Battle of Chalcedon (74 BC)

Battle of Chalcedon
Part of Third Mithridatic War
Date 74 BC Location Chalcedon Result Pontic victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of Pontus	Roman Republic
Commanders and leaders
Mithridates VI	Marcus Aurelius Cotta
Strength
136,000–162,000 men[1][2][3] 400 ships 120,000–150,000 infantry 12,000–16,000 cavalry 100–120 scythed chariots	Unknown men 64 ships[4]
Casualties and losses
730 killed[5]	17,800 men 64 ships 7,000–13,300 killed 4,500 captured 4 ships burned 60 ships captured

The Battle of Chalcedon was a land and naval battle in 74 BC during the Third Mithridatic War. It ended in a Pontic victory.

After resuming the war, consul Marcus Aurelius Cotta took the Roman fleet into the Bosphorus. Outside the harbour of Chalcedon he was beaten by the Pontic fleet; Roman ships sought refuge inside the harbour, but to no avail: the Pontic fleet made their way into the port, where they destroyed or captured the Roman fleet.

On land, the Pontic and Bastarnae troops routed the Roman army sent against them. 4,000–5,300 Romans were killed in the land battle, while 3,000–8,000 perished in the naval combat and 4,500 were captured. Mithridates lost only 30 Bastarnae and 700 others dead.^[6][7]

Aftermath

After the victory, Mithridates moved against the Roman controlled town of Cyzicus, which he besieged. This led to the Battle of Cyzicus.

Citations

Bibliography

• Jaques, Tony (2006). Dictionary of Battles and Sieges. Greenwood. p. 220. ISBN 978-0-313-33536-5.