Lucius Cornelius Cinna edit

Career

1. 90 BCE
   Praetor edit

   The latest date possible under the Leges Annales. He was already an ex-Praetor when he served as a Legate in the Social War (a). De Sanotis has shown (b) that Cinna was a patrician, since Caesar when named Flamen Dialis divorced his plebeian wife Cossutia and married Cinna's daughter because the Flaminica had to be a patrician. That Cinna's colleague in the consulship of 86, L. Valerius Flaccus, was also a patrician exemplifies the illegalities of a period when there was neither mos nor ius (c).

2. 87 BCE
   Consul edit

   Cinna was elected in Sulla's presence and swore to maintain his measures (a), but in office soon attempted to carry a bill to enroll the new citizens and the freedmen in all the tribes (b), and one to recall Marius and the other exiles (c). He was expelled from Rome by his colleague Octavius, and L. Cornelius Merula (see below) was elected in his place. He won the support of the army of Ap. Claudius at Nola, was soon joined by Marius and his partisans, and succeeded in overpowering his colleague, who suffered for his own slowness and lack of co-operation with other leaders (see below, Promagistrates), and occupied Rome (d). The Consul Octavius was killed in office (e), and a reign of terror followed in which many senatorial opponents of Cinna and Marius were murdered (see above; f). The victors repealed the laws of Sulla (g), and reenacted the laws of Sulpicius (h).

3. 86 BCE
   Consul edit

   Cinna's rule was termed a tyranny (a). Marius died on January 13 (b). See 88, Promagistrates.

4. 85 BCE
   Consul edit

   In this year the Consuls began some preparations against Sulla's prospective return from the East (a).

5. 84 BCE
   Consul edit

   Cinna was killed early in the year by mutinous troops at Ancona while arranging passage for his army to Epirus (a). Carbo continued Cinna's preparations against Sulla's return from the East (b), and continued in Picenum and Cisalpine Gaul until checked by Pompey (c). As unfavorable auspices prevented the holding of elections he remained sole Consul throughout the rest of the year (d).

Family