Second battle at Chaeronea

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Second battle of Chaeronea
date 86 BC Chr.
place at Chaironeia
output Decisive Roman victory
Parties to the conflict

Roman Empire

Pontus

Commander

Sulla

Archelaus

Troop strength
about 40,000 men about 120,000 men
losses

unknown

probably 110,000 dead and prisoners

The battle of Chaeronea took place in 86 BC. In the city of Chaironeia in western Boeotia between the Romans and an army from Pontus . The Roman troops were from Sulla , the Pontic troops from Archelaos , the general Mithridates VI. , guided.

prehistory

Due to the exploitation of the Roman province of Asia (west coast of Turkey) by the Roman tax collectors, revolts broke out in Asia Minor . By order of Mithridates, in 88 BC Around 80,000 Italians killed (the so-called Vespers of Ephesus ). As a result, large parts of Greece were in revolt against Rome.

After initial quarrels with the Roman Senate, which first installed Gaius Marius as commander, Sulla was able to assert himself by marching his troops into Rome. With his army he first conquered Greece back (storming Athens in 86 BC).

procedure

At Chaironeia there was a battle against Archelaus, sent by Mithridates. It was not possible for the Pontic horsemen and chariots to fall on the flank of the Roman legions in the usual manner. Sulla had dug wide trenches to prevent his heavy infantry from bypassing. In frontal combat, the disciplined Romans were clearly superior to the Pontic foot soldiers. The Romans won despite the numerical superiority of their opponents. Archelaus was able to escape to Chalkis with about 10,000 Pontic soldiers.

Sulla concluded with Mithridates as early as 85 BC. The peace of Dardanos in order to be able to return to Rome.

literature