Scythian revolt against Mithridates VI
| Scythian revolt against Mithridates VI | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Kingdom of Pontus under the reign of Mithradates VI | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
|
Scythians |
Kingdom of Pontus Bosporan Kingdom | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Saumacus |
Kingdom of Pontus: Mithradates VI Diophantus Bosporan Kingdom: Paerisades † | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| 50,000 (ill prepared)[1] | 6,000 | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Possibly heavy | Unknown | ||||||||
The Scythian revolt against Mithridates VI was a major Scythian revolt started in 107 BCE in Crimea, led by Saumacus against the occupying forces of the Bosporan Kingdom, and his ally Kingdom of Pontus led by Diophantus. In the end, the revolt was suppressed and Crimea stayed under the control of the Bosporan Kingdom.[2][3]
Background
[edit]After the First crimean campaign of Diophantus, Scythian Crimean Kingdom fell under Bosporan control.[2] The native scythian population of Crimea was unhappy with the occupation by the Bosporan Kingdom, which led to a revolt.[3]
Revolt
[edit]The scythians, led by Saumacus started a major revolt with the help of Sarmatians (Roxolani).[2] Paerisades called Mithradates VI for help, where he decided to dispatch Diophantus to pacify the revolt.[3] Paerisades would then be killed by Saumacus.[2]
After arriving in Crimea, he laid siege to Kalos Limen, which they captured before winter. It is possible that at this stage of the revolt some of the forces of the Diophantus were put under a siege by Scythians in the vicinity of Chersonesus, the fate of the siege is unknown, possibly do to not being mentioned in the Diophantus inscription.[2] The scythian strongholds were located at Chabum and Neapolis, Diophantus waited until spring to attack them with his well-armed and well-trained troops.[2]
He then achieved a decisive victory, de facto ending the revolt. Some Scythians fled Crimea to get to the remnants of the Scythian Kingdom in the north, while the rest came to terms.[2] With this, the Pontic control over Crimea was secured and Roman garrisons were installed.[4]
Aftermath
[edit]After the revolt the power and significance of Scythians finally faded away in the Pontic Steppe, allowing for the assimilation of Scythians by Sarmatians.[4]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ McGing, B. C. (1986). The Foreign Policy of Mithridates VI Eupator, King of Pontus. BRILL. ISBN 978-90-04-07591-7.
- ^ a b c d e f g McGing, B. C. (1986). The Foreign Policy of Mithridates VI Eupator, King of Pontus. BRILL. ISBN 978-90-04-07591-7.
- ^ a b c Minns, Ellis (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 4 (11th ed.). pp. 286–287.
- ^ a b "SCYTHIANS". Encyclopaedia Iranica. Retrieved 2025-06-07.