Peace is restored between Pontus and Rome on the orders of Sulla, ending the Second Mithridatic War.

The Third Mithridatic War (73–63 BCE) is the last and longest of three Mithridatic Wars fought between Mithridates VI of Pontus and his allies and the Roman Republic.

The alliance between Mithridates VI and Quintus Sertorius, the main leader of the opposition to Sulla, joins these two threats into a unity much larger than its parts and has the serious potential of overturning Roman power.

The immediate cause of the Third War is the bequest to Rome by King Nicomedes IV of Bithynia of his kingdom upon his death in 74 BCE.

Having launched an attack at the same time as a revolt by Sertorius sweeps through the Spanish provinces, Mithridates is initially virtually unopposed.

The Senate responds by sending the consuls Lucius Licinius Lucullus and Marcus Aurelius Cotta to deal with the Pontic threat.

The only other possible general for such an important command, Pompey, is in Gaul, marching to Hispania to help crush the revolt led by Sertorius.

Lucullus is sent to govern Cilicia and Cotta to Bithynia.