Mithradates VI, also known as Mithradates the Great, was a king of Pontus, a region in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), during the 1st century BC. He was known for his military prowess and his efforts to resist the expanding power of the Roman Republic. Mithradates VI is also famous for his use of poisons and his attempts to build immunity to them, which led to the legend of the "Mithradates cup," a vessel that was said to detect poison. His reign was marked by conflicts with Rome, including the three Mithradatic Wars, in which he sought to challenge Roman dominance in the region. Despite his initial successes, Mithradates VI was eventually defeated by the Romans, and he died in exile. He is remembered as a formidable adversary of Rome and a significant figure in the history of the ancient Mediterranean world.