Sulla found his soldiers eager for the spoils of the East; and he therefore
ready to respond to his wishes ; they called upon professed to be pleased that the people made use
him to lead them to Rome, and deliver the city of the liberty he had granted them.
ready to respond to his wishes ; they called upon professed to be pleased that the people made use
him to lead them to Rome, and deliver the city of the liberty he had granted them.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - c
B.
C.
186.
4. L, Cornelius Sulla.
5. L. CORNELIUS Sulla Felix,
Dictator.
8. Serv. Cornelius Sulla.
6. Cornelius
Sulla.
Cornelia, 7. Faustus Fausta, Postuma,
married Cornelius m. 1. C. born after
Q. Pom-
Sulla, m. Mem- the death
peius Pompeia mius. of the
Rufus.
2. Milo. Dictator.
[CORNELIA,
(Fausta. )
No. 8. )
9. P. Cornelius
Sulla,
cos. desig.
B. C. 66.
10. Serv. Cor-
nelius Sulla.
11. P. Cornelius
Sulla.
I
12. L. Cornelius
Sulla, cos. B. c. 5.
13. L. Cornelius
Sulla Felix,
cos. A. D. 33.
|
14. L. Cornelius
Sulla, cos.
suff. A. D. 52.
15. Faustus Cornelius Sulla, cos. A. D. 52.
16. Cornelius Sulla, praef. Cappadociae sub Elagabalo.
education. He studied the Greek and Roman Roman noble, now enabled him to aspire to the
literature with diligence and success, and appears honours of the state, and he accordingly became a
early to have imbibed that love for literature and candidate for the quaestorship, to which he was
art by which he was distinguished throughout his elected for the year B. c. 107. He was ordered to
life. At the same time that he was cultivating carry over the cavalry to the consul C. Marius,
his mind, he was also indulging his senses. He who had just taken the command of the Jugurthine
passed a great part of his time in the company of war in Africa. Marius was not well pleased that
actors and actresses; he was fond of wine and
a quaestor had been assigned to him, who was
women ; and lie continued to pursue his pleasures only known for his profligacy, and who had bad
with as much eagerness as his ambitious schemes no experience in war; but the zeal and energy with
down to the time of his death. He possessed which Sulla attended to his new duties soon ren-
all the accomplishments and all the vices which dered him a useful and skilful officer, and gained
the old Cato had been most accustomed to de- for him the unqualified approbation of his com-
nounce, and he was one of those patterns of Greek mander, notwithstanding his previous prejudices
literature and of Greek profligacy who had begun against him. He was equally successful in win-
to make their appearance at Rome in Cato's time, ning the affections of the soldiers. He always ad-
and had since become more and more common dressed them with the greatest kindness, seized
among the Roman nobles. But Sulla's love of every opportunity of conferring favours upon them,
pleasure did not absorb all his time, nor did it was ever ready to take part in all the jests of the
emasculate his mind; for no Roman during the camp, and at the same time never shrunk from
latter days of the republic, with the exception of sharing in all their labours and dangers. Sulla,
Julius Caesar, had a clearer judgment, a keener doubtless, had already the consulship before his
discrimination of character, or a firmer will. The eyes, and thus early did he show that he possessed
truth of this the following history will abundantly the great secret of a man's success in a free state,
prove.
the art of winning the affections of his fellow-men.
The slender property of Sulla was increased by He distinguished himself at the battle of Cirta, in
the liberality of his step-mother and of a courtezan which Jugurtha and Bocchus were defeated; and
named Nicopolis, both of whom left him all their when the latter entered into negotiations with
fortune. His means, though still scanty for a | Marius, for the purpose of delivering the Numidian
## p. 935 (#951) ############################################
SULLA
935
SULLA.
a
king into the hands of the Romans, the consul sent was the first Roman general who had any official
Sulla to Bocchus to bring the matter to a conclu- intercourse with the Parthians, and he received
sion. It was chiefly owing to the influence which the ambassadors with the same pride and arro-
Sulla had acquired over the mind of Bocchus, that gance as the Roman generals were accustomed to
the latter, after much hesitation, was eventually exhibit to the representatives of all foreign powers.
persuaded to sacrifice his ally. Sulla carried Ju- Soon after this interview Sulla returned to Rome,
gurtha in chains to the camp of Marius. [JUGUR- where he was threatened in B. c. 91 by C. Censo-
THA. ] The quaestor shared with the consul the rinus with an impeachment for malversation, but
glory of bringing this war to a conclusion ; and the accusation was dropped.
Sulla himself was so proud of his share in the suc- The enmity between Marius and Sulla now
cess, that he had a seal ring engraved, representing nssumed a more deadly form. Sulla's ability and
the surrender of Jugurtha, which he continued to increasing reputation had already led the aristocra-
wear till the day of his death.
tical party to look up to him as one of their leaders,
Italy was now threatened with an invasion by and thus political animosity was added to private
the vast hordes of the Cimbri and Teutones, who hatred. In addition to this Marius and Sulla were
had already destroyed several Roman nrmies. both anxious to obtain the command of the im-
Marius was accordingly again raised to the con- pending war against Mithridates ; and the success
sulship, which he held for four years in succession, which attended Sulla's recent operations in the
B. C. 104–101. In the first of these years Sulla East had increased his popularity, and pointed him
served under Marius as legate, and in the second out as the most suitable person for this important
as tribunus militum, and in each year gained great command. About this time Bocchus erected in
distinction by his military services. But towards the Capitol gilded figures, representing the sur-
the end of B. c. 103, or the beginning of B. c. 102, render of Jugurtha to Sulla, at which Marius was
the good understanding which had hitherto pre- 80 enraged that he could scarcely be prevented
vailed between Marius and Sulla was interrupted, from removing them by force. The exasperation
the former being jealous, says Plutarch, of the of both parties became so violent that they nearly
rising fame of his officer. Sulla accordingly left had recourse to arms against each other ; but the
Marius in B. c. 102, in order to serve under his breaking out of the Social War, and the immediate
colleague Q. Catulus, with whom he had still danger to which Rome was now exposed, hushed
greater opportunities of gaining distinction, as Ca- all private quarrels, and made all parties fight
tulus was not much of a general
, and was therefore alike for their own preservation and that of the
willing to entrust the chief management of the war republic. Never had Rome greater need of the
to Sulla. The latter reduced several Alpine tribes services of all her generals, and Marius and Sulla
to subjection, and took such good care to keep his both took an active part in the war against the
troops supplied with provisions, that on one oc- common foe. But Marius was now advanced in
casion he was able to relieve the army of Marius years, and did not possess the same activity either
as well as his own, a circumstance which, as Sulla of mind or body as his younger rival. He had
said in his memoirs, greatly annoyed Marius. therefore the deep mortification of finding that his
Sulla fought in the decisive battle, by which the achievements were thrown into the shade by the
barbarians were destroyed in B. c. 101. [Catu- superior energy of his former quaestor, and that
LUS, No. 3; MARIUS, p. 956. ]
his fortune paled more and more before the rising
Sulla now returned to Rome, and appears to In B. c. 90 Sulla served as legate under the
have lived quietly for some years without taking consul L. Caesar, but his most brilliant exploits
any part in public affairs. He became a candidate were performed in the following year, when he
for the praetorship for the year B. c. 94, but failed. was legate of the consul L. Cato. In this year he
According to his own statement he lost his election destroyed the Campanian town of Stabiae, defeated
because the people were disappointed at his not L. Cluentius near Pompeii, and reduced the Hir-
having previously offered himself for the aedile- pini to submission. He next penetrated into the
ship, since they had been looking forward to a very heart of Samnium, defeated Papius Mutilus, the
splendid exhibition of African wild beasts in the leader of the Samnites, and followed up his victory
aedilician games of the friend of Bocchus. In the by the capture of Bovianum, the chief town of
following year, however, he was more successful. this people. While he thus earned glory by his
He distributed money among the people with a enterprises against the enemy, he was equally suc-
liberal hand, and thus gained the praetorship for cessful in gaining the affections of his troops. He
B. C. 93. In this office he gratified the wishes of pardoned their excesses, and connived at their
the people by exhibiting in the Ludi Apollinares a crimes ; and even when they put to death Albinus,
hundred African lions, who were put to death in one of his legates and a man of praetorian rank,
the circus by archers whom Bocchus had sent for he passed over the offence with the remark that
his soldiers would fight all the better, and atone for
In the following year, B. C. 92, Sulla was their fault by their courage. As the time for the
bent as propraetor into Cilicia, and was espe-consular comitia approached Sulla bastened to
cially commissioned by the senate to restore Ario- Rome, where he was elected, almost unanimously,
barzanes to his kingdom of Cappadocia, from which consul for the year B. C. 88, with Q. Pompeius
he had been expelled by Mithridates. Although Rufus as his colleague.
