v43_0338 - SILLA Denier

SULLA

(84-83 BC)

Sulla was born in 138 BC. -VS. He began his political career in 107 BC.. -VS. and follows Marius in Africa. Thanks to the betrayal of Bocchus, he seizes Jugurtha. He then accompanies Marius to Gaul to fight the Germans. At the end of the campaign, he returned to civilian life. Elected praetor in 93 BC. -VS. , he was charged the following year with restoring Ariobazarnes I of Cappadocia (95-63 BC).. -VS. ), who was driven from his throne by Mithridates VI of Pontus. Back in Rome, he participated in the operations of the social war and crushed the revolt of the Italians in blood, which allowed him to run for the consulate for 88 BC.. -VS. at the age of 50. He takes advantage of the fact that Mithridates VI of Pontus has invaded Greece to carry the war to the East. Marius, his former boss who has become his most implacable enemy, opposes it. Before leaving, Sylla must then have Marius declared a public enemy and obtain his exile with his supporters.. He then went to Greece, besieged and took Athens in 86 BC.. -VS. , defeated Mithridates and signed peace in 85 BC. -VS. Meanwhile, Marius, reelected consul for the seventh time in 86 BC. -VS. , carries out a Syllanian purification. Marius' work is continued by Cinna, who will eventually be assassinated. Sylla, back in Italy, marched on Rome and crushed the Marianists at the Battle of Porte Colline in 82 BC.. -VS. He then applied the "proscriptions" where more than 80 senators and 1,600 knights died between November 82 and June 81 BC.. -VS. , their only crime being being wealthy and former supporters of Marius. Sylla was then awarded the Dictatorship for life, whereas until then it had only been legally awarded for six months.. Between 81 and 79 BC. -VS. , he reformed the republican society, took numerous "leges Corneliæ" laws, had the Pomerium enlarged and the Capitol which had just been destroyed by fire rebuilt. He abdicated his powers in July 79 BC. -VS. , retired to Campania and died there the following year.