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