Sulla had not the command of a large force, he The war against Mithridates had now become
met with complete success. He defeated Gordius, inevitable, and the Social War was not yet brought
the general of Mithridates in Cappadocia, and to a conclusion. The senate assigned to Sulla the
placed Ariobarzanes again on the throne. His command of the former, and to his colleague Pom-
success attracted the attention of Arsaces, king of peius the conduct of the latter. Marius, however,
Parthia, who accordingly sent an embassy to him would not resign without a struggle to his hated
to solicit the alliance of the Roman people. Sulla rival the distinction which he had so long coveted ;
sun.
;
the purpose.
304
## p. 936 (#952) ############################################
936
SULLA.
SULLA.
1
but before he could venture to wrest from Sulla | the reverence that the Romans entertained for
the authority with which he had been entrusted law, that it seems never to have occurred to him
by the senate, he felt it necessary to strengthen or to his party that Sulla would venture to draw
the popular party. This he resolved to effect by his sword against the state. Marius attempted to
identifying his interests with those of the Italian gain time for preparations by forbidding Sulla iu
allies, who had lately obtained the franchise. He the name of the state to advance any further. But
found a ready instrument for his purpose in the the praetors who carried this command narrowly
tribune P. Sulpicius Rufus, a man of ability and escaped being murdered by the soldiers ; and
energy, but overwhelmed with debt, and who Marius as a last resort offered liberty to the slaves
hoped that the spoils of the Mithridatic war, of who would join him. But it was all in vain. Sulla
which Marius promised him a liberal share, would entered the city without much difficulty, and Ma-
relieve him from his embarrassments. This tribune rius took to flight with his son and a few fol-
accordingly brought forward two rogations, one to lowers. Sulla used his victory with moderation.
recal from exile those persons who had been He protected the city from plunder, and in order
banished in accordance with the Lex Varia, on to restrain his troops he passed the night in the
account of their having been accessory to the streets along with his colleague. Only Marius,
Marsic war, and another, by which the Italians, Sulpicius, and ten others of his bitterest enemies
who had just obtained the franchise, were to be were declared public enemies by the senate at his
distributed among the thirty-five tribes. The command, on the ground of their having disturbed
Italians, when they were admitted to the citizenship, the public peace, taken up arms against the con-
were formed into eight or ten new tribes, which suls, and excited the slaves to freedom. Sulpicius
were to vote after the thirty-five old ones, and by was betrayed by one of his slaves and put to
this arrangement they would rarely be called upon death ; Marius and his son succeeded in escaping
to exercise their newly-acquired rights. On the to Africa. [MARIUS, p. 957, b. )
other hand, the proposal of Sulpicius would place Although Sulla had conquered Rome, he had
the whole political power in their hands, as they neither the time, nor perhaps the power, to carry
far outnumbered the old Roman citizens, and into execution any great organic changes in the
would thus have an overwhelming majority in constitution. His soldiers were impatient for the
each tribe. If this proposition passed into a lex, plunder of Asia; and he probably thought it ad-
it was evident that the new citizens out of grati- visable to attach them still more strongly to his
tude would confer upon Marius the command of person before he ventured to deprive the people of
the Mithridatic war. To prevent the tribune from their power in the common wealth. He therefore
putting these rogations to the vote, the consuls contented himself with repealing the Sulpician
declared a justitium, during which no business laws, and enacting that no matter should in future
could be legally transacted. But Sulpicius was re- be brought before the people without the previous
solved to carry his point; with an armed band of sanction of a senatusconsultum ; for the statement
followers he entered the forum and called upon the of Appian (B. C. i. 59) that he now abolished the
consuls to withdraw the justitium ; and upon their Comitia tributa, and filled up the members of the
refusal to comply with his demand, he ordered his senate, is evidently erroneous, and refers to a later
satellites to draw their swords and fall upon the con- time. It appears, however, that he attempted at
buls. Pompeius escaped, but his son Quintus, this time to give some relief to debtors by a lex
who was also the son-in-law of Sulla, was killed. unciaria, but the nature of which relief is uncer-
Sulla himself only escaped by taking refuge in the tain from the mutilated condition of the passage in
house of Marius, which was close to the forum, Festus (s. v. ) who is the only writer that makes
and in order to save his life he was obliged to remove mention of this lex. Sulla sent forward his le-
the justitium.
gions to Capua, that they might be ready to em-
Sulla quitted Rome and hastened to his army, bark for Greece, but he himself remained in Rome
which was besieging Nola. The city was now in till the consuls were elected for the following year.
the hands of Sulpicius and Marius, and the two He recommended to the people Nonius, his sister's
rogations passed into laws without opposition, as son, and Serv. Sulpicius. His candidates, however,
well as a third, conferring upon Marius the com- were rejected, and the choice fell on Cn. Octavius,
mand of the Mithridatic war, Marius lost no who belonged to the aristocratical party, but was a
time in sending some tribunes to assume on his weak and irresolute man, and on L. Cinna, who
behalf the command of the army at Nola ; but a professed champion of the popular side.
the soldiers, who loved Sulla, and who feared that Sulla did not attempt to oppose their election ; to
Marius might lead another army to Asia, and thus have recalled his legions to Rome would have been
deprive them of their anticipated plunder, stoned a dangerous experiment when the soldiers were so
his deputies to death.
Sulla found his soldiers eager for the spoils of the East; and he therefore
ready to respond to his wishes ; they called upon professed to be pleased that the people made use
him to lead them to Rome, and deliver the city of the liberty he had granted them. He, however,
from the tyrants. He was moreover encouraged took the vain precaution of making Cinna promise
by favourable omens and dreams, to which he that he would make no attempt to disturb the
always attached great importance. He therefore existing order of things; but one of Cinna's first
hesitated no longer, but at the head of six legions acts was to induce the tribune M. Virgilius to
broke up from his encampment at Nola, and bring an accusation against Sulla as soon as his
marched towards the city. His officers, however, year of office had expired. Sulla, without paying
refused to serve against their country, and all any attention to this accusation, quitted Rome at
quitted him with the exception of one quaestor. the beginning of B. C. 87, and hastened to his
This was the first time that a Roman had ever troops at Capua, where he embarked for Greece,
marched at the head of Roman troops against the in order to carry on the war against Mithridates.
city. Marius was taken by surprise. Such was For the next four years Sulla was engaged in
was
## p. 937 (#953) ############################################
SULLA.
