Battle of Chaeronea (86 BC): What Happened
In 86 BC, the Roman general Lucius Cornelius Sulla defeated a much larger army of Mithridates VI of Pontus at Chaeronea in Boeotia, the same place where Philip II of Macedon had defeated Athens and Thebes 252 years earlier. The Pontic army was commanded by Archelaus and included heavy infantry, cavalry and scythed chariots. Ancient sources claim it numbered over 100,000 men, against perhaps 30,000 Romans, though these figures may be exaggerated. Sulla chose his ground carefully. He dug trenches to protect his flanks against the enemy cavalry and placed stakes in the ground to disrupt the scythed chariots. When the chariots charged, they failed to build up speed on the short distance, and the Roman soldiers mocked them and called for more, as if at the races. The Roman legions then broke the Pontic phalanx. According to Sulla's own account, his losses were tiny compared with the enemy's. The victory drove the Pontic army out of Greece, and a second victory at Orchomenus later that year ended Mithridates' hopes there.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Battle of Chaeronea in 86 BC?
It was a battle in which the Roman general Sulla defeated a much larger army of Mithridates VI of Pontus at Chaeronea in Boeotia during the First Mithridatic War.
Were there two battles of Chaeronea?
Yes. The first, in 338 BC, was Philip II's victory over Athens and Thebes. The second, in 86 BC, was Sulla's victory over Mithridates, 252 years later.
How did Sulla defeat the scythed chariots?
Sulla placed stakes in the ground and gave the chariots too little distance to build up speed. They failed, and Roman soldiers reportedly mocked them.
Who commanded the Pontic army at Chaeronea?
The Pontic army was commanded by Archelaus, the leading general of Mithridates VI. He escaped after the battle but was defeated again at Orchomenus.
What happened after the Battle of Chaeronea?
The victory drove the Pontic army out of central Greece. A second victory at Orchomenus later that year ended Mithridates' hopes in Greece.
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