Page:The History of Armenia - Avdall - Volume 1.djvu/119

 74 HtSTOET OP AEMXirrA*

S929; The forces which Mithridates had aMetnbled'

§128. ^ . ^

for the approaching war with the Romans amounted to 16,000 cavalry, 140,000 infantry disciplined after the manner of the Romans, and 100 armed chariots.

With these he conquered the whole of Upper Asia, being attended with success in every encounter. His naval armament was no less formidable than his forces on land, for the sea was covered with his ships. The Roman army opposed to him, was commanded by LucuUus, with Cotta as his lieutenant, both renowned warriors. They were however obliged to re* treat before Mithridates, who attacked and drove them as far as the gate of Chalcedon, in which city they took shelter. Here a battle was shortly after fought, the result of which was extremely fatal to the Romans, numbers of whom were slain by the victorious troops of Mithridates. In the harbour of this town 60 Roman ships were also captured, the crews of which were indiscrimi- nately slaughtered. Four of their gallies were also burnt. It is said that on this memorable occasion the dead bodies of the Romans actually covered the land and sea. Mithridates imme- diately after gave an account of this exploit to Tigranes and the king of Persia, who participated in his joy on the occasion.

He then set forward with his victorious army

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