86 BC

Year 86 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Cinna and Marius/Flaccus. The denomination 86 BC for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.

Events

By place

Roman Republic

First Mithridatic War
* March 1 - Siege of Athens ends when Sulla captures Athens from the Pontic army, removing the tyrant Aristion.
* Lucius Licinius Lucullus decisively defeats the Mithridatic fleet in the Battle of Tenedos.
* The Roman forces of Lucius Cornelius Sulla defeat the Pontic forces of Archelaus in the Battle of Chaeronea.
* The Dardani ally with Pontus and are defeated by Sulla soon after.
Births
October 1 - Sallust, Roman historian
Fausta Cornelia, twin sister of Faustus Cornelius Sulla, wife of Gaius Memmius and later of Titus Annius Milo
Faustus Cornelius Sulla, Roman senator, son of the dictator Lucius Cornelius Sulla
Deaths
January 13 - Gaius Marius, Roman general and politician
March 1 - Aristion, Greek philosopher and tyrant
Jin Midi, Chinese politician and co-regent
Sima Qian, Chinese historian