Mithridatic Wars

Caesar, yeah.

Uh, "I came, I saw, I conquered," that was what Julius Caesar said when he, uh, un-throned or got rid of Mithridates in the Pontic Kingdom, and he, he, that was a very famous phrase he used in the Mithridatic Wars.

So she thought she was a Latin scholar, I suppose.

[laughs]

But this was later.

At the time of which I speak, deeming the consulship a slight matter in comparison with things to come, his thoughts soared to the Mithridatic War.

But here he found a rival in Marius, who was possessed by ambition and a mad desire for fame, those never-aging passions.

He was now unwieldy in body, and in the recent campaigns had given up service on account of his age, and yet set his heart upon foreign wars beyond the seas.

But this was later.

At the time of which I speak, deeming the consulship a slight matter in comparison with things to come, his thoughts soared to the Mithridatic War.

But here he found a rival in Marius, who was possessed by ambition and a mad desire for fame, those never-aging passions.

He was now unwieldy in body, and in the recent campaigns had given up service on account of his age, and yet set his heart upon foreign wars beyond the seas.

Moreover, he maintained three thousand swordsmen, and had about him a body of young men of the equestrian order, who were ready for everything, and whom he called his anti-Senate.

Further, though he got a law passed that no senator should incur a debt of more than two thousand drachmas, he himself left behind him after death a debt of three millions.

This man was now let loose upon the people by Marius, and after confounding all things by force and the sword, he proposed certain vicious laws, and particularly one offering to Marius the command in the Mithridatic war.

To prevent voting on these, the consuls decreed suspension of public business.

Chapter 11.

The First Mithridatic War.

Events have been anticipated in order to relate the close of Cinna's career, but it is time now to say what Sulla had been doing, and who that Mithridates was whose name for so long had been formidable at Rome.

After the defeat of the northern hordes and the suppression of the second slave revolt, there was a war with the Celtiberi in Spain in 97, in which Sertorius showed himself already an adroit and bold officer.

The chariots turned and threw the phalanx into confusion, and when Archelaus ordered up his cavalry, Sulla sent round his to take them in the rear.

At one time, however, the contest was doubtful, and the Romans wavered, till they were put to shame by their general, who seizing a standard and advancing toward the foe cried out, When those at home asked where it was you abandoned your leader, say it was at Orchomenos.

This great victory, in which Sulla showed generalship of a high order, ended the first Mithridatic war.

The date is not quite certain.