Mithridates VI of Pontus is known to be one of the most feared and successful enemies Roman Republic. It took three respected and skilled Roman generals, Sulla, Lucullus and Pompey to bring him down. His kingdom of Pontus and Armenia Minor used to stand on the northeastern part of today’s Asia Minor.
Mithridates VI of Pontus
Mithradates the Great comes from a mixed heritage and bloodline of Persian and Greco-Macedonian cultures. His father, Mithridates V, was poisoned. Early death of his father made his mother, Laodice VI, regent queen since Mithridates VI and his brother were not old enough to rule. Laodice VI favored his brother and tried to kill Mithridates VI. He decided to hide and train himself. Mithridates VI became a paranoid, and he was extremely afraid of being poisoned like his father. He trained his body against poisoning by consuming a little dose of poison every day. He gained immunity against all known poisons. Following this he came back to the capital, reclaimed his throne and sent his family into the prison.
He organized three unsuccessful military campaigns against the Roman Empire in Asia Minor. His last campaign was stopped by the legendary Roman general Pompey and Mithridates had to retreat back to the Black Sea.
His people did not want to go against the Romans one more time, so they decided to kill him. Learning this, Mithridates VI decided to kill himself and drank some poison. Unfortunately his own immunity protected him against the poison. Then he was killed by his friend and personal bodyguard Bituitus.
