An emissary was sent from Sulla to Murena requesting that he cease and desist, which he ignored. Mithridates therefore defended his realm. This time he had the measure of the Romans. After a number of contests Murena was forced to retreat to Phrygia. Meanwhile, Marius forced Sulla's hand, trying to kill Sulla and all his adherents. Sulla found it necessary to engage in another civil war, which he won at the Battle of the Colline Gate (82 BC), making himself dictator. Marius had died earlier. A new deal was struck with Mithridates, which the Senate still did not ratify.