Sulla

Legacy

Who was Sulla?

What did he do?

Creation of Institutions

Established a rule of force

Pass Laws

Sulla Resigns (Positive Legacy)

Urban Development

Relationship with Gaius Marius

Known as the revolutionist of the Roman Constitution

Military Leader

Dictator of Rome

Military

Political Reforms

Negative Legacy

Brought Rome into a Civil War

Under Lex Valeria (Valerian law)

Lex Cornelia Majestatis

The requirement that the tribunes had to submit their legislative proposals to the Senate for approval

Intended to reestablish the supremacy of the Senate in the Roman state

However, this proved ineffective as the Senate remained corrupt up until the assassination of Caesar in 44 BC

Designed to prevent insurrection (uprisings) by provincial governors and army commanders

This became very corrupt as the Senate did not always agree with proposals - out of spite

An act of honesty by a man who had pledged to step down as soon as his reforms had been carried out

“who follows up good beginnings with evil deeds.”

This was a perspective from writers at the time

Sulla aimed to expand Rome's empire using slaves to build roads where Rome was able to conquest

Lex Cornelia Majestatis

Sulla was appointed dictator under the Lex Valeria (Valerian law), which vested constituent, legislative, military, and judicial power in him, without, however, for the first time in Rome’s history, limiting the duration of his dictatorship.

Sulla's march on Rome destroyed the rule of law.

He tried to bolster the the crumbling authority of the Senate.

Rule of Force

Marius had further weakened the authority of the Senate and the respect for laws

Marius and Sulla demonstrated that the key to power in Roman politics was through control of a successful, client army.

Tried to prevent corruption

Sulla tried to legislate against other ambitious generals gaining power by stipulating minimum ages for the magistracies. This meant 'conditioning' by the system.

From military generals who were returning from war e.g. Pompey and Julius Caesar

Sulla's laws could not stop strong and ambitious generals committing illegal acts to gain power.

Sulla aimed to do the same

Sulla does not address the issue of power for military commanders

Provincial Governments across Rome

However, this was not the case.

A military leader can use the army as a source of power to get what they want.

Military leaders used this power to gain political gain

Friend and Foe

Sulla copied his approach to gain control of Consul (through an army).

Fought against each other in the Social War

Gaius Marius

Became consul through the threat of his army

Demonstrated that a man could defy Roman law through an army

Military Commander

Successful defeat in Africa

Gained power in the Senate through the threat of his army

Tried to break the power of the Plebs BUT increase the power of the Senate

Gave the Senate the power of Veto in the Plebeian Assembly

The Plebeian Assembly became powerless compared to the Senate

Destroyed the Tribune and the Plebeian Assembly

The grievances of Plebs went unresolved and there was no outlet to these problems. The Plebs became frustrated.

A boiling pot for revolution.

Blocked the Plebs only legitimate avenue to political expression

This was only temporary solution