time also Machares, the son of Mithri- sent Mithrobarzanes to meet him, but that officer
dates, who had been appointed by his father king was quickly routed and his detachment cut to
of Bosporus, sent to make offers of submission to pieces. Hereupon Tigranes himself abandoned
the Roman general, and even assisted him with ships his capital, the charge of which he confided to all
and supplies in effecting the reduction of Sinope. officer named Mancaeus, while he himself withdrew
(Plut. Lacull. 19, 23, 24; Appian, Mitht. 82, 83; farther into the interior, to wait the arrival of the
Memnon. 45, 47-54; Strab. xii. p. 546, 547; Sall. troops, which were now assembling from all quarters.
Hist. ii. fr. 28, iv. fr. 12, p. 240, ed. Gerlach.) Lucullus, meanwhile, proceeded to form the siege of
During this interval Lucullus had devoted much Tigranocerta, principally, it would seem, with a
of his time and attention to the settlement of the view to induce the Armenian monarch to undertake
affairs of Asia, where the provincials and cities its relief, and thus bring on a general action. Nor
were suffering severely from the exactions and were his calculations disappointed. Tigranes at
oppressions of the Roman revenue officers. To first threw an additional body of troops into the
this evil he effectually put an end, by fixing one place, and succeeded in carrying off in safety his
uniform and moderate rate of interest for all arrears, wives and concubines, who had been shut up there;
and by other judicious regulations checked the but he was determined not to let the city itself
monstrous abuses of the public farmers of the re- fall into the hands of the Romans, and soon apvenue. By these measures he earned the favour peared before it with an army of 150,000 foot,
and gratitude of the cities of Asia, which they 55,000 horse, and 20,000 slingers and archers.
displayed in public by celebrating games in his Yet Lucullus fearlessly advanced with his small
honour, and by every demonstration of respect and force to meet this formidable host, and when some
attachment. So judicious and complete indeed was one reminded him that the day (the sixth of Octothe settlement of the internal affairs of Asia now ber) was an unlucky one, he boldly answered,
introduced by Lucullus, that it continued long after " Then I will make it a lucky one." The result
to be followed as the established system. But by fully justified this noble confidence. The heavy->
thus interposing to check the exactions of the armed horsemen of Tigranes, on whom the king
knights who were the farmers of the revenue, he placed his chief reliance, and who had been regarded
brought upon himself the enmity of that powerful with the greatest apprehension by the Romans,
body, who were loud in their complaints against fled without striking a blow; and the whole army
him at Rome, and by their continued clamours of the enemy was dispersed and put toflight with the
undoubtedly prepared the way for his ultimate re- loss of only five men on the side of the Romans. Ticall. (Plut. Lucull. 20, 23; Appian. lMit/r. 83; granes himself had a narrow escape, and in the conCic. Acad. pr. ii. 1.) fusion of the flight, his royal diadem fell into the
Meanwhile' Appius Claudius, who had been hands of the enemy, and afterwards served to grace
the triumph of Lucullus. (Plut. Licull. 23, 24 —
* The chronology of these events is very' con- 28; Appian, illit/r. 84, 85; Memnon. 46, 56, 57
fused and perplexing.. It seems certain that the Eutrop. vi. 9; Liv. Epit. xcviii.)
siege of Cyzicus took place in the winter of 74- The fall of Tigranocerta was now inevitable,
73, and that of Amisus in the following winter, and it was hastened by dissensions between the73-72 (Plut. Lsucull. 33): hence it is probable Greeks and the barbarians within the city, in
that the flight of Mithridates into Armenia must consequence of which the former opened the gates
have' taken place before the end of 72; but as it is to Lucullus. The city was given up to plunder,
also certain (Dion Cass. xxxv.) that the first cam- but the inhabitants were spared, and the Greeks,
paign of Lucullus against Tigranes did not take who had been forcibly transplanted thither from
place till 69, the interval appears inexplicably long. Cilicia and Cappadocia, were all suffered to return
Drumann, in consequence, refers the flight of to their respective cities. (Plut. Lucull. 29; Dion.Mithridates to the year 71, but it is difficult to Cass. xxxv. 2; Strab. xi, p. 532.) Lucullus now
reconcile this with the details of the campaigns as took up his winter-quarters in Gordyene, where he
given by Appian and Plutarch. received the submission of several of the petty