Sulla and Mithridates

Civil War, 87

• Bellum Octavianum
  • "War of Octavius"
• Dispute among consuls of 87
  • L. Cornelius Cinna opposes laws passed by Sulla
  • Cn.Octavius supports Sulla's measures
• Octavius drives Cinna out of Rome
• Armies raised by Cinna, Marius and others capture Rome
• Octavius and a few senior senators killed
• Marius consul for 86, dies soon after taking up office
• Cinna controls Rome
• What to do about Sulla?

First Mithridatic War

• Conflict b/w Bithynia (Roman ally) and Pontus
• Mithridates king of Pontus
  • Eastern Asia Minor plus Caucasus region and Crimea
• War provoked by Roman envoy in 90
• Asia Minor quickly overrun by Mithridates
  • No Roman garrison
  • Some Greek cities disloyal
  • Mithrdiates orders massacre of Roman residents (80,000)
• Mithridatic forces in Greece and Macedonia by 88
• Sulla finally crosses over to Greece in 87
• Captures Athens
• Defeats Mithridates' forces twice in 86
  • Chaeronea
  • Oropus
• Peace of Dardanus
  • Mithridates keeps kingdom
  • Supplies Sulla for impending civil war
• Sulla lets troops extort wealth from disloyal cities in Asia

Cinna's Italy

• Three years of peace: 86-84
• Cinna not exactly liked by senatorial oligarchy, but still legitimate
• After Sulla's victory this period called one of oppression
• What to do with Sulla?
  • Oulawed in Rome
  • Wary negotiations
• Cinna killed by rebellious troops in 84
• Sulla resolves to return by violence