937
SULLA.
the prosecution of this war, the history of which | Italy. After exacting enormous bums from the
is given under MITHRIDATES VI. and his general wealthy cities of Asia, he left his legate, L. Li-
ARCHBL AUS, and may therefore be dismissed here cinius Murcna, in command of the province of
with a few words. Sulla landed at Dyrrhachium, Asia, with two legions, and set sail with his own
and forth with marched against Athens, which had army to Athens. While preparing for his deadly
become the head-quarters of the Mithridatic cause struggle in Italy, he did not lose his interest in
in Greece. After a long and obstinate siege, literature. He carried with him from Athens to
Athens was taken by storm on the 1st of March Rome the valuable library of Apellicon of Teos,
in the following year, B. C. 86 ; and in consequence which contained most of the works of Aristotle
of the insults which Sulla and his wife Metella had and Theophrastus. [APELLICON. ) During his
received from the tyrant Aristion, the city was stay at Athens, Sulla had an attack of gout, of
given up to mpine and plunder. He next obs which he was cured by the use of the warm springs
tained possession of the Peiraeeus, which had been of Aedepsus in Euboea. As soon as he recovered,
defended by Archelaus. Meantime Mithridates he led his army to Dyrrhachium, and from thence
had sent fresh reinforcements to Archelaus, who crossed over to Brundusium in Iunly.
concentrated all his troops in Boeotia. Sulla ad- Sulla landed at Brundusium in the spring of
vanced against him, and defeated him in the B. C. 83, in the consulship of L. Scipio and C.
neighbourhood of Chaeronein with such enormous Norbanus. During the preceding year he had
loss, that out of the 120,000 men with whom written to the senate, recounting the services he
Archelaus had opened the campaign, he is said had rendered to the commonwealth from the time
to have assembled only 10,000 at Chalcis in Eu- of the Jugurthine war down to the conquest of
boea, where he had taken refuge. But while Sulla Mithridates, complaining of the ingratitude with
was carrying on the war with such success in which he had been treated, announcing his speedy
Greece, his enemies had obtained the upper hand return to Italy, and threatening to take vengeance
in Italy. The consul Cinna, who had been driven upon his enemies and those of the republic. The
out of Rome by his colleague Octavius, soon after senate, in alarm, sent an embassy to Sulla to en-
Sulla's departure from Italy, had entered it again deavour to bring about a reconciliation between
with Marius at the close of the year. Both Cinna him and his enemies, and meantime ordered the
and Marius were appointed consuls B. c. 86, all consuls Cinna and Carbo to desist from levying
the regulations of Sulia were swept away, his friends troops, and making further preparations for war.
and adherents murdered, his property confiscated, Cinna and Carbo gave no heed to this command ;
and he himself declared a public enemy. It they knew that a reconciliation was impossible,
has frequently been made a subject of panegyric and resolved to carry over an army to Dalmatia,
upon Sulla that he still continued to prosecute the in order to oppose Sulla in Greece ; but after one
war with Mithridates under these circumstances, detachment of their troops had embarked, the
and preferred the subjugation of the enemies of remaining soldiers rose in mutiny, and murdered
Rome to the gratification of his own revenge. Cinna. The Marian party had thus lost their
But it must be recollected that an immediate leader, but continued nevertheless to make every
peace with Mithridates would have discontented preparation to oppose Sulla, for they were well aware
his soldiers ; while by bringing the war to an that he would never forgive them, and that their only
honourable conclusion, he gratified his troops by choice lay between victory and destrnction. Ben
plunder, attached them more and more to his person, sides this the Italians were ready to support them,
and at the same time collected from the conquered as these new citizens feared that Sulla would de-
cities vast sums of money for the prosecution of prive them of the rights which they had lately
the war against his enemies in Italy. At the same obtained after so much bloodshed. The Marian
time it is an undoubted proof of his sagacity and party had every prospect of victory, for their
forethought that he knew how to bide his time. troops far exceeded those of Sulla. According to
Most other men in his circumstances would have Velleius Paterculus, they had 200,000 men in
hurried back to Italy at once to crush their ene- arms, while Sulla landed at Brundusium with only
mies, and thus have ruined themselves. Marius 30,000, or at the most 40,000 men. (Vell. Pat.
died seventeen days after he bad entered upon his ii. 24; Appian, B. C. i. 79. ) But on the other
consulship, and was succeeded in the office by L. hand, the popular party had no one of sufficient
Valerius Flaccus, who was sent into Asia that he influence and military reputation to take the
might prosecute the war at the same time against supreme command in the war ; their rast forces
Mithridates and Sulla. Flaccus was murdered by were scattered about Italy, in different armies,
his troops at the instigation of Fimbria, who now under different generals ; the soldiers had no con-
assumed the command, and who gained several fidence in their commanders, and no enthusiasm
victories over the generals of Mithridates in Asia, in their cause; and the consequence was, that
in B. C. 85. About the same time the new army, / whole hosts of them deserted to Sulla on the first
which Mithridates had again sent to Archelaus in opportunity. Sulla's soldiers, on the contrary,
Greece, was again defeated by Sulla in the neigh- were veterans, who had frequently fought by each
bourhood of Orchomenus. These repeated dis- other's side, and had acquired that confidence in
asters made Mithridates anxious for peace, but it themselves and in their general which frequent
was not granted by Sulla till the following year, victories always give to soldiers. Still if the
B. C. 84, when he had crossed the Hellespont in Italians had remained faithful to the cause of the
order to carry on the war in that country. Sulla Marian party, Sulla would hardly have conquered,
was now at liberty to turn his arms against Fim. and therefore one of his first cares after landing at
bria, who was with his army at Thyateira The Brundusium was to detach them from his enemies.
name of Sulla carried victory with it. The troops For this purpose he would not allow his troops to
of Fimbria deserted their general, who put an end do any injury to the towns or fields of the Italians
to his own life. Sulla now prepared to return to 1 in his march from Brundusium through Calabria
1
+
## p. 938 (#954) ############################################
938
SULLA.
SULLA.
Was
and Apulia, and he formed separate treaties with involved in great obscurity. Carbo made two
many of the Italian towns, by which he secured to efforts to relieve Praeneste, but failed in each ; and
them all the rights and privileges of Roman citi- after fighting with various fortune against Pompey,
zens which they then enjoyed. Among the Italians Metellus, and Sulla, he at length embarked for
the Samnites continued to be the most formidable Africa, despairing of further success in Italy. (For
enemies of Sulla. They had not yet received the details see CARBO, No. 7. ) Meantime Rome had
Roman franchise, because they had continued in nearly fallen into the hands of the enemy. The
arms down to this time, and they now joined the Samnites and Lucanians under Pontius Telesinus
Marian party, not simply with the design of se- and L. Lamponius, after attempting to relieve Prae-
curing the supremacy for the latter, but with the neste, resolved to march straight upon Rome, which
hope of conquering Rome by their means, and had been left without any army for its protection.
then destroying for ever their hated oppressor. Sulla barely arrived in time to save the city. The
Thus this civil war became merely another phase battle was fought before the Colline gate; it
of the Marsic war, and the struggle between Rome long and obstinately contested; the contest was not
and Samnium for the supremacy of the peninsula simply for the supremacy of a party ; the very
was renewed after the subjection of the latter for existence of Rome was at stake, for Telesinus had
more than two hundred years.
declared that he would raze the city to the ground.
