Neoptolemus (Pontic general)
Encyclopedia
Neoptolemus was a distinguished general of King Mithridates VI of Pontus
. He was the brother of Archelaus
another general of Mithridates VI and the paternal uncle of Archelaus’ sons: Archelaus
and Diogenes.
Like his brother Archelaus, Neoptolemus was a Cappadocian
Greek nobleman
, possibly of Macedonian descent
from unknown parents. Perhaps his ancestors descended from those Greeks who arrived in Anatolia
after the expedition of King Alexander the Great and his family were active in the Pontic Court. Like his brother, Neoptolemus was a general and admiral in the First Mithridatic War
89 BC-85 BC. Prior to the First Mithridatic War, Neoptolemus had gained military experience in the Pontic campaigns on the northern shores of the Black Sea
with his brother. He took part in campaigns as far as west of the Crimea
, reaching possibly as far west as Tyras
, where he erected a fortress to which continues to bear his name. Also in the Crimea
, in the Sea of Azov
he fought two battles on the Palus Maeotis
in two years.
In 88 BC as a part of the First Mithridatic War, Neoptolemus and his brother were involved in a military campaign with the Pontic army against King Nicomedes IV of Bithynia
on the Amnias River
there the brothers had the command in advance guard and won their first victory of the war. Neoptolemus then went on to defeat a Roman led army at Protopachium, probably without his brother. The Roman army led by Manius Aquillius was forced to retreat to Pergamon
. With these two victories Mithridates VI was able to extend his control of the Roman Province of Asia and continued the war in Greece
.
Neoptolemus accompanied his brother and Pontic army to Athens
. He commanded the Pontic forces around Chalcis
, where he suffered the defeat from the Roman Munatius losing 1,500 men. After Mithridates VI and the Pontic army left Greece in 85 BC, he put Neoptolemus in command of the Pontic fleet guarding the Hellespont
, where he suffered a final defeat by the Roman fleet led by Lucius Licinius Lucullus
. Due to this Pontic defeat, Mithridates VI was forced to end the war with Roman Dictator Lucius Cornelius Sulla
. After from this moment, nothing is known on Neoptolemus.
Mithridates VI of Pontus
Mithridates VI or Mithradates VI Mithradates , from Old Persian Mithradatha, "gift of Mithra"; 134 BC – 63 BC, also known as Mithradates the Great and Eupator Dionysius, was king of Pontus and Armenia Minor in northern Anatolia from about 120 BC to 63 BC...
. He was the brother of Archelaus
Archelaus (general)
Archelaus was a leading military general of the King Mithridates VI of Pontus. Archelaus was the greatest general that had served under Mithridates VI and was also his favorite general....
another general of Mithridates VI and the paternal uncle of Archelaus’ sons: Archelaus
Archelaus (high priest of Comana Cappadocia)
Archelaus was a high priest of the temple-state of Comana, Cappadocia.-Family background:Archelaus was a Cappadocian Greek nobleman, possibly of Macedonian descent...
and Diogenes.
Like his brother Archelaus, Neoptolemus was a Cappadocian
Cappadocia
Cappadocia is a historical region in Central Anatolia, largely in Nevşehir Province.In the time of Herodotus, the Cappadocians were reported as occupying the whole region from Mount Taurus to the vicinity of the Euxine...
Greek nobleman
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
, possibly of Macedonian descent
Macedonia (Greece)
Macedonia is a geographical and historical region of Greece in Southern Europe. Macedonia is the largest and second most populous Greek region...
from unknown parents. Perhaps his ancestors descended from those Greeks who arrived in Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
after the expedition of King Alexander the Great and his family were active in the Pontic Court. Like his brother, Neoptolemus was a general and admiral in the First Mithridatic War
First Mithridatic War
The First Mithridatic War was a war challenging Rome's expanding Empire and rule over the Greek world. In this conflict, the Kingdom of Pontus and many Greek cities rebelling against Rome were led by Mithridates VI of Pontus against the Roman Republic and the Kingdom of Bithynia...
