74 BC

Updated on Jan 27, 2024

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Year 74 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Lucullus and Cotta (or, less frequently, year 680 Ab urbe condita). The denomination 74 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.

Roman Republic

Nicomedes IV, last king of Bithynia bequeaths his kingdom to the Roman Senate upon his death (75/4 BC).

Roman forces under Lucius Lucullus defeat the forces of Mithridates VI of Pontus in the Battle of Cyzicus.

Marcus Antonius (father of Mark Antony), a praetor, receives wide-ranging powers and considerable resources to fight the pirates in the Mediterranean Sea.

Publius Servilius Vatia returns to Rome, he has triumphed against the pirates in Anatolia and is given the agnomen Isauricus.

Quintus Opimius is prosecuted for overstepping his authority, and ruined by a conviction.

Cyrene becomes a Roman province.