Sulla marched from Apulia into Campania with. The left wing where Sulla commanded in person
out meeting with any resistance. It was in the was driven off the field by the vehemence of the
latter country that he gained his first victory over enemy's charge ; but the success of the right wing,
the consul Norbanus, who was defeated with great which was commanded by Crassus, enabled Sulia
loss, and obliged to take refuge in Capua. His to restore the battle, and at length gain a com-
collengue Scipio, who was at no great distance, plete victory. Fifty thousand men are said to
willingly accepted a truce which Sulla offered him, have fallen on each side (Appian, B. C. i. 93).
although Sertorius warned him against entering All the most distinguished leaders of the enemy
into any negotiations, and his caution was justified either perished in the engagement or were taken
by the event. By means of his emissaries Sulla prisoners and put to death. Among these was the
seduced the troops of Scipio, who at length found brave Samnite Pontius Telesinus, whose head was
himself deserted by all his soldiers, and was taken cut off and carried under the walls of Praeneste,
prisoner in his tent. Sulla, however, dismissed thereby announcing to the younger Marius that
him uninjured. On hearing of this Carbo is said his last hope of succour was gone. To the Sam-
to have observed “ that he had to contend in Sulla | nite prisoners Sulla showed no mercy. He was
both with a lion and a fox, but that the fox resolved to root out of the peninsula those heroic
gave him more trouble. ” Many distinguished enemies of Rome. On the third day after the
Romans meantime had taken up arms on behalf of battle he collected all the Samnite and Lucanian
Sulla. Cn. Pompey had levied three legions for prisoners in the Campus Martius, and ordered his
him in Picenum and the surrounding districts ; soldiers to cut them down. The dying shrieks of
and Q. Metellus Pius, M. Crassus, M. Lucullus, so many victims frightened the senators, who had
and several others offered their services as legates. been assembled at the same time by Sulla in the
It was not, however, till the following year, B. c. temple of Bellona ; but he bade them attend to
82, that the struggle was brought to a decisive what he was saying and not mind what was taking
issue. The consuls of this year were Cn. Papirius place outside, as he was only chastising some
Carbo and the younger Marius ; the former of rebels, and he then quietly proceeded to finish his
whom was entrusted with the protection of Etruria discourse. Praeneste surrendered soon afterwards.
and Umbria, while the latter had to guard Rome The Romans in the town were pardoned; but all the
and Latium. Sulla appears to have passed the Samnites and Praenestines were massacred without
winter at Campania. At the commencement of mercy. The younger Marius put an end to his
spring he advanced against the younger Marius, own life [Marius, No. 2]. The war in Italy
who had concentrated all his forces at Sacriportus, was now virtually at an end, for the few towns
and defeated him with great loss. Marius took which still held out had no prospect of offering any
refuge in Praeneste, where he had previously de- effectual opposition, and were reduced soon after-
posited his military stores, and a great quantity of wards. In other parts of the Roman world the war
gold and silver which he had brought from the continued still longer, and Sulla did not live to see
Capitol and other temples at Rome. Sulla followed its completion. The armies of the Marian party
him to Praeneste, and after leaving Q. Lucretius in Sicily and Africa were subdued by Pompey in
Ofella with a large force to blockade the town and the course of B. C. 82 ; but Sertorius in Spain
compel it to a surrender by famine, he marched continued to defy all the attempts of the senate to
with the main body of his army to Rome. Marius crush him, till his cowardly assassination by Per-
was resolved not to perish unavenged, and ac- perna in B. c. 72. (SERTORIUS. ]
cordingly before Sulla could reach Rome, he sent Sulla was now master of Rome. He had not
orders to L. Damasippus, the praetor, to put to commenced the civil war, but had been driven to
death all his leading opponents. His orders were it by the niad ambition of Marius. His enemies
faithfully obeyed. Q. Mucius Scaevola, the pontifex had attempted to deprive him of the command in
maximus and jurist, P. Antistius, L. Domitius, and the Mithridatic war which had been legally con-
many other distingished men were butchered and ferred upon him by the senate ; and while he was
their corpses thrown into the Tiber. Sulla entered fighting the battles of the republic they had de-
the city without opposition ; Damasippus and his clared him a public enemy, confiscated his pro-
adherents had previously withdrawn, and repaired perty, and murdered the most distinguished of his
to Cardo in Etruria. Sulla marched against Carbo, friends and adherents.
For all these wrongs,
who had been previously opposed by Pompeius and Sulla had threatened to take the most ample ven-
Bietellus. The history of this part of the war is geance; and he more than redeemed his word.
;
## p. 939 (#955) ############################################
SULLA.
939
SULLA.
He resolved to extirpate root and branch the po-called himself Epaphroditus. Al ranks in Rome
pular party. One of his first acts was to draw up bowed in awe before their master ; and among other
a list of his enemies who were to be put to death, marks of distinction which were voted to him by
which list was exbibited in the forum to public the obsequious senate, a gilt equestrian statue was
inspection, and called a Proscriptio. It was the erected to his honour before the Rostra, bearing the
first instance of the kind in Roman history. All inscription Cornelio Sullae Imperatori Felici. ”
persons in this list were outlaws who might be During the years B. c. 80 and 79, Sulla carried
killed by any one with impunity, even by slaves ; into execution his various reforms in the consti-
their property was confiscated to the state, and tution, of which an account is given at the close
was to be sold by public auction ; their children of bis life. But at the same time he adopted
and grandchildren lost their votes in the comitia, measures in order to crush his enemies more
and were excluded from all public offices. Further, completely, and to consolidate the power of his
all who killed a proscribed person, or indicated the party. These measures require a few words of
place of his concealment, received two talents as a explanation, as they did not form a part of his
reward, and whoever sheltered such a person was constitutional reforms, though they were intended
punished with death. Terror now reigned, not for the support of the latter. The first of these
only at Rome, but throughout Italy. Fresh lists measures has been already mentioned, namely the
of the proscribed constantly appeared. No one destruction of his enemies by the proscription.
was safe ; for Sulla gratified his friends by placing He appears to have published his list of victims
in the fatal lists their personal enemies, or persons immediately after the defeat of the Samnites and
whose property was coveted by his adherents. An Lucanians at the Colline gate, without communi-
estate, a house, or even a piece of plate was to cating, as Plutarch says (Sull
. 31), with any ma-
many a man, who belonged to no political party, gistrate ; but when he was dictator he proposed a
his death warrant ; for although the confiscated law in the comitia centuriata, which ratified his
property belonged to the state, and had to be sold proscriptions, and which is usually called Lux Cor-
by public auction, the friends and dependents of nelia de Proscriptione or De Proscriptis. By this law
Sulla purchased it at a nominal price, as no one it was enacted that all proscriptions should cease
dared to bid against them. Oftentimes Sulla did on the 1st of June, B. C. 81. The lex Valeria,
not require the purchase-money to be paid at all, and which conferred the dictatorship upon Sulla, gave
in many cases he gave such property to his favourites him absolute power over the lives of Roman citizens,
without even the formality of a sale. Metella, the and hence Cicero says he does not know whether
wife of the dictator, and Chrysogonus his freed to call the proscription law a lex Valeria or lex
man, P. Sulla, M. Crassus, Vettius, and Sex. Nae Cornelia. (Cic. pro Rosc. Am. 43, 44, de Leg.
vius are especially mentioned among those who re- Agr. iii. 2. )
ceived such presents; and handsome Roman ma- Another of Sulla's measures, and one of still
trons, as likewise actors and actresses, were fa- more importance for the support of his power, was
voured in the same manner. The number of per- the establishment of military colonies throughout
Bons who perished by the proscriptions is stated Italy. The inhabitants of the Italian towns, which
differently, but it appears to have amounted to had fought against Sulla, were deprived of the full
many thousands. At the commencement of these Roman franchise which had been lately conferred
horrors Sulla had been appointed dictator. As both upon them, and were only allowed to retain the
the consuls had perished, he caused the senate to commercium: their land was confiscated and given
elect Valerius Flaccus interrex, and the latter to the soldiers who had fought under him. Twenty-
brought before the people a rogatio, conferring the three legions (Appian, B. C. i. 100), or, according
dictatorship upon Sulla, for the purpose of restoring to another statement (Liv. Epit. 89), forty-seven
order to the republic, and for as long a time as he legions received grants of land in various parts of
judged to be necessary. Thus the dictatorship was Italy. A great number of these colonies was settled
revived after being in abeyance for more than in Etruria, the population of which was thus almost
120 years, and Sulla obtained absolute power entirely changed. These colonies had the strongest
over the lives and fortunes of all the citizens.
