ampaign against Mithradates in 88. With Cotta he was
chosen to the consulship in 74. The province of Cilicia was assigned to
him, Bithynia to Cotta. Mithradates invaded Bithynia, defeated Cotta,
and besieged him at Chalcedon.

Lucullus, after reorganizing and disciplining his army, went to the aid
of his colleague, drove the king into Pontus, and defeated him at Cabira
in 72, and his fleet at Tenedos in 71, compelling him to take refuge
with his son-in-law, TIGRANES, King of Armenia.

Lucullus endeavored to work reforms in the administration of provincial
governments in the East. The revenues of the provinces were farmed out,
and the measures of Lucullus were intended to protect the tax-payers
against the tax-gatherers (_publicani_). His reforms met with bitter
opposition at Rome, especially from the Equites, whose chief source of
income was often this same tax-farming. Intrigues against him by persons
sent from Rome began to create dissatisfaction among his troops. He had
been a severe disciplinarian, and so it was all the easier to turn the
soldiers against him.

In 68 he won a victory over Tigranes and Mithradates, at the river
Arsanias; but his legions refused to follow him farther, and he was
obliged to lead them into winter quarters in Mesopotamia. The next year
his soldiers again mutinied, and he was replaced by Pompey.

Returning to Rome, Lucullus spent the rest of his days in retirement,
dying about 57. He was very rich, and was famed for the luxurious
dinners which he gave.

POMPEY AND CRASSUS.

The Sullan system stood for nine years, and was then overthrown, as
it had been established, by a soldier. It was the fortune of Pompey, a
favorite officer of Sulla, to cause the first violation of the laws laid
down by his general.

GNEIUS POMPEIUS MAGNUS (106-48) led a soldier's life from his boyhood to
his death. When a youth of seventeen he fought by his father's side in
the civil struggles between Marius and Sulla. He was a partisan of the
latter, and connected himself with the cause of the aristocracy. He
defeated the followers of Marius in Sicily and Africa, and in 81 was
allowed to enjoy a triumph, though still an Eques and not legally
qualified. Sulla then greeted him with the surname of Magnus, which he
ever afterwards bore. He was then sent to Spain, with what success we
have seen in the previous chapter. In 70 Pompey and MARCUS LICINIUS
CRASSUS were elected Consuls amid great enthusiasm.

Crassu