Marcus Aurelius Cotta (consul 74 BC)

Marcus Aurelius Cotta was a politician and military leader of the late Roman Republic.

The brother of Gaius and Lucius Aurelius Cotta ( consul 75 and 65 BC) was struggling to perhaps 80 BC when Quintus Sertorius propraetor unsuccessfully against. 74 BC Marcus Aurelius Cotta was himself consul and took as his colleague Lucullus a command in the east of the empire against Mithridates VI. Cotta received the newly established province of Bithynia, he should be protected with a fleet against Mithridates. After a defeat, but he had to retire after Chalcedon, until he was appalled by Lucullus. The following year, he operated as proconsul on the Pontic coast and began the siege of Heraclea Pontica which he, in the year 71 BC was able to conclude, until two years later. The following year Cotta returned to Rome and was BC by the tribune Gaius Papirius Carbo accused by 67 to have embezzled loot in the conquest Herakleias. Cotta was convicted and expelled from the Senate.