Hey guys! I'm very new (note my post count) to alternate history, and I'm not particularly well schooled in history in general, despite enjoying learning about it. This period and region combination in particular are very new to me, so I'm researching as I go and hoping to get some guidance and suggestions with this project. Without further ado, here's what I have so far:
In the year 89 BC, a tense standoff between Mithridates VI of Pontus and Nicomedes IV of Bithynia was heating up. Pressure from the Roman Legatus Aquillius and his retinue on Nicomedes to invade Pontus was concerning all in the area, especially Tigranes of Armenia. Tigranes knew that Mithridates would be able to hold off the invasion, and knew that it could even result in a successful start to any potential war for both Pontus and Armenia, but he was also wary of Rome. Though at the time only two Roman legions were close enough to respond to initial attacks, and the Social War currently occurring in Italy may prevent a full scale retaliation, Tigranes did not want to become embroiled in a war with such a powerful nation. The smaller (though still formidable) kingdoms to the South and East were more appealing targets for the relatively knew emperor. Parthia in particular was on Tigranes' mind as he formed an alliance with Pontus, as he had been held hostage there for over a decade by Mithridates II.
As the Pontic-Armenian alliance was sealed by Tigranes taking Mithridates' daughter as his wife, Nicomedes was becoming increasingly concerned with his situation. As he had large debts owing to lenders in Rome, he could not ignore the repeated requests for Bithynia to invade Pontus, but he thought that such an invasion would result in huge losses for his kingdom, even if he won. As he owed so much to Rome (Nicomedes had recently been reinstated as King of Bithynia by the Senate after a successful invasion by Mithridates forced him to flee to Italy) it was assumed by many that he would invade at once, probably as early as possible in 89 BC. Instead however, Nicomedes resisted the pressure, seemingly unsure about what to do. During this time Nicomedes kept to himself as much as possible, declining to meet with all but the most powerful guests at Nicomedia.
Summer passed, and still no war broke out. Nicomedes seemed to be waiting for something, some excuse not to fight. No such reason presented itself, and as Winter began, a few of Nicomedes' creditors started threatening him. Nicomedes had no way to repay his loans, and for a while he even started drawing up plans to invade in the Spring of 88 BC. Mithridates VI had by now amassed a large army, around 100,000 strong. Tigranes had also been strengthening his defenses in preparation for a war he did not want to commit to, with an army of 75,000 ready to fight. Nicomedes had only 40,000 soldiers, though the two Roman Legions commanded by Aquillius were prepared to join forces with them. It was early 88 BC, near the end of Winter and drawing close to the time Nicomedes was planning to attack, when he received more accurate reports about the size of the army commanded by Mithridates and immediately refused to invade, or even send raiding parties to Pontus.
In the spring of 88 BC, Nicomedes was found dead in his bedroom, presumably assassinated by an irate creditor knowing that with Mithridates apparently getting ready for war, Nicomedes would never be able to pay back his debts.
Any thoughts, suggestions, criticisms? As a note, I have tried to find a good POD that will avoid a war at least in the short run (one or two years) but unless I can think of another good one, I think war in the years after that is pretty much unavoidable. And here is a political map at the beginning of 88 BC, lifted from the wikipedia First Mithridatic Wars article.
The Mithridatic Peace
Part One
Part One
In the year 89 BC, a tense standoff between Mithridates VI of Pontus and Nicomedes IV of Bithynia was heating up. Pressure from the Roman Legatus Aquillius and his retinue on Nicomedes to invade Pontus was concerning all in the area, especially Tigranes of Armenia. Tigranes knew that Mithridates would be able to hold off the invasion, and knew that it could even result in a successful start to any potential war for both Pontus and Armenia, but he was also wary of Rome. Though at the time only two Roman legions were close enough to respond to initial attacks, and the Social War currently occurring in Italy may prevent a full scale retaliation, Tigranes did not want to become embroiled in a war with such a powerful nation. The smaller (though still formidable) kingdoms to the South and East were more appealing targets for the relatively knew emperor. Parthia in particular was on Tigranes' mind as he formed an alliance with Pontus, as he had been held hostage there for over a decade by Mithridates II.
As the Pontic-Armenian alliance was sealed by Tigranes taking Mithridates' daughter as his wife, Nicomedes was becoming increasingly concerned with his situation. As he had large debts owing to lenders in Rome, he could not ignore the repeated requests for Bithynia to invade Pontus, but he thought that such an invasion would result in huge losses for his kingdom, even if he won. As he owed so much to Rome (Nicomedes had recently been reinstated as King of Bithynia by the Senate after a successful invasion by Mithridates forced him to flee to Italy) it was assumed by many that he would invade at once, probably as early as possible in 89 BC. Instead however, Nicomedes resisted the pressure, seemingly unsure about what to do. During this time Nicomedes kept to himself as much as possible, declining to meet with all but the most powerful guests at Nicomedia.
Summer passed, and still no war broke out. Nicomedes seemed to be waiting for something, some excuse not to fight. No such reason presented itself, and as Winter began, a few of Nicomedes' creditors started threatening him. Nicomedes had no way to repay his loans, and for a while he even started drawing up plans to invade in the Spring of 88 BC. Mithridates VI had by now amassed a large army, around 100,000 strong. Tigranes had also been strengthening his defenses in preparation for a war he did not want to commit to, with an army of 75,000 ready to fight. Nicomedes had only 40,000 soldiers, though the two Roman Legions commanded by Aquillius were prepared to join forces with them. It was early 88 BC, near the end of Winter and drawing close to the time Nicomedes was planning to attack, when he received more accurate reports about the size of the army commanded by Mithridates and immediately refused to invade, or even send raiding parties to Pontus.
In the spring of 88 BC, Nicomedes was found dead in his bedroom, presumably assassinated by an irate creditor knowing that with Mithridates apparently getting ready for war, Nicomedes would never be able to pay back his debts.
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Any thoughts, suggestions, criticisms? As a note, I have tried to find a good POD that will avoid a war at least in the short run (one or two years) but unless I can think of another good one, I think war in the years after that is pretty much unavoidable. And here is a political map at the beginning of 88 BC, lifted from the wikipedia First Mithridatic Wars article.
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