4. L, Cornelius Sulla.
5. L. CORNELIUS Sulla Felix,
Dictator.
8. Serv. Cornelius Sulla.
6. Cornelius
Sulla.
Cornelia, 7. Faustus Fausta, Postuma,
married Cornelius m. 1. C. born after
Q. Pom-
Sulla, m. Mem- the death
peius Pompeia mius. of the
Rufus.
2. Milo. Dictator.
[CORNELIA,
(Fausta. )
No. 8. )
9. P. Cornelius
Sulla,
cos. desig.
B. C. 66.
10. Serv. Cor-
nelius Sulla.
11. P. Cornelius
Sulla.
I
12. L. Cornelius
Sulla, cos. B. c. 5.
13. L. Cornelius
Sulla Felix,
cos. A. D. 33.
|
14. L. Cornelius
Sulla, cos.
suff. A. D. 52.
15. Faustus Cornelius Sulla, cos. A. D. 52.
16. Cornelius Sulla, praef. Cappadociae sub Elagabalo.
education. He studied the Greek and Roman Roman noble, now enabled him to aspire to the
literature with diligence and success, and appears honours of the state, and he accordingly became a
early to have imbibed that love for literature and candidate for the quaestorship, to which he was
art by which he was distinguished throughout his elected for the year B. c. 107. He was ordered to
life. At the same time that he was cultivating carry over the cavalry to the consul C. Marius,
his mind, he was also indulging his senses. He who had just taken the command of the Jugurthine
passed a great part of his time in the company of war in Africa. Marius was not well pleased that
actors and actresses; he was fond of wine and
a quaestor had been assigned to him, who was
women ; and lie continued to pursue his pleasures only known for his profligacy, and who had bad
with as much eagerness as his ambitious schemes no experience in war; but the zeal and energy with
down to the time of his death. He possessed which Sulla attended to his new duties soon ren-
all the accomplishments and all the vices which dered him a useful and skilful officer, and gained
the old Cato had been most accustomed to de- for him the unqualified approbation of his com-
nounce, and he was one of those patterns of Greek mander, notwithstanding his previous prejudices
literature and of Greek profligacy who had begun against him. He was equally successful in win-
to make their appearance at Rome in Cato's time, ning the affections of the soldiers. He always ad-
and had since become more and more common dressed them with the greatest kindness, seized
among the Roman nobles. But Sulla's love of every opportunity of conferring favours upon them,
pleasure did not absorb all his time, nor did it was ever ready to take part in all the jests of the
emasculate his mind; for no Roman during the camp, and at the same time never shrunk from
latter days of the republic, with the exception of sharing in all their labours and dangers. Sulla,
Julius Caesar, had a clearer judgment, a keener doubtless, had already the consulship before his
discrimination of character, or a firmer will. The eyes, and thus early did he show that he possessed
truth of this the following history will abundantly the great secret of a man's success in a free state,
prove.
the art of winning the affections of his fellow-men.
The slender property of Sulla was increased by He distinguished himself at the battle of Cirta, in
the liberality of his step-mother and of a courtezan which Jugurtha and Bocchus were defeated; and
named Nicopolis, both of whom left him all their when the latter entered into negotiations with
fortune. His means, though still scanty for a | Marius, for the purpose of delivering the Numidian
## p. 935 (#951) ############################################
SULLA
935
SULLA.
a
king into the hands of the Romans, the consul sent was the first Roman general who had any official
Sulla to Bocchus to bring the matter to a conclu- intercourse with the Parthians, and he received
sion. It was chiefly owing to the influence which the ambassadors with the same pride and arro-
Sulla had acquired over the mind of Bocchus, that gance as the Roman generals were accustomed to
the latter, after much hesitation, was eventually exhibit to the representatives of all foreign powers.
persuaded to sacrifice his ally. Sulla carried Ju- Soon after this interview Sulla returned to Rome,
gurtha in chains to the camp of Marius. [JUGUR- where he was threatened in B. c. 91 by C. Censo-
THA. ] The quaestor shared with the consul the rinus with an impeachment for malversation, but
glory of bringing this war to a conclusion ; and the accusation was dropped.
Sulla himself was so proud of his share in the suc- The enmity between Marius and Sulla now
cess, that he had a seal ring engraved, representing nssumed a more deadly form. Sulla's ability and
the surrender of Jugurtha, which he continued to increasing reputation had already led the aristocra-
wear till the day of his death.
tical party to look up to him as one of their leaders,
Italy was now threatened with an invasion by and thus political animosity was added to private
the vast hordes of the Cimbri and Teutones, who hatred. In addition to this Marius and Sulla were
had already destroyed several Roman nrmies. both anxious to obtain the command of the im-
Marius was accordingly again raised to the con- pending war against Mithridates ; and the success
sulship, which he held for four years in succession, which attended Sulla's recent operations in the
B. C. 104–101. In the first of these years Sulla East had increased his popularity, and pointed him
served under Marius as legate, and in the second out as the most suitable person for this important
as tribunus militum, and in each year gained great command. About this time Bocchus erected in
distinction by his military services. But towards the Capitol gilded figures, representing the sur-
the end of B. c. 103, or the beginning of B. c. 102, render of Jugurtha to Sulla, at which Marius was
the good understanding which had hitherto pre- 80 enraged that he could scarcely be prevented
vailed between Marius and Sulla was interrupted, from removing them by force. The exasperation
the former being jealous, says Plutarch, of the of both parties became so violent that they nearly
rising fame of his officer. Sulla accordingly left had recourse to arms against each other ; but the
Marius in B. c. 102, in order to serve under his breaking out of the Social War, and the immediate
colleague Q. Catulus, with whom he had still danger to which Rome was now exposed, hushed
greater opportunities of gaining distinction, as Ca- all private quarrels, and made all parties fight
tulus was not much of a general
, and was therefore alike for their own preservation and that of the
willing to entrust the chief management of the war republic. Never had Rome greater need of the
to Sulla. The latter reduced several Alpine tribes services of all her generals, and Marius and Sulla
to subjection, and took such good care to keep his both took an active part in the war against the
troops supplied with provisions, that on one oc- common foe. But Marius was now advanced in
casion he was able to relieve the army of Marius years, and did not possess the same activity either
as well as his own, a circumstance which, as Sulla of mind or body as his younger rival. He had
said in his memoirs, greatly annoyed Marius. therefore the deep mortification of finding that his
Sulla fought in the decisive battle, by which the achievements were thrown into the shade by the
barbarians were destroyed in B. c. 101. [Catu- superior energy of his former quaestor, and that
LUS, No. 3; MARIUS, p. 956. ]
his fortune paled more and more before the rising
Sulla now returned to Rome, and appears to In B. c. 90 Sulla served as legate under the
have lived quietly for some years without taking consul L. Caesar, but his most brilliant exploits
any part in public affairs. He became a candidate were performed in the following year, when he
for the praetorship for the year B. c. 94, but failed. was legate of the consul L. Cato. In this year he
According to his own statement he lost his election destroyed the Campanian town of Stabiae, defeated
because the people were disappointed at his not L. Cluentius near Pompeii, and reduced the Hir-
having previously offered himself for the aedile- pini to submission. He next penetrated into the
ship, since they had been looking forward to a very heart of Samnium, defeated Papius Mutilus, the
splendid exhibition of African wild beasts in the leader of the Samnites, and followed up his victory
aedilician games of the friend of Bocchus. In the by the capture of Bovianum, the chief town of
following year, however, he was more successful. this people. While he thus earned glory by his
He distributed money among the people with a enterprises against the enemy, he was equally suc-
liberal hand, and thus gained the praetorship for cessful in gaining the affections of his troops. He
B. C. 93. In this office he gratified the wishes of pardoned their excesses, and connived at their
the people by exhibiting in the Ludi Apollinares a crimes ; and even when they put to death Albinus,
hundred African lions, who were put to death in one of his legates and a man of praetorian rank,
the circus by archers whom Bocchus had sent for he passed over the offence with the remark that
his soldiers would fight all the better, and atone for
In the following year, B. C. 92, Sulla was their fault by their courage. As the time for the
bent as propraetor into Cilicia, and was espe-consular comitia approached Sulla bastened to
cially commissioned by the senate to restore Ario- Rome, where he was elected, almost unanimously,
barzanes to his kingdom of Cappadocia, from which consul for the year B. C. 88, with Q. Pompeius
he had been expelled by Mithridates. Although Rufus as his colleague.
