Sulla
Roman general and dictator (138-78 BCE): his role against Jugurtha and Mithridates, his march on Rome, the proscriptions and his constitutional reforms.
Category: Figures
- 111 BCEJugurthine War
Rome fights Jugurtha of Numidia, who had bribed Roman senators. Gaius Marius, elected consul in 107 BCE, ends it when his quaestor Sulla gets Jugurtha handed over by King Bocchus in 105.
- 89 BCEFirst Mithridatic War
Rome fights Mithridates VI of Pontus in Anatolia and Greece, 89-85 BCE. Sulla wins the battles but must settle by the Treaty of Dardanos in 85: Mithridates keeps his kingdom; the Senate never ratifies it.
- 88 BCESulla marches on Rome
In 88 BCE, in a quarrel over the command against Mithridates, consul Sulla leads his legions into Rome. Marius and the tribune Sulpicius are outlawed. Roman armies now act as a political weapon.
- 86 BCESulla takes and sacks Athens
In 86 BCE Sulla storms Athens, which had joined Mithridates, and the city is heavily damaged and looted. He then wins at Chaeronea and Orchomenus, ending Pontic control of Greece.
- 82 BCEBattle of the Colline Gate
On 1 November 82 BCE Sulla defeats the Marian and Samnite forces at the gates of Rome, ending the civil war in Italy.
- 82 BCESulla becomes dictator; proscriptions begin
In 82 BCE a law makes Sulla dictator with no time limit to remake the Republic. His first proscription list, published on 3 November, outlaws enemies and puts a price on their heads.
- c. 81 BCESulla's constitutional reforms
Sulla, c. 81-80 BCE, expands the standing criminal courts, weakens the tribunate, adds magistrates and enlarges the Senate. Many measures prove unworkable and are soon undone.
- 80 BCESulla resigns the dictatorship; dies in 78
Sulla lays down the dictatorship early in 80 BCE and serves as consul with Metellus Pius. He then retires and dies at his villa near Puteoli in 78.
- c. 60 BCEAndronicus of Rhodes edits Aristotle
About 60 BCE Andronicus of Rhodes, reported as the eleventh head of the Peripatetic school, publishes a new edition of Aristotle and Theophrastus, according to Plutarch. It drew on a library Sulla took to Rome. Its arrangement may underlie modern editions.