THE MITHRADATIC WARS

The Mithridatic Wars were a series of three conflicts fought between the Roman Republic and the Kingdom of Pontus, led by the formidable Mithridates VI Eupator, between 88 and 63 BCE.

* First Mithridatic War (88-85 BCE): Mithridates seized large parts of Asia Minor and Greece, but was eventually defeated by Roman forces led by Sulla.

* Second Mithridatic War (83-81 BCE): A brief conflict triggered by Roman aggression, it ended inconclusively.

* Third Mithridatic War (73-63 BCE): The longest and most decisive war, it saw Roman generals Lucullus and Pompey gradually erode Pontic power. Mithridates was eventually defeated and forced to commit suicide.