lex manilia
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What allowed Mithridates to rebuild his power before the Lex Manilia?
Rome was distracted by the wars against Sertorius, Spartacus and Mediterranean piracy, allowing Mithridates to recover his strength.
Which conflicts distracted Rome before the Lex Manilia?
The Sertorian War, the Spartacus revolt and the pirate wars.
Who was Mithridates' key ally before the Lex Manilia?
His son-in-law Tigranes of Armenia.
Why was Tigranes an important ally for Mithridates?
He was the most powerful ruler in the East and controlled Cappadocia, Syria and part of Cilicia.
Which Roman province did Mithridates attack with Tigranes' support?
Bithynia.
Who was given command against Mithridates in 74 BC?
Lucius Lucullus.
Which provinces did Lucullus govern?
Cilicia and Asia.
Why was Lucullus initially regarded as successful?
He proved to be an exceptionally capable general against Mithridates.
What had Lucullus achieved by 70 BC?
He stripped Mithridates of most of his conquests, destroyed much of his army and occupied Pontus.
Where did Mithridates flee after Lucullus' victories?
To Tigranes in Armenia.
Why did Lucullus invade Armenia?
Tigranes refused to hand over Mithridates.
Why was Lucullus' invasion of Armenia controversial?
He invaded without obtaining permission from the Senate.
What were Lucullus' main military successes in Armenia?
He defeated Tigranes, captured the Armenian capital Tigranocerta and later defeated the combined forces of Mithridates and Tigranes in 68 BC.
What happened at Tigranocerta?
Lucullus captured the Armenian capital after defeating Tigranes, although Tigranes escaped.
What happened in 68 BC?
Lucullus defeated the combined armies of Mithridates and Tigranes.
Why did Lucullus lose the support of his soldiers?
He imposed strict discipline and refused to allow widespread plundering after victories.
How did Lucullus' army respond to his leadership?
The soldiers mutinied and refused to continue campaigning.
What was the consequence of Lucullus' mutiny?
His campaign stalled and Mithridates recovered much of his kingdom.
Why did Lucullus believe the war had to continue?
He argued that Asia would never be secure while Mithridates remained alive.
Who opposed Lucullus in Rome?
His own soldiers, influential political groups and the equites.
Why was Lucullus accused of prolonging the war?
Critics claimed he continued campaigning for personal glory rather than Rome's interests.
Why did the equites oppose Lucullus?
He reorganised provincial finances, reduced debt burdens on provincials and cut the profits of Roman bankers and tax collectors.
How did Lucullus treat the provincials?
He introduced fairer financial policies that reduced exploitation.
Why did Roman businessmen want Lucullus removed?
His financial reforms reduced their profits from provincial taxation and lending.
Who supported replacing Lucullus?
The people, populares politicians and even many optimates.
Why did many optimates oppose Lucullus?
They disliked his unauthorised invasion of Armenia, which ignored constitutional procedure.
Why was Pompey seen as Lucullus' natural replacement?
He remained in the East after defeating the pirates and still possessed over two and a half years of imperium.
How much imperium did Pompey still possess?
Over two and a half years.
Why was Pompey already in an ideal position to replace Lucullus?
He had just completed the pirate campaign and remained in the eastern Mediterranean.
Why had Pompey probably wanted the Mithridatic command?
It offered further military glory, prestige and political influence.
Why did traders and businessmen support Pompey?
His destruction of piracy restored Mediterranean trade and protected commercial interests.
Why was there little opposition from the Roman people to Pompey's new command?
His success against the pirates had made him extremely popular.
Why was Senate opposition weaker than during the Lex Gabinia?
Pompey's recent success made resistance politically more difficult.
What was the Lex Manilia?
A law passed in 66 BC giving Pompey supreme command against Mithridates.
Who proposed the Lex Manilia?
The tribune Gaius Manilius.
Which territories were placed under Pompey's command?
Cilicia, Bithynia and Pontus.
Who publicly opposed the Lex Manilia?
Catulus and Hortensius.
Why did Catulus oppose the Lex Manilia?
He argued, as he had during the Lex Gabinia, that excessive power should not be concentrated in one individual.
Who supported the Lex Manilia?
Julius Caesar and Cicero.
Why was Cicero's support for the Lex Manilia unusual?
He rarely supported legislation introduced by tribunes.
Why did Cicero support the Lex Manilia?
He needed Pompey's political backing to advance his own career.
How did Cicero's status as a novus homo influence his decision?
Without noble ancestry he relied on influential patrons such as Pompey to secure future elections, including the consulship.
What does Cicero's support for Pompey reveal about his political strategy?
He balanced constitutional principles with political pragmatism when necessary.
Where was Pompey when the Lex Manilia was passed?
In Cilicia.
How did Pompey publicly react to receiving the new command?
He claimed sadly that he wished to be unknown rather than continually burdened with responsibility.
Why was Pompey's reaction criticised?
Even close friends believed his modesty was insincere because of his well-known ambition.
Why did many Romans doubt Pompey's modesty?
He clearly desired distinction, military glory and political power.
According to Plutarch, how was Lucullus treated?
He was deprived of the glory he had earned, while Pompey received the triumph without enduring the hardest stages of the war.
Why did Plutarch criticise Pompey's appointment?
Lucullus had done most of the difficult campaigning, but Pompey received the final honours.
Was Cicero's support for Pompey principled?
Cicero argued that defeating Mithridates protected the Republic, defended Roman interests and supported the Concordia Ordinum.
Why could Cicero's support be considered patriotic?
Mithridates threatened Roman security, trade and the stability of the Republic.
How did Mithridates threaten Rome economically?
His campaigns disrupted business and reduced Rome's wealth.
How does the Concordia Ordinum support Cicero's actions?
Backing Pompey could be justified if it protected cooperation between the Senate and equestrian order for the good of the Republic.
Why did Cicero remain largely silent during the Lex Gabinia?
Although cautious about extraordinary commands, he recognised the practical benefits of Pompey's appointment.
Why could Cicero's support for Pompey be viewed as opportunistic?
He opposed powerful individual generals in principle but supported Pompey when it benefited his own political career.
How did Cicero's Optimate sympathies conflict with his support for Pompey?
Optimates generally opposed concentrating power in individual generals, yet Cicero supported Pompey's extraordinary command.
Why was Cicero uncomfortable with tribunician legislation?
He generally distrusted tribunes proposing laws that bypassed the Senate.
Why did Cicero personally need Pompey's support?
As a novus homo he required protection from political attacks and influential allies to achieve higher office.
How could historians interpret Cicero's support for the Lex Manilia?
It reflects both genuine concern for Rome's security and political opportunism, as Cicero balanced Republican ideals with the practical necessity of securing Pompey's backing for his future career.