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This essay will prove how he was a great dictator, politician and general, through discussing his background, his military and political career, his dictatorship, and his accomplishments in his later years. Sulla was born near Rome, into a politically unimportant patrician family in 138 B.C. He received a good education and lived a normal life. After his father died he was forced to live in a run-down neighborhood. He received a good income but did not have enough to qualify him for military service. He became a play writer, and made many friends in the theater where family background didn't matter. Shortly before his 30th birthday something significant occurred. His stepmother died and left him a large amount of money. Now Sulla could begin his political career. In 108 B.C. he was elected to be one of the quaestors or financial officials of Rome. After he became quaestor, he served under the consul Gaius Marius in the war against king Jugurtha of Numidia. Before Sulla's involvement most of Rome's efforts had failed, but Sulla brought an advantage to the Romans. Even though Rome defeated Jugurtha tensions between Sulla and Marius began to grow. Sulla believed he was the real reason for Rome's victory. Soon the two were back together and this time they were defending Rome against the Germanic people. Sulla provided excellent military service and leadership. Sulla and Marius soon defeated the Germanic people but the hostilities between them continued to grow. After this war Sulla and Marius returned to Roman politics. The following year Sulla ran and was elected as praetor, the second-highest position in the Roman republic. After his term of praetor was up, he returned to the battle field. This time it was against Mithridates, King of Pontus. Sulla did not have a full army with him so he had to recruit soldiers from Roman allies. His ability to get these soldiers and to push Mithridates back, shows his great military skills. This campaign was also important because it brought Rome into contact with the powerful Parthia Empire. He was able to arrange a treaty with Parthia, which was a milestone for Sulla. This would not be the last time he would meet Mithridates in battle. Soon Sulla and Marius again had to forget there many differences to defend Rome against Allied Italian forces who had declared war on Rome. They had set up their own government and were preparing to become an independent nation. This war was known as the Social War because the Latin name for Roman allies was socii. It was ended by a more important conflict, the invasion of a Roman province in Asia Minor by Mithridates. The Romans and the Italians signed a peace treaty in 89 B.C. Soon the main focus for Rome was Mithridates of Pontus in the east. In 88 B.C. Sulla was elected consul. The Senate also named him commander of the forces against Mithridates. Marius had wanted this command for himself. After Sulla left Rome Marius convinced the people's assembly to give him support in gaining this command, in return he agreed to give the Italian allies full rights. Sulla was training his troops south of Rome when he heard what was happening. Sulla took immediate action and led his army against Rome. For the first time in Roman history, a Roman army stayed loyal to its commander and charged against their own city. Sulla quickly took control of Rome. He believed the enemies to be the populares party, so he made the optimates the party in power. He also abolished many laws passed by Marius. After taking control of Rome, he decided to focus on defeating Mithridates in the east. After he left for the east in 88 B.C. the populares took over the optimates, and Marius returned to power. Soon Marius declared himself council and was going to appoint himself military commander against the east, but he died before this could be done. Sulla was declared a public enemy of Rome and could be killed by anyone. His house was burned and his family was forced to leave. Sulla heard all of this but nevertheless, continued his military campaign in the east. Sulla's campaign began in Greece. After a long and bitter siege he was able to capture Athens from Mithridates. Sulla and Mithridates met at Dardanus and came up with an agreement that Mithridates would withdraw his troops and pay Rome a fine. The two became allies after that. Sulla now turned his thoughts toward home. With a force of 40,000 soldiers and large amounts of plunder he headed toward Rome. Sulla won the battle at Colline Gate and ended the civil war. For the second time Sulla lead a Roman army against Rome. After taking Rome Sulla made a list of his enemies names called proscription, and paid a reward to anyone who killed these people. The most important role Sulla ever played was that of Dictator of Rome. After he conquered Rome for the second time, he appointed himself the dictator under the Valerian law. Sulla believed the Senate should be the principle political body in Rome. Sulla introduced a series of laws in 81 B.C. In particular he reduced the rights of the tribunes. Under Sulla's rule the tribunes could not bring matters to a vote without approval from the Senate. He drafted many men from the equestrian order onto the Senate. Their jobs were to provide juries to the permanent court. Sulla also made minium age requirements for each high ranking official. A Roman had to be at least 30 for quaestorship, 36 for aedileship, 39 for praetorship, and 42 for consulship. Sulla passed a law that everyone had to proceed from office to office in that order. He raised the number of praetors from six to eight. He also required that an elected official had to wait 10 years before running again for the same office. Sulla knew from personal experience that Roman officials could gain power through using their armies. To stop this he passed the Lex Cornelia Majestatis designed to prevent conspiracy by provincial governors and military leaders. Sulla established criminal courts to punish criminals, in order to reduce crime in Rome. He also granted full rights to Italian allies, an act to ensure their participation in Roman government. After the Republic was organized, he decided to celebrate his victory over Mithridates. During the ceremony he announced he would use the name Felix for himself, Felix meaning fortunate. With his reforms made he gave up his dictatorship in 81 B.C. In 79 B.C. Sulla retired from politics and moved to his estate in Puteoli, Campania. He may have sensed his death for once a great philosopher told him he would die at the height of his career. He began writing his memoirs and finished them two days before he died in 78 B.C. of a fever. The Senate gave Sulla a public funeral. In conclusion, Lucius Cornelius (Felix) Sulla was an excellent military leader, a powerful politician, and an influential dictator. He brought the Republic of Rome to the height of its successes. By his example he unknowingly paved the way for Julius Caesar to become the next dictator of Rome. After his death the Senate constructed a monument to him, inscribed in it is "Here lies Sulla Felix, a man who never forgave an enemy or forgot a friend."(Rosalie 53) Bibliography: none Word Count: 1291
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