Lucius Licinius Lucullus

Background

He was born c. 117 bc. The place of birth is unknown.

Career

Lucullus gained his first military experience in Italy in the Social War (90-88 b. c. ) and later supervised the conduct of naval operations during Sulla's campaigns against the Greeks and Mithridates (88-84 b. c. ). After reforming the finances of the Roman province of Asia, Lucullus returned to Rome where he held the praetorship in 77 b. c. and the consulship three years later.

In 74-73 b. c. Lucullus was in charge of the military operations against Mithridates who had invaded Bithynia after the death of King Nicomedes. The initial successes of Lucullus were very impressive: he drove Mithridates from Bithynia and Pontus, and prepared to pursue him into Armenia (68 b. c. ). At this point, however, the legions of Lucullus mutinied and Mithridates was able to return to Pontus. Lucullus was deprived of his command by the Manilian Law (66 b. c. ), which entrusted Pompey with the direction of future operations against Mithridates.

Lucullus took no further part in political or military affairs; returning to Rome he established an elaborate household and became a patron of Greek letters. His lavish banquets have made his name synonymous with gastronomic luxury.

Achievements

• He is known as a Roman general, who fought Mithradates VI Eupator of Pontus from 74 to 66 bc.

Politics

He opposed the political maneuvers of Caesar, Pompey, and Marcus Licinius Crassus (called by modern scholars the First Triumvirate).