Siege of Rhodes | |||||||
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Part of First Mithridatic War | |||||||
![]() Modern satellite photo of Rhodes | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Rhodes (client state and allied to Rome) | Pontic Empire | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Lucius Cassius[1] Demagoras[2] | Mithridates VI of Pontus | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
400 prisoners[3] |
The siege of Rhodes took place in 88 BC between the people of Rhodes (allies of Roman) and Mithridates VI of Pontus' army. The Rhodian forces were led by an admiral called Demagoras[4] and the proconsul of Asia, Lucius Cassius,[1] with them. After the defeat of Rome in the Battle of Protopachium, Rome was forced to retreat from Asia and the only major independent power left in that province was Rhodes. Rhodes had previously been an ally to both Mithridates and Rome, but now it only preferred Rome.