the proconsul of Narbonese Gaul
who came to the help of Metellus (78 B. C.).

*Pompey sent to Spain, 78 B. C.* It was imperative to send a new commander
and a new army to Spain. As the consuls were unwilling to go, Pompey, who
had refused to disband his army at the orders of Catulus, sought the
command. The Senate could not help itself and, in spite of considerable
opposition, passed a decree conferring upon him proconsular _imperium_ and
entrusting him with the conduct of the war in Hither Spain. Even after the
arrival of Pompey with an army of 40,000 men Sertorius was more than able
to hold his own against his foes in 76 and 75 B. C. At the end of the
latter year Pompey was forced to recross the Pyrenees and appeal to the
Senate for reinforcements. At the same time Sertorius, through the agency
of the pirates, entered into alliance with Mithradates, King of Pontus,
who was again on the point of war with Rome.

The arrival of the desired reinforcements enabled Pompey in 74 and 73
B. C. to turn the tide against Sertorius. To prevent desertions the latter
resorted to severe punishments which alienated the Spaniards, who were
already estranged by the acts of his subordinates. He was further hampered
by dissensions in the ranks of his Roman supporters. The center of
disaffection was Perpenna, who treacherously assassinated Sertorius in 72
B. C. and assumed command of his forces. However he was defeated by
Pompey, taken captive and executed. The revolt was broken and pacification
of Spain speedily accomplished. Pompey was able to return to Rome in 71
B. C.

II. THE COMMAND OF LUCULLUS AGAINST MITHRADATES: 74-66 B. C.

*The situation in the Near East.* After concluding peace with Sulla in 85
B. C., Mithradates Eupator directed his energies to consolidating his
kingdom and reorganizing his forces in expectation of a renewal of the
struggle with Rome. He recognised that Sulla had been ready to make peace
only because of the situation in Italy and the fact that he had been
unable to secure written confirmation of the terms of the treaty warned
him that the Romans still contemplated his complete overthrow. Indeed he
had been attacked in the years 83 and 82 B. C. by Lucius Murena, the
proconsul of Asia, but had been able to defend himself and Sulla had once
more brought about a cessation of hostilities. Meantime, Tigranes of
Armenia, the ally of Mithradates, had enlarged his dominions by the
annexation of Syria (