The Poison King

In this article, Ace talks about a less known historical figure and his life.

Mithridates

By Ace Case

The ways of ancient civilizations are much different than ours. There are civilizations like China that have survived for thousands of years. There are civilizations like Greece, which is known for its mythology. And, of course, Rome, known for their strong militaries and mythologies. There may be thousands of battles and wars ancient Rome was involved in. Sadly, though, such ancient civilizations are not as taught as others. Such as one of Rome’s enemies, Pontus, and the fearsome King of Poisons that ruled it.

Mithridates VI Eupator Dionysis was born in 135 BCE in Sinope, Pontus, which is now Turkey. He was born to Laodice and Mithridates V, the previous king of Pontus. When Mithridates was still a child, he saw his father killed with arsenic by his own advisors in the year 120 BCE. Determined not to meet the same fate, he began experimenting with poisons himself. It is said he always carried a lethal dose of poison with him, despite his immunity, just in case he needed it. Because he was so young when his father died, he could not rule alone. His mother ruled with him, but she didn’t much like the idea of Mithradtes being king because he had a strong will compared to his younger brother's compliance. The World History Encyclopedia writes, “The advisors to the queen, and the queen herself, therefore favored the younger brother for succession because he would be easier to control.” A straight answer could not be found on whether he was exiled after his father's death or if he left on his own accord, but MIthridates was removed from the royal court for a number of his teenage years. When he returned in 115 BCE, he single-handedly toppled his own government. He threw his younger brother and mother in prison and executed anyone involved in his father's death and retook his throne. His mother and younger brother likely died in prison, and Mithridates ruled Pontus alone until his death in 63 BCE.

Pontus and the surrounding regions from the World History Encyclopedia

Mithridates himself on a coin, Image credit to Britannica

Mithridates was a strong opponent to the Romans. When he saw the distance from Rome throughout Europe and the way they mocked him as a leader, he ordered the killing of all Romans and Italians that resided in his territories, most were noncombatants. In the dead of night, they were attacked and thousands were killed. Of course, those who killed didn’t just do so to appease the king, Mithridates had rewards for them. The World History Encyclopedia says “Slaves who murdered their masters were granted freedom, and debtors who killed their Italian or Roman creditors were promised debt relief.” Slaves who participated in the killings, and spoke multiple languages other than Latin were spared. It is said the death count was between 80,000 and 150,000, the number is different depending on who you ask. This massacre in 89 BCE was later called the Asiatic Vespers and sparked the first Mithridatic war a year later, declared by the Romans. This first war ended with a peace treaty between Rome and Pontus that neither side followed. The second Mithradtic war started in 83 BCE, and the third in 74 BCE. In these wars, Mithridates proved himself to be a very difficult king to defeat. In 67 BCE, just years before his death, Pompey tried to kill him. However, Mithridates was tipped off to the invasion and had locals give them honeycomb. This honeycomb was made with pollen made with Grayanotoxin from an Azalea. This made the entire column defenseless and got them all killed. 63 BCE saw the king’s death. In another invasion led by Pompey the Great and Mithridates’ own son, they cornered the king. He used some of the poison he carried around with him to kill his daughters before trying to use the rest on himself. It failed. Romans said he begged them to kill him after his attempt on his life failed, but in reality, he ordered a close advisor to kill him. Though he was an enemy, Pompey still recognized his strength and gave him a proper burial in the city of his birth, Sinope, Pontus.

King Mithridates had many titles throughout his life. From his full name, Mithridates VI Eupator Dionysis, to Mithridates the Great, to the Poison King. He was known for his strength, bravery, and ruthless nature. He studied very early toxicology and supposedly experimented with toxins and poisons on his prisoners. Though it may have been an elaborate ruse to not be killed like his father was, Mithradates claimed to have made the cure-all to all ailments: Mithridate. The Dictionary defines it as “the antidote to every poison and cure to every disease.” If it was a ruse, it worked, since he was not killed by an assassination attempt. If it was not a ruse, and Mithridates was real, no one has been able to recreate it. Mithridatism, the act of poisoning oneself to gain immunity by consuming non-lethal doses, was named after the king who pioneered the idea.

Mithridates Sculpture from Imperium Romanum

Though Mithridates is not recognized much and not known much by the masses, he was an incredibly ruthless and strong ruler. He pioneered early, ancient toxicology and used his toxins to take down his enemies, and eventually, himself.

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