Ilirik, Jadran in Italija v načrtih Mitradata VI. Evpatorja

Mithradates VI Eupator (120–63 BC) was the greatest of the kings of Pontus in Asia Minor, gradually extending his control over most of the regions, gravitating toward Euxine, including Colchis, and annexing Cappadocia and Bithynia. He exercised his authority over other lands in Asia Minor and Greece, becoming one of the most formidable enemies of the Roman state. Strabo refers to Mithradates’ intended military campaign against the Romans up to the Adriatic at an earlier stage of the king’s rule. Mithradates had already contemplated invading Italy at the time of his contacts with Quintus Sertorius in 75 BC; according to Plutarch, Sertorius was compared to Hannibal, Mithradates to Pyrrhus. The last to wage war victoriously against Mithradates was Pompey the Great. Ancient sources refer to the king’s plan of invading Italy across the territories of the Scordisci, Pannonia, and the Alps shortly before the revolt of his son Pharnaces and his own death. As is mentioned by Florus, Mithradates only planned an invasion (not wishing to admit the defeat), but was not able to carry it out. However, during the heyday of his reign such a plan would not have been impossible.Mitradat VI. Evpator (120–63 pr. Kr.), najpomembnejši kralj Ponta v Mali Aziji, je osvojil bosporsko kraljestvo in večino dežel ob Črnem morju vključno s Kolhido, priključil svojemu kraljestvu Kapadokijo in Bitinijo ter širil oblast tudi drugod po Mali Aziji in Grčiji. Bil je eden najhujših sovražnikov Rima. Strabon omenja, da je že na začetku vlade hotel prodreti do Jadrana in se pripravljal na vojno z Rimljani. Tudi z upornim rimskim generalom Kvintom Sertorijem naj bi načrtovala vpad v Italijo, Sertorij z zahoda, Mitradat z vzhoda; Plutarh je Sertorija primerjal s Hanibalom, Mitradata pa s Pirom. Proti koncu tretje in zadnje vojne proti Mitradatu se je z njim uspešno bojeval Pompej. V virih je sporočeno, da je kralj malo pred uporom sina Farnaka in svojo smrtjo načrtoval invazijo Italije čez deželo Skordiskov, Panonijo in Alpe. Kot je poudaril Florus, je Mitradat vpad le načrtoval (ni namreč hotel priznati poraza) in ga ni mogel uresničiti, na vrhuncu njegovega vladanja pa vdor v Italijo čez Ilirik ne bi bil nemogoč