A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

7. Q.Oppius, one of the Roman generals in the Mithridatic war, B. C. 88. He is called proconsul in the Epitome of Livy, from which we may infer that he had been praetor, and was afterwards sent, as was frequently the case, with the title of proconsul to take the command of an army. He had possession of the city of Laodiceia in Phrygia, near the river Lycus; but when Mithridates had conquered the whole of the surrounding country, the inhabitants of Laodiceia gave up Oppius to the king on the promise of their receiving pardon by so doing. Mithridates did no injury to Oppius, but carried him with him in his various campaigns, exhibiting to the people of Asia a Roman general as a prisoner. Mlithridates subsequently surrendered him to Sulla. (Liv. Epit. 78; Athen. 5.213a; Appian, App. Mith. 17, 20, 112.)