86 BCE naval battle between the forces of Mithridates VI of Pontus and the Roman Republic
Rome's victory at Tenedos ended Pontic naval supremacy in the Aegean and opened the way for Roman forces to cross into Asia Minor during the First Mithridatic War.
Key Facts
- Date
- 86 BC
- War
- First Mithridatic War
- Roman-allied commander
- Lucius Licinius Lucullus
- Pontic commander
- Neoptolemus
- Rhodian captain
- Damagoras
- Outcome
- Roman-allied fleet victorious
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
During the First Mithridatic War, Mithridates VI of Pontus had established naval dominance in the Aegean Sea. Roman-allied commander Lucullus had already won two smaller naval engagements and sought to confront the main Pontic fleet to break that supremacy and enable Roman troop movements into Asia Minor.
Lucullus, aboard a ship commanded by the skilled Rhodian sailor Damagoras, engaged the main Pontic fleet near the island of Tenedos. Pontic admiral Neoptolemus attempted a head-on ramming attack against Lucullus' vessel, but Damagoras skillfully evaded it. Lucullus exploited the resulting disorder to orchestrate a decisive victory over the Pontic fleet.
The defeat shattered Pontic naval power across the Aegean, sending Mithridates' remaining naval forces into full retreat. With control of the sea secured, the Romans were subsequently able to begin transporting their land army across into Asia Minor to continue operations against Mithridates VI.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Lucius Licinius Lucullus, Damagoras (Rhodian captain).
Side B
1 belligerent
Neoptolemus.