After inheriting the Attalid kingdom in 133 BC, Rome became the leading power in Asia Minor and the arbiter of disputes between the kingdoms and cities there. Pergamum on the west coast became the capital of the Roman province of Asia, and Cilicia on the northeast coast of the Mediterranean had been subdued by Antonius (1) in 102 BC. Located between the two regions were several important powers: north of Cilicia was Cappadocia and further north was Pontus on the southeast coast of the Black Sea; west of Pontus was Paphlagonia and further west was Bithynia on the southwest coast of the Black Sea. In the middle of these four states was Galatia.
Mithridates VI was intent on making his state the dominant power around the Black Sea and his activities in Asia Minor eventually brought him into conflict with the Republic. In the mid-120s BC Mithridates’ sister Laodice had married Ariarathes VI of Cappadocia (r.130-116 BC) who was eventually murdered by Gordius, a Cappadocian noble, and his throne passed to his two sons, with Laodice as regent.
In 108/7 BC Mithridates in alliance with Nicomedes III of Bithynia (r.c.127-c.94 BC) invaded Paphlagonia, which they divided between them and then defied a Roman embassy when it ordered them to leave. In 102 BC Nicomedes III invaded Cappadocia and married Laodice. Mithridates then expelled Nicomedes and restored Ariarathes VI’s first son, Ariarathes VII (r.c.116-c.101 BC) on the Cappadocian throne.
Later, however, Mithridates had Ariarathes VII murdered and replaced him with one of his own sons, Ariarathes IX (r.c.101*95 BC). In 97 BC the Cappadocians revolted and placed Ariarathes VIII (r.97 BC), the second son of Ariarathes VI, on the throne. Mithridates promptly expelled him and he died soon afterwards, the last of the Cappadocian royal line.
The Senate ordered Mithridates and Nicomedes to pull out of all of their possessions in Cappadocia and Paphlagonia; both areas were to be free and autonomous. Mithridates withdrew as ordered and the Cappadocians elected Ariobarzanes-I (r.95*63 BC), a local noble, and the new king was installed in Cappadocia by Sulla, then Roman governor of Cilicia.
In 91 BC Ariobarzanes was driven out of Cappadocia by Mithridates’ ally in Armenia (east of Pontus and Cappadocia), Tigranes II (85; r.95-55 BC). The next year Nicomedes IV (r.c.94-74 BC) was defeated by his brother Socrates Chrestus with an army provided by Mithridates and fled to Italy.
In 89 BC the Senate sent a commission, led by Aquillius (3) (cos.101 BC), to collaborate with Gaius Cassius (4), the governor in Asia, in restoring Nicomedes and Ariobarzanes to their thrones. Mithridates withdrew from Bithynia and when Aquillius directed a small force under Cassius towards Cappadocia, Tigranes also pulled back.
Aquillius presented Nicomedes and Ariobarzanes with a bill for restoring their kingdoms and the repayment of their debts, but neither of them could pay. The two kings were then urged to recoup their losses by invading Mithridates’ own territory. Aware of his own vulnerability Ariobarzanes declined, but Nicomedes advanced to Amastris in Paphlagonia.
Mithridates sent his general Pelopidas to Aquillius to complain about Nicomedes’ action and to say that if war broke out then Egypt, Syria, the Roman provinces of Asia, Achaea and Africa and even Italy would side with him. When Romans refused to support him, Mithridates went to Cappadocia and returned his son Ariarathes IX to the throne. This marked the beginning of the first war against Mithridates.
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