Sulla had not the command of a large force, he The war against Mithridates had now become
met with complete success. He defeated Gordius, inevitable, and the Social War was not yet brought
the general of Mithridates in Cappadocia, and to a conclusion. The senate assigned to Sulla the
placed Ariobarzanes again on the throne. His command of the former, and to his colleague Pom-
success attracted the attention of Arsaces, king of peius the conduct of the latter. Marius, however,
Parthia, who accordingly sent an embassy to him would not resign without a struggle to his hated
to solicit the alliance of the Roman people. Sulla rival the distinction which he had so long coveted ;
sun.
;
the purpose.
304
## p. 936 (#952) ############################################
936
SULLA.
SULLA.
1
but before he could venture to wrest from Sulla | the reverence that the Romans entertained for
the authority with which he had been entrusted law, that it seems never to have occurred to him
by the senate, he felt it necessary to strengthen or to his party that Sulla would venture to draw
the popular party. This he resolved to effect by his sword against the state. Marius attempted to
identifying his interests with those of the Italian gain time for preparations by forbidding Sulla iu
allies, who had lately obtained the franchise. He the name of the state to advance any further. But
found a ready instrument for his purpose in the the praetors who carried this command narrowly
tribune P. Sulpicius Rufus, a man of ability and escaped being murdered by the soldiers ; and
energy, but overwhelmed with debt, and who Marius as a last resort offered liberty to the slaves
hoped that the spoils of the Mithridatic war, of who would join him. But it was all in vain. Sulla
which Marius promised him a liberal share, would entered the city without much difficulty, and Ma-
relieve him from his embarrassments. This tribune rius took to flight with his son and a few fol-
accordingly brought forward two rogations, one to lowers. Sulla used his victory with moderation.
recal from exile those persons who had been He protected the city from plunder, and in order
banished in accordance with the Lex Varia, on to restrain his troops he passed the night in the
account of their having been accessory to the streets along with his colleague. Only Marius,
Marsic war, and another, by which the Italians, Sulpicius, and ten others of his bitterest enemies
who had just obtained the franchise, were to be were declared public enemies by the senate at his
distributed among the thirty-five tribes. The command, on the ground of their having disturbed
Italians, when they were admitted to the citizenship, the public peace, taken up arms against the con-
were formed into eight or ten new tribes, which suls, and excited the slaves to freedom. Sulpicius
were to vote after the thirty-five old ones, and by was betrayed by one of his slaves and put to
this arrangement they would rarely be called upon death ; Marius and his son succeeded in escaping
to exercise their newly-acquired rights. On the to Africa. [MARIUS, p. 957, b. )
other hand, the proposal of Sulpicius would place Although Sulla had conquered Rome, he had
the whole political power in their hands, as they neither the time, nor perhaps the power, to carry
far outnumbered the old Roman citizens, and into execution any great organic changes in the
would thus have an overwhelming majority in constitution. His soldiers were impatient for the
each tribe. If this proposition passed into a lex, plunder of Asia; and he probably thought it ad-
it was evident that the new citizens out of grati- visable to attach them still more strongly to his
tude would confer upon Marius the command of person before he ventured to deprive the people of
the Mithridatic war. To prevent the tribune from their power in the common wealth. He therefore
putting these rogations to the vote, the consuls contented himself with repealing the Sulpician
declared a justitium, during which no business laws, and enacting that no matter should in future
could be legally transacted. But Sulpicius was re- be brought before the people without the previous
solved to carry his point; with an armed band of sanction of a senatusconsultum ; for the statement
followers he entered the forum and called upon the of Appian (B. C. i. 59) that he now abolished the
consuls to withdraw the justitium ; and upon their Comitia tributa, and filled up the members of the
refusal to comply with his demand, he ordered his senate, is evidently erroneous, and refers to a later
satellites to draw their swords and fall upon the con- time. It appears, however, that he attempted at
buls. Pompeius escaped, but his son Quintus, this time to give some relief to debtors by a lex
who was also the son-in-law of Sulla, was killed. unciaria, but the nature of which relief is uncer-
Sulla himself only escaped by taking refuge in the tain from the mutilated condition of the passage in
house of Marius, which was close to the forum, Festus (s. v. ) who is the only writer that makes
and in order to save his life he was obliged to remove mention of this lex. Sulla sent forward his le-
the justitium.
gions to Capua, that they might be ready to em-
Sulla quitted Rome and hastened to his army, bark for Greece, but he himself remained in Rome
which was besieging Nola. The city was now in till the consuls were elected for the following year.
the hands of Sulpicius and Marius, and the two He recommended to the people Nonius, his sister's
rogations passed into laws without opposition, as son, and Serv. Sulpicius. His candidates, however,
well as a third, conferring upon Marius the com- were rejected, and the choice fell on Cn. Octavius,
mand of the Mithridatic war, Marius lost no who belonged to the aristocratical party, but was a
time in sending some tribunes to assume on his weak and irresolute man, and on L. Cinna, who
behalf the command of the army at Nola ; but a professed champion of the popular side.
the soldiers, who loved Sulla, and who feared that Sulla did not attempt to oppose their election ; to
Marius might lead another army to Asia, and thus have recalled his legions to Rome would have been
deprive them of their anticipated plunder, stoned a dangerous experiment when the soldiers were so
his deputies to death.
Sulla found his soldiers eager for the spoils of the East; and he therefore
ready to respond to his wishes ; they called upon professed to be pleased that the people made use
him to lead them to Rome, and deliver the city of the liberty he had granted them. He, however,
from the tyrants. He was moreover encouraged took the vain precaution of making Cinna promise
by favourable omens and dreams, to which he that he would make no attempt to disturb the
always attached great importance. He therefore existing order of things; but one of Cinna's first
hesitated no longer, but at the head of six legions acts was to induce the tribune M. Virgilius to
broke up from his encampment at Nola, and bring an accusation against Sulla as soon as his
marched towards the city. His officers, however, year of office had expired. Sulla, without paying
refused to serve against their country, and all any attention to this accusation, quitted Rome at
quitted him with the exception of one quaestor. the beginning of B. C. 87, and hastened to his
This was the first time that a Roman had ever troops at Capua, where he embarked for Greece,
marched at the head of Roman troops against the in order to carry on the war against Mithridates.
city. Marius was taken by surprise. Such was For the next four years Sulla was engaged in
was
## p. 937 (#953) ############################################
SULLA.
