Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix

Broughton: Sulla omitted the aedileship but after a failure in the praetorian elections of 95 (Plut. Sull. 5.1) was successful the following year. Wehrmann (PP 21) has misinterpreted the word in Plin. Sull. 5.2. He is clearly the Pr. Urbanus in Auct. Vir. Ill. 75.3: inter cives im dixit.

Broughton: Sulla received the province of Asia and the command against Mithridates, but when he opposed the bills of the Tribune Sulpicius (see below), one of which gave that command to Marius, he was attacked and fled to his army. He then returned with it and occupied Rome, annulled the legislation of Sulpicius, who was put to death, and killed or exiled his other opponents including Marius (a). Meantime, Pompeius co-operated with Sulla against Sulpicius and in the occupation of Rome (b). He was given command of the army of Pompeius Strabo, who in turn is suspected of inciting the mutiny in which the Consul Pompeius was later killed (c). They carried a series of measures, one for the exile of the Marian partisans (d), a second providing that all measures be considered by the Senate before submission to an assembly, a third that laws be carried only in the Comitia Centuriata, a fourth putting some further limitation on the Tribune5 (e), a fifth adding 300 personnss to the Senat,9 (App.), a sixth regarding colonies (Liv.), and a seventh applying interest payments on the principal of debts (f), perhaps also one limiting the application of the sponsio (g). Sulla held the elections and, after securing the oath of the Consuls elect Cinna and Octavius to support his measures (h), departed for the war with Mithridates (j).

Broughton: He was elected by the centuriate assembly, under the presidency of an Interrex, as Dictator to write the laws and reconstitute the state (a). His past acts as Consul and Proconsul were ratified, and he received full power for present and future measures (b). See below, Promagistrates; and, for his legislation, 81, Dictator. The exact date of the beginning of Sulla's dictatorship is not stated in our sources, but must be later than the battle at the Colline Gate on November 1 (c). Both Consuls died in office (d) before the appointment of the Interrex and Sulla's election (e). Massacres and the proscription had begun immediately after November 1 before the death of the Consuls (f). The date must therefore be placed at an interval, probably a short interval, after November 1 and before the end of the year. This inference finds support in the analogy which Cicero finds (g) between the position of Caesar in 49 and that of Sulla in 82. Lange (3.153f.) holds that the regular continuance of the tribunate of the plebs is an indication that Sulla became Dictator and carried some of his legislation before the Tribunes of 81 entered office on December 10. Possibly so, but I doubt if this is decisive evidence, since the leges sacratae protected the tribunate from interruption. See Careopino, Sylla 47.

Broughton: Within this year Sulla celebrated his triumph over Mithridates (a), and probably carried through the major portion of his administrative and constitutional reforms: 1. The additions of 300 persons from the knights to the depleted Senate (b), and the requirement of admittance to the Senate through the quaestorship (c); 2. Increase of the number of Quaestors to 20 (d), and of the Praetors to eight (e; see below, on the courts); 3. The order, interval, and probable age limits for the quaestorship, praetorship, and consulship, with provision against repetition of the consulship within ten years (f); 4. The tribunician veto was limited, the right to initiate legislation removed, and also the right to hold further office (g); 5. Various laws relating to maiestas, in particular those intended to restrain provincial governors (h; and see 55, Promagistrates, on Gabinius); 6. The reform of the courts, which included the establishment of seven standing quaestiones and the restoration of the juries to the senators (i); 7. Increase of colleges of pontiffs and augurs to 15 members each, and restoration of the practice of co-optation (j); 8. Laws to regulate coinage and sumptuary matters (k); 9. Abolition of corn doles (l); 10. Laws depriving hostile towns and individuals of citizenship (m). On his proscriptions, see 82, Promagistrates; and on his colonies, see T. Frank, ESAR 1.220f.; and RE s. v. "Colonia."

Broughton: A number of Sulla's constitutional reforms may not have been completed until this year. Certainly military action continued at Nola (a) and at Volaterrae (b), and much of his colonization should probably be assigned to this year (a).

Broughton: A number of Sulla's constitutional reforms may not have been completed until this year. Certainly military action continued at Nola (Liv. Per. 89) and at Volaterrae (Gran. Lic. 39 B), and much of his colonization should probably be assigned to this year (Liv. Per. 89). As he was a candidate for the consulship of 77 but withdrew in favor of Mam. Aemilius Lepidus Livianus (Sall. Hist. 1.81 M), this is the latest date possible under the Cornelian law.