L' Cornelius Sulla Felix: A BloodSoaked Attempt to Turn Back the Clock

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L. CorneliusSulla FelixA
Blood-SoakedAttempt toTurn Back the Clock
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Sulla Overview

• Remembered mainly as a butcher, responsible for
  proscriptions
• Oddly, as dictator, did much to restore
  (temporarily) the authority of the Senate
• Oddest of all, Sulla died peacefully on country
  estate in 78 BC

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Sulla Background Events

• Sulla born
• 133 Ti. Gracchus assassinated
• Revolt of Fregellae
• 121 G. Gracchus assassinated
• 112 Rome declares war on Jugurtha

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Early Life

• Born in 138 to down-and-out branch of Cornelii
• Two timely inheritances helped him move into
  politics
• Elected quaestor
• Serves under Marius in Jugurthine War
• Jugurtha surrendered/ betrayed to Sulla this
  forms basis of bitter and enduring rivalry
  between Marius and Sulla

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The Germanic Wars

• Upon return to Rome, Marius takes command of
  legions sent to stop Teutones, Sulla joins
  Catulus to stop Cimbri
• All accounts report that Sulla played key role in
  Roman success against Cimbri, culminating in
  victory at Vercellae (101 BC)
• Marius and Catulus honored with victories, but
  Sulla left outand his resentment grows

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Political Rise

• After return to Rome, Sulla elected praetor
  urbanus
• Next, appointed propraetor (governor) of Cilicia
• Presence made impression in East even Parthian
  empire sent ambassadors to meet with him
• Returns to Rome just as Marius struggle with
  Optimates is heating up

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The Social War

• Issues between Roman and Italian allies heating
  up as well
• In 89, Social (Marsic) War breaks out, reflecting
  allies frustration over citizenship and their
  anger at murder of their advocate, Drursus
• Needless war lasts three yearsand at close,
  Sulla has surpassed Marius and become Romes
  leading general
• Reward for victory consulship for 88

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Mithridatic Campaign

• Mithridates VI of Pontus tried to take advantage
  of Social War to expand his own empire
• Takes control of Asia Minor, Thrace, Greece, part
  of Macedon while Romans preoccupied with their
  own problems
• Matters come to a head with Mithradates
  Kristnallnact
• -- the slaughter of up to 80,000 Roman
  citizens in Asia Minor
• Sulla appointed to take command

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The March on Rome

• Marius followers had other plans
• P. Sulpicius Rufus has Marius elected commander
  by concilium plebis
• Sulla turns his armies and although many
  commanders had resigned marches on Rome, which
  he enters in 88 BC
• Declares Marius and outlaw
• Reduces powers of Tribunes
• Strengthens Senate
• Leaves Cinna in charge
• Heads East

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Cinna in Charge

• Cinna quickly falls into disfavor with Senate and
  is banished from Rome
• Allies with Marius and marches on Rome
• They take control but Marius soon dies
• Cinna is in control for next three years while
  Sulla is in the East

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Sullas Bloody Return

• Following a complex and interesting war,
  Sulla wins but his eyes are on Rome
• Strikes shockingly easy settlement
• with Mithridates
• Cinna dies, leaving a power
• vacuum, and Sulla seizes his
• chance
• Returns to Italy, and marches toward Rome, with
  support of Crassus and Pompey
• While opposed, ultimately victorious at Colline
  Gate (82 BC)
• 50,000 Romans lay dead, and Sulla was master of
  Rome

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Sulla the Dictator

• Senate forced to proclaim Sulla as Dictator for
  indefinite period
• Began proscriptions, aimed at eliminated
  political enemies and undesirables
• Asserting control through murder and
  confiscation, next turned to affairs of state
• Reduced power of Tribunes
• Added to Senate membership, including many
  equestrians (an important move that hurt popular
  cause)
• Required candidates to have held position of
  quaestor before admission to Senate (quelled
  rapid political rises)
• Reformed the courts
• Retires in 79 and dies peacefully in 78