Roman Provincial Attica Athens

By 88 BC, Mithradates IV had conquered much of Asia Minor and had headed west towards Rome. He meticulously planned and carried out a massacre over 80,000 Italians and Romans then advanced towards Greece. Archelaus was sent to Greece where he established Aristion as tyrant in Athens. Fearing further genocide, the Romans quickly declared war. In 87 BC, the proconsul Sulla began his siege of Athens. The Athenians supported Mithradates but Sulla had acquired the backing of the majority of the Peolopponesian and southern Greeek cities, most importantly, Thebes. The siege finally came to a close with Aristion's capture and execution on 1 March 86 BC.