Mithridates VI of Pontus was a minor king of a mountainous region in northern Asia minor, who manage

Mithridates VI of Pontus was a minor king of a mountainous region in northern Asia minor, who managed to keep Rome embroiled in wars in the region for over twenty years. Pontus was one of several “buffer” states that separated the territory of Rome, from that of Parthia in the east. As a result of the Mithridatic wars, Rome’s sphere of influence in the east increased, and her borders reached those of the Parthian kingdom.First Mithridatic War : 90-85 B.C.The dispute started between Bithynia and Pontus, two small kingdoms in the north of Asia minor. Rome supported Bithynia, but did not seek to get directly involved until the armies of Mithridates vanquished both their Bithynian ally, and a Roman army under the local governor. After these two great victories, Mithridates over-ran all of Asia Minor, massacred all of the Roman citizens therein, and tortured the Roman commander whom he had taken captive. He then played upon the anti-Roman sentiment in some Greek cities in order to bring much of Greece into his camp, and installed a dictator, named Aniston in Athens. At this point, he had Rome’s full attention. A large army was placed under Sulla, but was delayed from setting out due to the growing political dispute in Rome between Sulla and Marius. By 87 BC , however, the army was in the field, and had undertaken a siege of Athens. In 86 the Roman army under Sulla met the Pontic army under Archelaus, for the first time in open battle at Chaeronea, and in spite of being outnumbered nearly three to one, won a decisive victory. Sulla followed this up a year later with another great victory at Orchomenus, and at this point, drove the army of Mithridates out of mainland Greece.Meanwhile, another army under Flaccus had landed in Asia to join forces with Greek cities from that region who had revolted from Mithridates. There was significant pro-Marius sentiment in this army however, so they mutinied, and selected a Marian partisan, Flavius Fimbria as their leader. He engaged Mithridates directly in battle at Miletopolis and won a victory, but Sulla, who was determined to return to Rome as soon as possible, made terms with Mithridates and then threatened to turn on the Marian army under Fimbria. Fimbria at this point, killed himself to avoid meeting Sulla in the field, and Sulla returned to Italy, where the armies of the Marian party were drawn up awaiting him. -- source link

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