Machares

(Μαχάρης), son of Mithridates the Great, was appointed by his father king of the Bosporus, when he, for the second time, reduced that country, after the short war with Murena, B. C. 80. In B. C. 73 Mithridates, after his defeat at Cyzicus, applied to him for succours, which were at the time readily furnished; but two years afterwards the repeated disasters of Mithridates proved too much for the fidelity of Machares, and he sent an embassy to Lucullus with a present of a crown of gold, and requested to be admitted to terms of alliance with Rome. This was readily granted by Lucullus; and as a proof of his sincerity, Machares furnished the Roman general with supplies and assistance in the siege of Sinope. (Appian, App. Mith. 67, 78, 83; Plut. Luc. 24; Memnon, 54, ed. Orelli.) But when Mithridates, after his defeat by Pompey, adopted the daring resolution of marching with his army to the Bosporus, and renewing the contest from thence, Machares became alarmed for the consequences of his defection; and on learning the actual approach of his father (B. C. 65) fled to the city of Chersonesus, where he soon after, despairing of pardon, put an end to his own life. (Appian, App. Mith. 102.) Dio Cassius, on the contrary, relates (36.33) that Mithridates deceived him with promises of safety, and then put him to death. (Comp. Ores. 6.5.) [E.H.B]