937
SULLA.
the prosecution of this war, the history of which | Italy. After exacting enormous bums from the
is given under MITHRIDATES VI. and his general wealthy cities of Asia, he left his legate, L. Li-
ARCHBL AUS, and may therefore be dismissed here cinius Murcna, in command of the province of
with a few words. Sulla landed at Dyrrhachium, Asia, with two legions, and set sail with his own
and forth with marched against Athens, which had army to Athens. While preparing for his deadly
become the head-quarters of the Mithridatic cause struggle in Italy, he did not lose his interest in
in Greece. After a long and obstinate siege, literature. He carried with him from Athens to
Athens was taken by storm on the 1st of March Rome the valuable library of Apellicon of Teos,
in the following year, B. C. 86 ; and in consequence which contained most of the works of Aristotle
of the insults which Sulla and his wife Metella had and Theophrastus. [APELLICON. ) During his
received from the tyrant Aristion, the city was stay at Athens, Sulla had an attack of gout, of
given up to mpine and plunder. He next obs which he was cured by the use of the warm springs
tained possession of the Peiraeeus, which had been of Aedepsus in Euboea. As soon as he recovered,
defended by Archelaus. Meantime Mithridates he led his army to Dyrrhachium, and from thence
had sent fresh reinforcements to Archelaus, who crossed over to Brundusium in Iunly.
concentrated all his troops in Boeotia. Sulla ad- Sulla landed at Brundusium in the spring of
vanced against him, and defeated him in the B. C. 83, in the consulship of L. Scipio and C.
neighbourhood of Chaeronein with such enormous Norbanus. During the preceding year he had
loss, that out of the 120,000 men with whom written to the senate, recounting the services he
Archelaus had opened the campaign, he is said had rendered to the commonwealth from the time
to have assembled only 10,000 at Chalcis in Eu- of the Jugurthine war down to the conquest of
boea, where he had taken refuge. But while Sulla Mithridates, complaining of the ingratitude with
was carrying on the war with such success in which he had been treated, announcing his speedy
Greece, his enemies had obtained the upper hand return to Italy, and threatening to take vengeance
in Italy. The consul Cinna, who had been driven upon his enemies and those of the republic. The
out of Rome by his colleague Octavius, soon after senate, in alarm, sent an embassy to Sulla to en-
Sulla's departure from Italy, had entered it again deavour to bring about a reconciliation between
with Marius at the close of the year. Both Cinna him and his enemies, and meantime ordered the
and Marius were appointed consuls B. c. 86, all consuls Cinna and Carbo to desist from levying
the regulations of Sulia were swept away, his friends troops, and making further preparations for war.
and adherents murdered, his property confiscated, Cinna and Carbo gave no heed to this command ;
and he himself declared a public enemy. It they knew that a reconciliation was impossible,
has frequently been made a subject of panegyric and resolved to carry over an army to Dalmatia,
upon Sulla that he still continued to prosecute the in order to oppose Sulla in Greece ; but after one
war with Mithridates under these circumstances, detachment of their troops had embarked, the
and preferred the subjugation of the enemies of remaining soldiers rose in mutiny, and murdered
Rome to the gratification of his own revenge. Cinna. The Marian party had thus lost their
But it must be recollected that an immediate leader, but continued nevertheless to make every
peace with Mithridates would have discontented preparation to oppose Sulla, for they were well aware
his soldiers ; while by bringing the war to an that he would never forgive them, and that their only
honourable conclusion, he gratified his troops by choice lay between victory and destrnction. Ben
plunder, attached them more and more to his person, sides this the Italians were ready to support them,
and at the same time collected from the conquered as these new citizens feared that Sulla would de-
cities vast sums of money for the prosecution of prive them of the rights which they had lately
the war against his enemies in Italy. At the same obtained after so much bloodshed. The Marian
time it is an undoubted proof of his sagacity and party had every prospect of victory, for their
forethought that he knew how to bide his time. troops far exceeded those of Sulla. According to
Most other men in his circumstances would have Velleius Paterculus, they had 200,000 men in
hurried back to Italy at once to crush their ene- arms, while Sulla landed at Brundusium with only
mies, and thus have ruined themselves. Marius 30,000, or at the most 40,000 men. (Vell. Pat.
died seventeen days after he bad entered upon his ii. 24; Appian, B. C. i. 79. ) But on the other
consulship, and was succeeded in the office by L. hand, the popular party had no one of sufficient
Valerius Flaccus, who was sent into Asia that he influence and military reputation to take the
might prosecute the war at the same time against supreme command in the war ; their rast forces
Mithridates and Sulla. Flaccus was murdered by were scattered about Italy, in different armies,
his troops at the instigation of Fimbria, who now under different generals ; the soldiers had no con-
assumed the command, and who gained several fidence in their commanders, and no enthusiasm
victories over the generals of Mithridates in Asia, in their cause; and the consequence was, that
in B. C. 85. About the same time the new army, / whole hosts of them deserted to Sulla on the first
which Mithridates had again sent to Archelaus in opportunity. Sulla's soldiers, on the contrary,
Greece, was again defeated by Sulla in the neigh- were veterans, who had frequently fought by each
bourhood of Orchomenus. These repeated dis- other's side, and had acquired that confidence in
asters made Mithridates anxious for peace, but it themselves and in their general which frequent
was not granted by Sulla till the following year, victories always give to soldiers. Still if the
B. C. 84, when he had crossed the Hellespont in Italians had remained faithful to the cause of the
order to carry on the war in that country. Sulla Marian party, Sulla would hardly have conquered,
was now at liberty to turn his arms against Fim. and therefore one of his first cares after landing at
bria, who was with his army at Thyateira The Brundusium was to detach them from his enemies.
name of Sulla carried victory with it. The troops For this purpose he would not allow his troops to
of Fimbria deserted their general, who put an end do any injury to the towns or fields of the Italians
to his own life. Sulla now prepared to return to 1 in his march from Brundusium through Calabria
1
+
## p. 938 (#954) ############################################
938
SULLA.
SULLA.
Was
and Apulia, and he formed separate treaties with involved in great obscurity. Carbo made two
many of the Italian towns, by which he secured to efforts to relieve Praeneste, but failed in each ; and
them all the rights and privileges of Roman citi- after fighting with various fortune against Pompey,
zens which they then enjoyed. Among the Italians Metellus, and Sulla, he at length embarked for
the Samnites continued to be the most formidable Africa, despairing of further success in Italy. (For
enemies of Sulla. They had not yet received the details see CARBO, No. 7. ) Meantime Rome had
Roman franchise, because they had continued in nearly fallen into the hands of the enemy. The
arms down to this time, and they now joined the Samnites and Lucanians under Pontius Telesinus
Marian party, not simply with the design of se- and L. Lamponius, after attempting to relieve Prae-
curing the supremacy for the latter, but with the neste, resolved to march straight upon Rome, which
hope of conquering Rome by their means, and had been left without any army for its protection.
then destroying for ever their hated oppressor. Sulla barely arrived in time to save the city. The
Thus this civil war became merely another phase battle was fought before the Colline gate; it
of the Marsic war, and the struggle between Rome long and obstinately contested; the contest was not
and Samnium for the supremacy of the peninsula simply for the supremacy of a party ; the very
was renewed after the subjection of the latter for existence of Rome was at stake, for Telesinus had
more than two hundred years.
declared that he would raze the city to the ground.
