Rome & the Kings of Asia Minor (164-63 B.C.) Flashcards
What king of Pontus are the Mithridatic Wars named for?
Mithridates VI
When was the First Mithridatic war fought
89-85 B.C.
Who was assassinated so that his wife and Mithridates’s sister could rule as Regent for her son by Gordius a Cappadocian nobleman and ally of Mithridates?
Ariarathes VI
Who did Laodice marry causing a conflict with her brother?
Nicomedes III of Bithynia (Pontus’s traditional enemy)
What did Mithridates do in response to the marriage of Laodice and Nicomedes III?
Drive Nicomedes III out of Cappadocia “on the behalf of Ariarathes VII” his nephew.
What did Ariarathes VII do to antagonize his Uncle, Mithridates VI
Refuse Gordius’s return into Cappadocia
How did Ariarathes VII die? And who took his place?
Mithridates VI invaded and killed him placing his own son also named Ariarathes on the throne under Gordius’s regency.
After Nicomedes appealed to the senate about Mithridates VI’s occupation of Cappadocia, what did the Roman Senate decide to be the solution?
Nicomedes III would be removed from Paphlagonia and Mithridates VI would be removed from Cappadocia. Cappadocia would be under the rule of Ariobarzanes I
What did Mithridates VI do in response to his removal from Cappadocia Immediately Preceding the Aquillian Legation?
Asked his son in law Tigranes the great of Armenia to invade Cappadocia from the east.
What was Rome’s response to Tigranes the great’s first occupation of Cappadocia
Sending Propraetor Lucius Cornelius Sulla, who had been dealing with Cillician pirates, to drive Tigranes and Mithridates’s forces out of Ariobarzanes I’s kingdom
whose death prompted Mithridates to support a bastard son on the throne of Bithynia?
Nicomedes III
who were the two sons fighting for the Bithynian throne in the civil war that immediately preceded the first Mithridatic war.
Nicomedes IV and his bastard half-brother Socrates Chrestus (supported by Mithridates VI)
Who fled to Rome after losing a civil war in Asia minor to convince Rome to restore him to his kingdom of Bithynia in 91 or 90 B.C.
Nicomedes IV
Who, in 90 B.C. led a force to restore Nicomedes IV and Ariobarzanes I to their respective thrones in Asia minor?
Manius Aquillius (and Manlius Maltinus)
Even though Mithridates had not helped the Aquilian Legation restore the joint kings of Cappadocia and Bithynia, he had not actively hindered the process. Despite this Manius Aquillius began doing what? A particularly reckless strategy for what reason?
Provoking Mithridates VI into a confrontation; The social war was still underway so Rome could not put it’s full attention on Mithridates VI.
Since Roman policy toward Asia Minor expected it, the two kings seeking restoration, especially Nicomedes IV took out massive loans to bribe the Romans for their help. This resulted in him, at the behest of his creditors and Aquillius, doing what to get enough money to pay off his debts?
Invading Pontus
After Nicomedes IV raided into Pontus, what series of decisions did Mithridates VI make?
- Sent his Pontic Envoy: Pelopidas to Rome to argue that Bithynia was the aggressor and pointing to the Pontic treaty with Rome
- Built an alliance network (or tried to) throughout all of the former Macedonian Empire
- Built up his military forces in preparation for a war with Rome
Where does Mithridates VI Occupy in 89 B.C. de facto starting a war with Rome
Cappadocia
What philosopher in Mithridates VI’s court encouraged him to commit a genocide against all Roman’s in Asia Minor in the immediate prelude to the first Mithridatic war?
Metrodoros of Skepsis also known as ho misoromaios (the Roman-hater)
What was Mithridates VI’s murder of all Roman Citizens in Asia Minor called?
The Asiatic Vespers
How many Romans were killed in the Asiatic Vespers? (According to Appian)
80,000
What general of Mithridates established Aristion as the tyrant of Athens
Archelaus
How does Sulla reconquer Greece from Archelaus and Mithridates?
