Roman and Pontic intelligence strategies: Politics and war in the time of Mithradates VI

© 2013 The Author(s). This paper deals with the political and military use of confidential information gathered on behalf of the Roman Republic and the kingdom of Pontus during the reign of King Mithradates VI (c.120-63 bc). Unlike the Roman Empire, when spies worked for well-organized intelligence agencies, in this period the available sources mention several other methods of gathering sensitive information which served such secretive purposes as well. This paper explores non-professional intelligence strategies employed in ancient politics and war at a time of extreme political and military turmoil.