Historica Wiki
Advertisement
Lucullus

Lucius Licinius Lucullus (118-56 BC) was a Roman general and statesman who was a close ally of Sulla and a leader of the conservative Optimates faction in Roman politics during Sulla's civil wars. Lucullus was best known for his role in the Third Mithridatic War, during which he commanded the war effort against Mithridates VI Eupator of Pontus and Tigranes the Great of Armenia from 73 BC to 66 BC. Lucullus amassed great riches from his campaigns, and he introduced the sour cherry and the apricot to Rome.

Biography[]

Lucius Licinius Lucullus was born in 118 BC, the son of Lucius Licinius Lucullus. He first served as tribune of the soldiers serving in Sulla's army during his campaign in Campania during the Social War of 91-88 BC, distinguishing himself for his daring and intelligence. Lucullus served as Quaestor from 89 to 88 BC, the same year Sulla served as Consul of the Roman Republic. That autumn, he was sent to Greece to take command of the Roman forces fighting against the Pontic invasion during the First Mithridatic War, and, as Quaestor, he minted money that was used in the war effort. In the winter of 87-86 BC, he gathered a fleet to aid in Sulla's siege of Athens, winning over the cities of Crete to the Roman side in the process. He also secured Cnidus and Kos, drove the Pontians from Chios, and attacked Samos. In 86 BC, he scored another naval victory at the Battle of Tenedos, after which he escorted Sulla's army into Asia. After the was, Lucullus was entrusted with administering Roman Asia, and he was uninvolved in the brief Second Mithridatic War of 83-81 BC. Lucullus also crushed a revolt in Mytilene on Lesbos, killing 500 rebels and enslaving 6,000. He returned to Rome in 80 BC and served as curule aedile in 79 BC. From 78 to 75 BC, he served as Praetor and as commander of Africa Proconsularis, as Consul in 74 BC (defending Sulla's constitution), send funds and reinforcements to Pompey as he campaigned against the rebel Quintus Sertorius in the Iberian Peninsula, and made Cyrene into a Roman province. After Lucius Octavius' death, Lucullus was appointed Governor of Cilicia, and he was also given command of the Roman Army during the Third Mithridatic War. He exhibited extraordinary generalship, driving Mithridates VI Eupator into Armenia following the 73-72 BC Siege of Cyzicus and defeating Mithridates and Tigranes the Great at the Battle of Tigranocerta in 69 BC. However, his troops mutinied against him due to his failure to capture either of Rome's foes, and he was replaced by Pompey in 66 BC. Pompey usurped Lucullus' control over Sulla's children, contrary to Sulla's will, and opposed Lucullus' attempts to publicly celebrate his triumphs. He retired to a life of luxury funded by the spoils of war from the east, and Cato and Cicero finally secured him a triumph celebration in 63 BC; he covered the Circus Flaminius racetrack with the arms of the enemies he had faced during his campaigns. He apparently developed insanity as he grew older, although he may have feigned mental incapacity in order to stay alive as rival politicians violently jockeyed for power. Lucullus died in 56 BC at the age of 62.

Advertisement