Battle of Cabira

Battle of Cabira
Part of Third Mithridatic War
Date72 BC
Location
Cabira
(modern-day Niksar, Tokat, Turkey)
Result Roman victory
Belligerents
Roman Republic Kingdom of Pontus
Commanders and leaders
Lucius Licinius Lucullus Mithridates VI of Pontus
Strength

Three legions and an unknown number of auxiliaries

  • c. 20,000 infantry
  • 1,600–2,500 cavalry
Engaged:
Unknown (probably ten cohorts)

40,000 men[1]

  • 36,000 infantry
  • 4,000 cavalry[1]
Engaged:
4,000 men[2] (a mixed force of cavalry and infantry)
Casualties and losses
Unknown but a lot lighter than the Pontic losses c. 3,000[3]

The Battle of Cabira was fought in 72 or 71 BC between forces of the Roman Republic under proconsul Lucius Licinius Lucullus and those of the Kingdom of Pontus under Mithridates the Great. It was a decisive Roman victory.

  1. ^ a b Plutarch, Life of Lucullus, XV
  2. ^ Philip Matyszak, Mithridates the Great: Rome's Indomitable Enemy p. 121.
  3. ^ Philip Matyszak, Mithridates the Great, Rome's Indomitable Enemy, p.121