Lucius Licinius Murena was son and namesake of Lucius Licinius Murena who had fought in the Second Mithridatic War. He began his public career as quaestor in c. 75 BC. When the Third Mithridatic War began, in 73 BC, Murena was appointed "legatus" for, Lucius Licinius Lucullus, the proconsul in charge of the Roman war effort in the east and a fellow Licinius. Murena served in the East for several years; he had the command of one of Lucullus's legions, and in 72 BC Lucullus even entrusted him with the siege of Amisus, a major Pontic city.