Battle of Chalcedon (74 BC)
Battle of Chalcedon | |||||||
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Part of Third Mithridatic War | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Kingdom of Pontus |
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Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Mithridates VI | Marcus Aurelius Cotta | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
136,000–162,000 men[1][2][3] 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 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
- ↑ Appian Historia Romana Book XII (The Mithridatic Wars), section 69
- ↑ Memnon History of Heracleia, section 27
- ↑ Plutarch Life of Lucullus, section 7
- ↑ Appian Historia Romana Book XII (The Mithridatic Wars), section 71
- ↑ Memnon History of Heracleia, section 27
- ↑ Plutarch Life of Lucullus, section 8
- ↑ Memnon History of Heracleia, section 27
Bibliography
- Jaques, Tony (2006). Dictionary of Battles and Sieges. Greenwood. p. 220. ISBN 978-0-313-33536-5.