The Roman general Pompey invades Iberia and Colchis during the wars against Mithridates VI.
-65
In 65 BC the Roman general Pompey, during the war against Mithridates VI of Pontus, invaded the Caucasus and campaigned against Iberia and Colchis.
The Iberian king Artag was defeated on the river Kura, but Iberia kept its kingdom while acknowledging Roman influence; Colchis passed under Roman control.
Pompey's campaign first drew the Georgian lands into the orbit of Roman politics; for centuries Iberia and Lazica (Egrisi) would lie between Rome (later Byzantium) and Iran.