Graduation Year
2016
Date of Submission
12-2015
Document Type
Open Access Senior Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
History
Reader 1
Shane Bjornlie
Reader 2
Heather Ferguson
Terms of Use & License Information
Rights Information
© 2015 Samuel O'Braitis
Abstract
This paper is an examination of how much of a military and diplomatic threat Mithridates VI Eupator of Pontus truly posed to the Roman Republic during the Mithridatic Wars from 88-63 BC. This question was posed due to the seeming disconnect between how Mithridates is portrayed in primary sources compared to the results of his military encounters with the Romans. This examination was performed with the use of numerous primary sources from the time period as well as secondary, scholarly sources pertaining to the motivations and actions of both Mithridates and contemporary Roman personages. The conclusion arrived at was that Mithridates was portrayed by Roman historians as being far more imposing than he truly was, which is supported by his lack of military success against the armies of Rome in their encounters. The reasons for his are Mithridates being used as a means for political ascension within the Roman social sphere by characters such as Sulla, Lucullus, and Pompey. Thus this paper examines how propaganda and political ambition can result in exaggerations and incomplete information being presented in historical accounts.
Recommended Citation
O'Braitis, Samuel, "Military Threat or Political Tool: An Examination of Mithridates VI Eupator of Pontus as a Threat to the Roman Republic from 88-63 B.C." (2016). CMC Senior Theses. 1230.
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/1230
