Mithridates

Mithridates (more properly MITHRADATES; Persian, 'given by Mithras'), the name of several kings of Pontus, Armenia, and Parthia, all of whom have sunk into insignificance, with the exception of Mithridates VI. of Pontus, surnamed Eupator, but more generally known as Mithridates the Great. He succeeded his father, probably about 120 B.C., while under thirteen years of age, and soon after subdued the tribes who bordered on the Euxine as far as the Chersonesus Taurica (Crimea). The jealous behaviour of the Romans, and the promptings of his own ambitious spirit, now incited him to invade Cappadocia and Bithynia, but a wholesome fear of the power of the great republic induced him to restore his conquests. The First Mithridatic War was commenced by the king of Bithynia (88 B.C.), who, at the instigation of the Romans, invaded Pontus. The generals of Mithridates repeatedly defeated the Asiatic levies of the Romans, and he himself took possession of Bithynia, Cappadocia, Phrygia, and the Roman possessions in Asia Minor. He also sent three powerful armies to aid the Greeks. He was, however, driven from Pergamus (85 B.C.) by Flavius Fimbria, and reduced to the necessity of making peace with Sulla, relinquishing all his conquests in Asia, giving up 70 war-galleys to the Romans, and paying 2000 talents. The wanton aggressions of Murena, the Roman legate, gave rise to the Second Mithridatic War (83-81 B.C.), in which Mithridates was wholly successful. In 74 B.C. he invaded Bithynia, commencing the Third Mithridatic War. He obtained the services of Roman officers of the Marian party, and his arms were at first prosperous; but afterwards the Roman consul Lucullus compelled him to take refuge with Tigranes of Armenia (72 B.C.). Lucullus then conquered Pontus, defeated Tigranes (69 B.C.) at Tigranocerta, and both Tigranes and Mithridates at Artaxata (68 B.C.). Mithridates, however, recovered possession of Pontus. After the war had lingered for some time, Pompey completed the work of Lucullus (66 B.C.), defeating Mithridates on the Euphrates, and compelling him to flee to his territories on the Cimmerian Bosphorus. Here his indomitable spirit prompted him to form a new scheme of vengeance, which was, however, frustrated by the rebellion of his son, Pharnaces, who besieged him in Panticapæum. Deeming his cause hopeless, Mithridates put an end to his own life (63 B.C.). Mithridates was a specimen of the true eastern despot, possessing great ability and extraordinary energy and perseverance. He had received a Greek education at Sinope, is said to have spoken the twenty-two languages and dialects of his subject-peoples, and made a great collection of pictures, statues, and engraved gems.