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Lucullus

Also known as: Lucullus; primary name: Lucullus; other name: Lucius Licinius Lucullus Ponticus
Details: individual; military/naval; Roman; Male
Life dates: -56 BC
Biography: Roman general. He served in the Social War under Sulla (q.v.), who made him his favorite. He fought in the East (87 B.C.- 85 B.C.), always loyal to Sulla, who made him curule aedile (79 B.C.) and praetor (78 B.C.). Lucullus was made consul (74 B.C.) and obtained for his proconsulship the province of Cilicia. With his colleague, Caius Aurelius Cotta, he went to the East to attack Mithradates VI, who was advancing steadily through Asia Minor. Mithradates defeated Cotta, but Lucullus camped behind the Pontic king, drew him out, and annihilated his army. Mithradates withdrew into Pontus but the following year (72 B.C.) was forced by Lucullus into Armenia, where he took refuge with King Tigranes. Lucullus then applied himself to the establishment of order in Asia, provoking great unpopularity in Rome by reforming the provincial finances. Pompey had always been Lucullus' enemy, and now his party joined with the capitalists in urging the recall of Lucullus. They also sent out emissaries to stir up discontent in Lucullus' army, which had never been devoted to him. In 69 B.C., Lucullus invaded Armenia and took the capital, Tigranocerta. This was the climax of his career, for mutiny then became an almost daily occurrence in his army. In 66 B.C. he was recalled, and Pompey replaced him. Lucullus retired to Rome. He kept out of state affairs and spent huge sums sponsoring public shows and improving his estates. The term Lucullan derives from his extravagant standard of living.

8 related objects

print

Title: Tigrane aux pieds de son Vainqueur Luculle Collection d'estampes d'apres les desseins origina |
Museum number: 1858,1113.258 |
Producer name: Print made by:Heinrich Theodor Joseph BislingerPrint made by:Johann Gerhard Huck |
Production date: 1781 |
Production place: Published in:Düsseldorf (city)Published in:Nuremberg

print

Title: The Villa of Lucullus at Misenum |
Museum number: 1870,0813.997 |
Producer name: Print made by:James Tibbetts WillmoreAfter:William Leighton Leitch |
Production date: 1851 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print; book-illustration

Title: L Lucullus |
Museum number: 1895,1031.881 |
Producer name: BIOG64572 Print made by:Anonymous |
Production date: 16thC

print

Title: Raccolta degli antichi monumenti esistenti fra Poz Vedute di Pozzuolo |
Museum number: 1888,1220.2.11 |
Producer name: Print made by:François MorelPublished by:Agapito Franzetti |
Production date: 1790-1830 |
Production place: Published in:Rome (city)

print

Title: The wretchedness of wealth |
Museum number: 1875,0710.433 |
Producer name: Print made by:Philips GalleAfter:Maarten van Heemskerck |
Production date: 1563

print

Title: The Villa of Lucullus at Misenum |
Museum number: 1873,0614.182 |
Producer name: After:William Leighton LeitchPrint made by:James Tibbetts Willmore |
Production date: 1851 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print

Title: The Villa of Lucullus at Misenum |
Museum number: 1854,1211.421 |
Producer name: Print made by:James Tibbetts WillmoreAfter:William Leighton Leitch |
Production date: 1851 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print

Title: The Villa of Lucullus at Misenum |
Museum number: 1852,1211.514 |
Producer name: Print made by:James Tibbetts WillmoreAfter:William Leighton Leitch |
Production date: 1851 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

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