Tigranes assembled a large (but untrained) army and the two forces met at Tigranocerta, the kingdom's new capital, with Lucullus decisively winning the ensuing battle.

[4][5] Tigranes and Mithridates fled north to Armenia's old capital of Artaxata, where they recruited, trained and equipped a new army.

Since the Romans' objective [Artaxata] was clear to them, Tigranes and Mithridates had been preparing and training their army for the unavoidable battle but needed time.

The Armenian force consisted of a significant cavalry and infantry array protected by mounted archers and Iberian lancers.

They refused to march after Tigranes and Mithridates and forced Lucullus to turn south and invade the Armenian possessions in Mesopotamia.

[8] In 63 BC, the third Mithridatic war finally ended when Mithridates, at the age of 68, committed suicide after his son rebelled at Phanagoria, along the eastern shore of the Cimmerian Bosporus.