89 BC-85 BC. Prior to the First Mithridatic War, Neoptolemus had gained military experience in the Pontic campaigns on the northern shores of the Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
with his brother. He took part in campaigns as far as west of the Crimea
Crimea
Crimea , or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , is a sub-national unit, an autonomous republic, of Ukraine. It is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, occupying a peninsula of the same name...
, reaching possibly as far west as Tyras
Tyras
Tyras , was an ancient Greek city founded as colony of Miletus, probably about 600 BC, situated some 10 m from the mouth of the Tyras River...
, where he erected a fortress to which continues to bear his name. Also in the Crimea
Crimea
Crimea , or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , is a sub-national unit, an autonomous republic, of Ukraine. It is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, occupying a peninsula of the same name...
, in the Sea of Azov
Sea of Azov
The Sea of Azov , known in Classical Antiquity as Lake Maeotis, is a sea on the south of Eastern Europe. It is linked by the narrow Strait of Kerch to the Black Sea to the south and is bounded on the north by Ukraine mainland, on the east by Russia, and on the west by the Ukraine's Crimean...
he fought two battles on the Palus Maeotis
Maeotian marshes
In the geography of Antiquity the Maeotian marshes lay where the Don River emptied into the Maeotian Lake near Tanais. The marshes served as a check to the westward migration of nomad peoples from the steppe of Central Asia.The area was named after the Maeotae who lived around the Maeotian Lake....
in two years.
In 88 BC as a part of the First Mithridatic War, Neoptolemus and his brother were involved in a military campaign with the Pontic army against King Nicomedes IV of Bithynia
Nicomedes IV of Bithynia
Nicomedes IV Philopator, was the king of Bithynia, from c. 94 BC to 74 BC. He was the first son and successor of the Monarchs Nicomedes III of Bithynia and Nysa and had a sister called Nysa....
on the Amnias River
Gök River
The Gök River or Gökırmak is a tributary of the Kızılırmak in Turkey. Its source is in Kastamonu Province....
there the brothers had the command in advance guard and won their first victory of the war. Neoptolemus then went on to defeat a Roman led army at Protopachium, probably without his brother. The Roman army led by Manius Aquillius was forced to retreat to Pergamon
Pergamon
Pergamon , or Pergamum, was an ancient Greek city in modern-day Turkey, in Mysia, today located from the Aegean Sea on a promontory on the north side of the river Caicus , that became the capital of the Kingdom of Pergamon during the Hellenistic period, under the Attalid dynasty, 281–133 BC...
. With these two victories Mithridates VI was able to extend his control of the Roman Province of Asia and continued the war in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
.
Neoptolemus accompanied his brother and Pontic army to Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
. He commanded the Pontic forces around Chalcis
Chalcis
Chalcis or Chalkida , the chief town of the island of Euboea in Greece, is situated on the strait of the Evripos at its narrowest point. The name is preserved from antiquity and is derived from the Greek χαλκός , though there is no trace of any mines in the area...
, where he suffered the defeat from the Roman Munatius losing 1,500 men. After Mithridates VI and the Pontic army left Greece in 85 BC, he put Neoptolemus in command of the Pontic fleet guarding the Hellespont
Dardanelles
The Dardanelles , formerly known as the Hellespont, is a narrow strait in northwestern Turkey connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara. It is one of the Turkish Straits, along with its counterpart the Bosphorus. It is located at approximately...
, where he suffered a final defeat by the Roman fleet led by Lucius Licinius Lucullus
Lucullus
Lucius Licinius Lucullus , was an optimate politician of the late Roman Republic, closely connected with Sulla Felix...
. Due to this Pontic defeat, Mithridates VI was forced to end the war with Roman Dictator Lucius Cornelius Sulla
Lucius Cornelius Sulla
Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix , known commonly as Sulla, was a Roman general and statesman. He had the rare distinction of holding the office of consul twice, as well as that of dictator...
. After from this moment, nothing is known on Neoptolemus.
Sources
- http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/0271.html
- http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/2264.html
- http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/people_archelaus.html
- http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/people_neoptolemus.html
- D. Dueck, H. Lindsay and S. Pothecary, Strabo’s cultural geography: the making of a kolossourgia, Cambridge University Press, 2005