Battle of Chalcedon (74 BC)

The Battle of Chalcedon (beginning 73 BC) is a battle during the Third Mithridates War between the Pontic forces and the Roman army.

Autumn 74 BC e. Nycomed Philopator died, in his will having transferred Bithynia to the power of the Roman Republic . However, the deceased had children from marriage with Nyssa (son Lycomedos and daughter Nyssa), whom, due to her infidelity, he declared illegal ^[1] . Pontic king Mithridates VI defended the rights of the grand-nephew to the throne, and by 73 BC e. the cities of Bithynia and Mysia recognized the new government ^[2] .

In parallel, the son of Tsar Diophantus again occupied Cappadocia , thereby covering Pont from the south and providing communication with Cilician pirates . Part of the Pontic army, led by Ewmach and Mark Marius, invaded Phrygia and Pergamum , where many cities went over to their side. But because of the resistance of the Galatians and the few Roman troops (one of which was commanded by Gaius Julius Caesar ), the battles in Pergamum were of varying success ^[3] .

Lucius Licinius Lucullus was appointed commander of the Roman forces in the province of Asia , while the army in Bithynia was controlled by the consul Aurelius Cotta ^[3] . The latter became the goal of Mithridates, blocking him in the city of Chalcedon both from land and from the sea. Aurelius did not wait for the help of Lucullus, and during the battle his army was completely defeated, about 8,000 soldiers remained on the battlefield. After that, the city harbor was taken by the Pontic troops in an attack during which their losses amounted to 730 people. The Romans lost 5,300 people killed and 4,500 prisoners, 64 ships were lost (4 burned down, 60 were captured) ^[4] .