Sulla marched from Apulia into Campania with. The left wing where Sulla commanded in person
out meeting with any resistance. It was in the was driven off the field by the vehemence of the
latter country that he gained his first victory over enemy's charge ; but the success of the right wing,
the consul Norbanus, who was defeated with great which was commanded by Crassus, enabled Sulia
loss, and obliged to take refuge in Capua. His to restore the battle, and at length gain a com-
collengue Scipio, who was at no great distance, plete victory. Fifty thousand men are said to
willingly accepted a truce which Sulla offered him, have fallen on each side (Appian, B. C. i. 93).
although Sertorius warned him against entering All the most distinguished leaders of the enemy
into any negotiations, and his caution was justified either perished in the engagement or were taken
by the event. By means of his emissaries Sulla prisoners and put to death. Among these was the
seduced the troops of Scipio, who at length found brave Samnite Pontius Telesinus, whose head was
himself deserted by all his soldiers, and was taken cut off and carried under the walls of Praeneste,
prisoner in his tent. Sulla, however, dismissed thereby announcing to the younger Marius that
him uninjured. On hearing of this Carbo is said his last hope of succour was gone. To the Sam-
to have observed “ that he had to contend in Sulla | nite prisoners Sulla showed no mercy. He was
both with a lion and a fox, but that the fox resolved to root out of the peninsula those heroic
gave him more trouble. ” Many distinguished enemies of Rome. On the third day after the
Romans meantime had taken up arms on behalf of battle he collected all the Samnite and Lucanian
Sulla. Cn. Pompey had levied three legions for prisoners in the Campus Martius, and ordered his
him in Picenum and the surrounding districts ; soldiers to cut them down. The dying shrieks of
and Q. Metellus Pius, M. Crassus, M. Lucullus, so many victims frightened the senators, who had
and several others offered their services as legates. been assembled at the same time by Sulla in the
It was not, however, till the following year, B. c. temple of Bellona ; but he bade them attend to
82, that the struggle was brought to a decisive what he was saying and not mind what was taking
issue. The consuls of this year were Cn. Papirius place outside, as he was only chastising some
Carbo and the younger Marius ; the former of rebels, and he then quietly proceeded to finish his
whom was entrusted with the protection of Etruria discourse. Praeneste surrendered soon afterwards.
and Umbria, while the latter had to guard Rome The Romans in the town were pardoned; but all the
and Latium. Sulla appears to have passed the Samnites and Praenestines were massacred without
winter at Campania. At the commencement of mercy. The younger Marius put an end to his
spring he advanced against the younger Marius, own life [Marius, No. 2]. The war in Italy
who had concentrated all his forces at Sacriportus, was now virtually at an end, for the few towns
and defeated him with great loss. Marius took which still held out had no prospect of offering any
refuge in Praeneste, where he had previously de- effectual opposition, and were reduced soon after-
posited his military stores, and a great quantity of wards. In other parts of the Roman world the war
gold and silver which he had brought from the continued still longer, and Sulla did not live to see
Capitol and other temples at Rome. Sulla followed its completion. The armies of the Marian party
him to Praeneste, and after leaving Q. Lucretius in Sicily and Africa were subdued by Pompey in
Ofella with a large force to blockade the town and the course of B. C. 82 ; but Sertorius in Spain
compel it to a surrender by famine, he marched continued to defy all the attempts of the senate to
with the main body of his army to Rome. Marius crush him, till his cowardly assassination by Per-
was resolved not to perish unavenged, and ac- perna in B. c. 72. (SERTORIUS. ]
cordingly before Sulla could reach Rome, he sent Sulla was now master of Rome. He had not
orders to L. Damasippus, the praetor, to put to commenced the civil war, but had been driven to
death all his leading opponents. His orders were it by the niad ambition of Marius. His enemies
faithfully obeyed. Q. Mucius Scaevola, the pontifex had attempted to deprive him of the command in
maximus and jurist, P. Antistius, L. Domitius, and the Mithridatic war which had been legally con-
many other distingished men were butchered and ferred upon him by the senate ; and while he was
their corpses thrown into the Tiber. Sulla entered fighting the battles of the republic they had de-
the city without opposition ; Damasippus and his clared him a public enemy, confiscated his pro-
adherents had previously withdrawn, and repaired perty, and murdered the most distinguished of his
to Cardo in Etruria. Sulla marched against Carbo, friends and adherents.
For all these wrongs,
who had been previously opposed by Pompeius and Sulla had threatened to take the most ample ven-
Bietellus. The history of this part of the war is geance; and he more than redeemed his word.
;
## p. 939 (#955) ############################################
SULLA.
939
SULLA.
He resolved to extirpate root and branch the po-called himself Epaphroditus. Al ranks in Rome
pular party. One of his first acts was to draw up bowed in awe before their master ; and among other
a list of his enemies who were to be put to death, marks of distinction which were voted to him by
which list was exbibited in the forum to public the obsequious senate, a gilt equestrian statue was
inspection, and called a Proscriptio. It was the erected to his honour before the Rostra, bearing the
first instance of the kind in Roman history. All inscription Cornelio Sullae Imperatori Felici. ”
persons in this list were outlaws who might be During the years B. c. 80 and 79, Sulla carried
killed by any one with impunity, even by slaves ; into execution his various reforms in the consti-
their property was confiscated to the state, and tution, of which an account is given at the close
was to be sold by public auction ; their children of bis life. But at the same time he adopted
and grandchildren lost their votes in the comitia, measures in order to crush his enemies more
and were excluded from all public offices. Further, completely, and to consolidate the power of his
all who killed a proscribed person, or indicated the party. These measures require a few words of
place of his concealment, received two talents as a explanation, as they did not form a part of his
reward, and whoever sheltered such a person was constitutional reforms, though they were intended
punished with death. Terror now reigned, not for the support of the latter. The first of these
only at Rome, but throughout Italy. Fresh lists measures has been already mentioned, namely the
of the proscribed constantly appeared. No one destruction of his enemies by the proscription.
was safe ; for Sulla gratified his friends by placing He appears to have published his list of victims
in the fatal lists their personal enemies, or persons immediately after the defeat of the Samnites and
whose property was coveted by his adherents. An Lucanians at the Colline gate, without communi-
estate, a house, or even a piece of plate was to cating, as Plutarch says (Sull
. 31), with any ma-
many a man, who belonged to no political party, gistrate ; but when he was dictator he proposed a
his death warrant ; for although the confiscated law in the comitia centuriata, which ratified his
property belonged to the state, and had to be sold proscriptions, and which is usually called Lux Cor-
by public auction, the friends and dependents of nelia de Proscriptione or De Proscriptis. By this law
Sulla purchased it at a nominal price, as no one it was enacted that all proscriptions should cease
dared to bid against them. Oftentimes Sulla did on the 1st of June, B. C. 81. The lex Valeria,
not require the purchase-money to be paid at all, and which conferred the dictatorship upon Sulla, gave
in many cases he gave such property to his favourites him absolute power over the lives of Roman citizens,
without even the formality of a sale. Metella, the and hence Cicero says he does not know whether
wife of the dictator, and Chrysogonus his freed to call the proscription law a lex Valeria or lex
man, P. Sulla, M. Crassus, Vettius, and Sex. Nae Cornelia. (Cic. pro Rosc. Am. 43, 44, de Leg.
vius are especially mentioned among those who re- Agr. iii. 2. )
ceived such presents; and handsome Roman ma- Another of Sulla's measures, and one of still
trons, as likewise actors and actresses, were fa- more importance for the support of his power, was
voured in the same manner. The number of per- the establishment of military colonies throughout
Bons who perished by the proscriptions is stated Italy. The inhabitants of the Italian towns, which
differently, but it appears to have amounted to had fought against Sulla, were deprived of the full
many thousands. At the commencement of these Roman franchise which had been lately conferred
horrors Sulla had been appointed dictator. As both upon them, and were only allowed to retain the
the consuls had perished, he caused the senate to commercium: their land was confiscated and given
elect Valerius Flaccus interrex, and the latter to the soldiers who had fought under him. Twenty-
brought before the people a rogatio, conferring the three legions (Appian, B. C. i. 100), or, according
dictatorship upon Sulla, for the purpose of restoring to another statement (Liv. Epit. 89), forty-seven
order to the republic, and for as long a time as he legions received grants of land in various parts of
judged to be necessary. Thus the dictatorship was Italy. A great number of these colonies was settled
revived after being in abeyance for more than in Etruria, the population of which was thus almost
120 years, and Sulla obtained absolute power entirely changed. These colonies had the strongest
over the lives and fortunes of all the citizens.