Lands in Epirus; Marches towards Boeotia winning a battle that wins him the allegiance of the Peloponnesus; Marches on Athens; Defeats Archelaus at the battle of Chaeronea
After the Battle of Chaeronea, where was Archelaus defeated after receiving 80,000 reinforcements from Mithridates?
Orchomenus
Who was sent by the Marians in Rome to defeat Mithridates and Sulla
Lucius Valerius Flaccus
Who assassinated the Marian Lucius Valerius Flaccus after he crossed the Hellespont?
Fimbria
What treaty ended the war between Rome (Sulla) and Mithridatesin 84 B.C.?
Treaty of Dardanos
What were the terms of the treaty of Dardanos?
Sulla had to remove himself from all conquered territory and the kings of Asia Minor were put back into their kingships
How did Mithridates VI escape Gaius Fimbria after Fimbria invaded the Roman province of Asia and supported the Greek rebellion?
By sailing away because Fimbria was a Marian and so Sulla’s admiral Lucullus didn’t support Fimbria’s operation
How did Fimbria die?
Killed himself after Sulla signed the treaty of Dardanos with Mithridates and he was left exposed and without allies.
How did the second Mithridatic war start?
Sulla hastily left to deal with domestic politics and his Lieutenant Murena managed to immediately break the treaty Sulla had just negotiated, painting Mithridates in a good light as the aggrieved party.
Why did Murena provoke Mithridates VI?
Mithridates was building up his forces, Nominally to deal with a Colchian rebellion, but the scale of the buildup and the fact the Ariobarzanes, king of Cappadocia had not been returned all his territory yet meant that Murena didn’t believe him.
How did Mithridates originally respond to Murena?
Sends envoys to Rome
In response to what action of Murena does Mithridates VI send Gordius to attack Roman Villages?
Murena talking with an envoy and then continuing his provocation implying it was sanctioned by Rome even though Murena was just disobeying orders on a technicality.
Who didn’t want another war with Mithridates, recalled Murena to Rome, and reconciled Mithridates and Ariobarzanes I?
Sulla
Which king of Bithynia did Perseus marry to his sister?
Prusias
What did Prusias do to avoid retribution after his brother in law lost the 3rd Macedonian war at Pydna?
Stayed Neutral throughout the conflict and afterwards, appeared in Rome dressed as a freedman.
Prusias, after the third Macedonian war, became incensed against what king of Pergamum?
Attalus II Philidelphus
When Rome forced an arbitration between Prusias II and Attalus where each of them would meet with 1,000 horses and define their border, what did Prusias II do?
Sent the Romans on ahead and brought his entire army instead of 1,000 horses sending Attalus II and the Romans to flight. He then destroyed Nicephorium and Besieged Pergamum.
What were the consequences as dictated by Rome for Prusias’s incursions into Pergamum?
Deliver 20 decked ships at once, and 500 Talents of Silver within a certain period
Why did Nicomedes II son of Prusias II overthrow his father?
His father was likely planning to have his son killed out of Jealousy.
What king of Pergamum assisted Nicomedes II in taking the throne from his cruel father
Attalus II Philidelphus
What legate of Attalus II went to Rome to argue on behalf of his native Pergamum before conspiring with Nicomedes II and Menas Legate of Prusias II to kill Prusias II?
Androniscus
In the temple of what god, in what city is Prusias II killed?
Zeus; Nicomedia
Who was in charge of the province of Asia during the Aquilian legation, and was asked to support the legation with troops?
Lucius Cassius
During the first Mithridatic war what general did Mithridates take as prisoner first?
Quintus Oppius
Who, taken prisoner by Mithridates in the first of his wars with the romans, also led the the Eponymous legation to Asia Minor?
Manius Aquillius
How did Manius Aquillius die?
Molten gold poured down his throat (to rebuke the romans for taking bribes)
What three cities does Appain claim “received him[Mithridates] gladly” during the first Mithridatic war?
Mytilene, Magnesia, and Ephesus.
What did the senate decide to sell so that Sulla could amass an Army to fight Mithridates?
The treasures of King Numa Pompilius which had been set aside for the gods.
What Island, where the Romans fleeing the Asiatic Vespers fled to, did Mithridates unsuccessfully besiege in 88 B.C.?
Rhodes