LUCULLIJS, Lt'ctts LI•INWS (e.110-c.57 we.). A distinguished Roman general. In the first Mithridatie War he commanded the 'Elect as legate of Stilla. In c.c. 77 be filled the office of prxtor, and immediately after held the ad; lin of the Province of Africa. In n.c.
he was chosen consul along with Cotta, and received Cilicia fer his province. while rotta had Bithyuia. Both conwl- arrived in Asia about the close f n.c. 74. Cott•t was ,oco after utterly defeated by who 11:1.1 into Bithvnia at the head of 150.000 tram was forced to take refuge in ( haloolon. and was besieged by the victor. lu•ullus. 11( nv ver. ad vanced to his relief at the fiend i f 35.000 men. compelled Mith•i late- to raise the siege, and almost annihilated his ant y on its retreat. in me. 71 Pantos Jeenme subject to the The measures which Du In NV introduced in the government of the Province of Asia. to secure the provincials against the fearful oppressions and extortions of farmers of the taxes and usurers, especially his fixing a uniform and mod erate rate of interest, for all arrears, show that he was a just, wise, and humane administrator; but though the cities of Asia were grateful for his clemency. the equestrian order in home (who had the farming of the taxes) became implacably hostile to him, and his own troops grew disaf fected on account of the strictness of his dis cipline. In the spring of B.C. 69 he marched into Armenia with a small force of 12,000 foot and 3000 horse, and gained a complete victory over Tigranes, at the head of an army of 220,000 men. In the following year he gained another
great victory at the river Arsanias over a new army led against him by Tigranes and Mith ridates; but the mutinous spirit of the legions— in spite of these splendid triumphs—daily in creased. LucuBus now wanted to besiege Artax ata, the capital of Armenia, but the soldiers refused to advance farther. After this he could do nothing; not a. soldier would serve under him. At last he was superseded by Pompey, and left Asia n.c. 66. The cabals of his enemies so much prevailed against him that he was three years in Ilome before he obtained his triumph. In con junction with the aristocratic party, he at tempted to check the increasing power of Porn pey, and the attempt caused the coalition known as the first triumvirate. But he was ill fitted to act as leader against such unscrupulous men, and soon withdrew altogether from political af fairs. During his public career he had acquired (but not unfairly) prodigious wealth; and he spent the remainder of his life surrounded by artists, poets. and philosophers, and exhibiting in his villas at Tusenlum and .Neapolis, and in his house and gardens at Rome, a. luxury and splen dor which became proverbial. Toward the close of his life his faculties began to decay, and his property was placed under the management of his brother. He (lied about B.C. 57.