Mithridate VI

Beginnings

Mithridate VI was born with the neighborhoods from 132 av. J. - C. with Sinope and knew a tragic youth. His/her father is probably assassinated at the instigation of his mother, Laodicée, towards 120 av. J. - C.. This death is followed of a wild competition around the young king who fears for his life and is withdrawn in hunting and the study (he speaks 22 languages seems he). It is in this context that it is necessary to replace the desire of Mithridate to acquire a perfect knowledge of the Poison S and antidotes of the time and to immunize themselves completely against their effects, from where the verb “mithridatiser”. According to the legend, it succeeds in being immunized by absorbing small amounts of poisons.

The conquering king

He seizes completely the capacity in 111 av. J. - C. by throwing his mother in prison and drawing aside his brother Mithridate Chrestos ( the oint ) of the throne. Conqueror, it seizes in 107 av. J. - C. of the the Bosphorus Cimmérien, drives out the king of Cappadoce, Ariobarzane, in 94 av. J. - C. with the assistance Tigrane, king of Arménie, then division the Paphlagonie with Nicomède IV Philopator , the king of Bithynie in 94 av. J. - C. before driving out this last and seizing its kingdom 88 av. J. - C..

The conflict with the Romans is inevitable. Those indeed restored in 92 av. J. - C. Ariobarzane on its throne. In 88 av. J. - C., after the conquest of Bithynie, Mithridate makes a triumphal entry with Éphèse and raises the Greeks of Asia. It orders the massacre of the Romans established in Asia Mineure, massacre which makes approximately 25.000 victims then passes to Greece where its lieutenant Archélaos is accommodated as a liberator.

Wars against the Romans

The reaction of the Romans is slowed down by the wild political struggle between Marius and Sylla. Finally this last is sent against Mithridate and seizes, after a long seat, of Athens in 86 av. J. - C., then is victorious of Archélaos with Chéronée (86 av. J. - C.) then with Orchomène (85 av. J. - C.). Mithridate then concludes the Paix from Dardanos (85 av. J. - C.) which makes him give up its conquests and its fleet but recognizes it with the head of its kingdom and any liberty of action on the Black Sea leaves him. Besides he does not hesitate to push back the Romans if those are shown too much undertaking with respect to the territories remained under its control, like Murena, lieutenant de Sylla in 82 av. J. - C.. However except for this incident the relations remain peaceful of 85 av. J. - C. with 74 av. J. - C..

In 74 av. J. - C. king de Bithynie Nicomède IV dies and bequeaths its kingdom to the Romans. Mithridate considers that the presence of the Romans at its borders is a threat and reopens the hostilities with the assistance of Tigrane. It is victorious of the consul Cotta with Chalcédoine and besieges Cyzique when it is quickly driven out of Bithynie then Bridge by a victorious campaign of Lucullus (72 av. J. - C. - 71 av. J. - C.). Beaten with the Granique, Cyzique, Lemnos. Mithridate flees in Arménie. The conflict enlise but Lucullus is again victorious in 69 av. J. - C. and seizes Tigranocerte. Benefitting from the revolt of the Roman legions against their chief, Mithridate seizes the Bridge again. It is overcome definitively by Pompée in 66 av. J. - C. on the Euphrate and takes refuge in the Crimea in its town of Panticapée.

End of king Mithridate

Confronted with the revolt of his son Pharnace, it vainly tries to be poisoned then is made kill by one of its mercenaries Galates.

Complex character, courageous, intrepid, inflexible also, art lover (it has many collections), it is often compared with Hannibal for its hatred of Rome. It however fails in its attempt to reverse the Roman domination in Asia and Greece, confronted with the military superiority of this one and the quality of generals like Sylla, Lucullus or Pompée.

See too

Guerres of Mithridate
Mithridate is the title of a tragedy written by Jean Racine.

Random links: