Siege of Cyzicus facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Cyzicus
Part of Third Mithridatic War
Ruins of Cyzicus
Date 73 BC Location Cyzicus (modern-day Erdek, Balıkesir, Turkey) Result Roman victory
Belligerents
The Roman Republic and their ally the city of Cyzicus	The Kingdom of Pontus
Commanders and leaders
Lucius Licinius Lucullus	Mithridates VI of Pontus
Strength
Appian: 30,000 infantry and 1,600 cavalry Plutarch: 30,000 infantry and 2,500 cavalry	300,000 probably including camp followers
Casualties and losses
Very low	Very high

The Siege of Cyzicus was a major battle in 73 BC. It happened between the powerful Roman Republic and the Kingdom of Pontus. The city of Cyzicus, a Roman ally, was caught in the middle. This event was unique because it was both a siege and a "counter-siege." It ended with a big win for the Romans.

Why the War Started

After an earlier war, King Mithridates VI of Pontus had rebuilt his army. In 74 BC, King Nicomedes IV of Bithynia died. He was the ruler of Bithynia, a country between Rome and Pontus. The Romans said he left his kingdom to them in his will. This meant Rome and Pontus now shared a border. Mithridates saw this as a threat. He decided to invade Roman lands. This started the Third Mithridatic War.

How the Siege Began

Before the siege, a Roman governor named Marcus Aurelius Cotta was getting his forces ready. Mithridates invaded before Cotta was prepared. Cotta pulled back to the city of Chalcedon. He had his ships there for safety. He sent urgent messages to Lucullus, another Roman leader. Lucullus was training his army in Asia. He stopped his plans and marched to Bithynia.

Unfortunately, Cotta fought a battle outside Chalcedon. He lost 3,000 men. Mithridates then attacked by land and sea. He captured most of Cotta's fleet. Mithridates left Cotta trapped in Chalcedon. He then marched his main army west. He took many cities. Finally, he reached the Roman-allied city of Cyzicus.

The Siege of Cyzicus

Cyzicus was built on a narrow piece of land. This land connected it to the mainland. Mithridates had to send part of his army by ship. This allowed them to surround the city. He captured the city's harbor. Then, his engineers started building huge siege machines. These included a 150-foot siege tower. They also had battering rams and giant crossbows.

The Roman Counter-Siege

Luckily for Cyzicus, Lucullus and his army arrived. Lucullus did not want to fight a direct battle. Mithridates had many more soldiers. So, Lucullus set up his camp on a hill. It overlooked the city. The Romans were amazed by the size of Mithridates' army. But Lucullus knew big armies need a lot of food.

He questioned some captured soldiers. He learned Mithridates' army had only a few days of supplies left. Lucullus told his officers his plan. He said the best way to defeat a large army was to "stamp on its stomach." This meant cutting off their food. His men then started a counter-siege. They cut off Mithridates' supply lines. But they kept their own supplies coming in.

Mithridates tried to trick the people of Cyzicus. He told them the Roman army was actually his own reserve force. But Lucullus managed to get a messenger into the city. This messenger swam seven miles to reach Cyzicus. He told the people the truth.

As winter arrived, Mithridates' army faced big problems. They were starving and getting sick. The sickness came from dead bodies that were not buried. Lucullus' army was always nearby. They were a constant threat. But they never attacked directly. With so many soldiers sick and hungry, Mithridates decided to leave. He used the bad winter weather to break through Lucullus' lines. He marched his army towards Lampsacus.

What Happened Next

Mithridates' army moved along the coast. They were heading to the port of Lampsacus. On their way, they were attacked at the Granicus River. This is the same river where Alexander the Great won a famous battle. Mithridates' army was almost completely destroyed.

Mithridates had started with 300,000 soldiers. Only about 20,000 soldiers were left. The Siege of Cyzicus was a huge disaster for Mithridates. It was a major victory for the Roman Republic.