Mithridates VI Eupator

Mithridates or Mithradates VI Eupator (Ancient Greek: ; 135–63 BC) sometimes known as Mithridates the Great was the Hellenistic ruler of the Kingdom of Pontus from 120 to 63 BC. He proved to be one of the Roman Republic's most formidable and determined opponents. He sought to dominate Anatolia and the Black Sea region, waging several hard-fought but ultimately unsuccessful wars to break Roman dominion over Asia and the Hellenic world.

Following the assassination of his father Mithridates V Euergetes, the teenage Mithridates ascended to the throne under the regency of his mother Laodice VI. In 113 BC he overthrew his mother and ruled alone thereafter. Aiming to elevate Pontus to the status of a major power, Mithridates subjugated Colchis and the Cimmerian Bosporus on the Black Sea, but his expansion westwards into Asia Minor made conflict with Rome inevitable. In 89 BC, spurred by his Roman allies, Nicomedes IV of Bithynia invaded Pontus. Mithridates defeated him and, taking advantage of Rome's preoccupation with the Social War, overran Roman Asia and orchestrated large-scale massacres of Romans and Italians in the region. Positioning himself as a champion of Hellenism, he brought much of mainland Greece (including Athens) to his side.

The Romans eventually responded when Lucius Cornelius Sulla, despite having been declared a public enemy, proceeded with his plan to defeat Mithridates. In the first of the Mithridatic Wars, Sulla achieved a string of victories over the Pontic forces, but factional struggle back in Rome forced him to offer a generous peace to Mithridates, restoring the situation to its pre-89 BC state. In 83 BC, the Roman legateLucius Licinius Murena attacked Mithridates, provoking the Second Mithridatic War. Mithridates defeated him, and peace was again declared.

The Third Mithridatic War broke out in 73 BC when Nicomedes IV died without an heir and bequeathed Bithynia to Rome, prompting an invasion by Mithridates. He was routed by the legions of Lucullus and fled to his ally, Tigranes II of Armenia. In 67 BC, Mithridates retook Pontus after inflicting a major defeat on the Romans at Zela. His victory proved short-lived, and he was decisively defeated by Pompey at the Battle of the Lycus in 66 BC. Mithridates fled to Crimea, took over the Bosporan Kingdom and was preparing another war against Rome when his son Pharnaces rebelled against him. He retreated to Panticapaeum, where he committed suicide.