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The Campaign of Pompey (67-66 B.C.)



After these unforgivable defeats, Lucullus recalled to Rome. The main reason for his recall was, without doubt, the anticipation of Armenian resistance. However we should add that his personality , his strict discipline toward his troops and his honesty and hatred of corruption were contributing factors. Any other commander might have accepted criticsm from Rome but tried to bribe some key figure to at least be able to keep his post as commander.

Another important factor was that all this happened at the same time that Rome was preparing to reward Lucullus for his many conquests. All you need to do is to take a look at the map of Asia Minor and the Middle East at the time of Lucullus' recall to understand the magnitude of his setbacks. Almost not one of his conquests was left: Pontos was once again independent and Tigran had regained control over the whole of Armenia Major plus some of his earlier conquests since he now had control over the entire north and around Euphrates. 84

Lucullus was replaced by Pompey (Gaecus Pompeius Magnus, 106-48 B.C.). Pompey gathered his army which was made of several legions in Cilicia. Besides being an outstanding commander he was also a competent politician and realised that, in order to defeat Armenia, he needed the help of the Persians. During Lucullus' second war Tigran and Mithradates had ensured the neutrality of the Persians and could therefore concentrate their forces entirely against the Romans.

Pompey promised Farhad III the areas that Lucullus had conquered in Mesopotamia in exchange for his support in the war against Armenia and managed to convince him to attack Armenia.

Now that Armenia was busy with the Persians, Pompey could march across Asia Minor and attack Pontos with an army of 50,000 legions. Mithradates engaged him with 30,000 men but lost the battles at Nicopolis and Dasteira which lay near the Lycus River. The army of Mithradates was annihilated totally at this battle and the king himself, who participated in the battle and fought to the last moment, barely escaped with his life..

At the same time, Farhad III attacked Armenia from the south. Unfortunately Tigran II was betrayed by his own son, who, together with some of his forces, went over to the Persian side. After the scattering of his empire and the second war against Lucullus, turned into a fault-finding and easily irritated old man and his son did not appreciate the treatment he received from his father.

The Persians were able, with the help of the Armenian prince's troops, to advance and surround the city of Artaxata.

When, after defeating Mithradates and shattering Pontos, Pompey began to advance towards Armenia, Tigran's situation immediately became much more difficult. During this war he was forced to fight on two different fronts and in addition his son was among the enemy army. This war was in reality both against an internal and an external enemy.

Despite the situation, Tigran's Armenia was able to gather enough troops to withstand the Persians. Tigran attacked the Persians surrounding Artaxata and they were thrown out of the country. 91 In spite of this victory Tigran realised that it would be impossible to continue the war, since the Roman army was approaching from the other direction.