Sulla facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sulla
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Portrait of Sulla on a denarius minted in 54 BC by his grandson Pompeius Rufus
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| Born | 138 BC |
| Died | 78 BC (aged 60) Puteoli, Italy
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| Nationality | Roman |
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Notable credit(s)
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Constitutional reforms of Sulla |
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| Opponent(s) | Gaius Marius |
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Wars
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| Awards | Grass Crown |
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Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix (138–78 BC), known as Sulla, was a powerful Roman general and statesman. He led the first big civil war in Roman history. He was also the first person in the Republic to take control by force.
Sulla was a very skilled general. He won many battles against enemies both inside and outside Rome. He became famous during the war against King Jugurtha of Numidia. Sulla captured Jugurtha, but his boss, Gaius Marius, got the credit. Sulla then fought successfully against Germanic tribes in the Cimbrian War. He also fought against Italian allies during the Social War. He was given the Grass Crown for his bravery. Sulla believed he was special to the goddess Venus.
Sulla was a key player in the political fights in Rome. He led the optimates, who wanted the Senate to have the most power. They were against the populares, led by Marius, who wanted more power for the common people. Sulla marched his army on Rome, which was unheard of. He defeated Marius's forces. But when Sulla left for Asia, the populares took power again.
Sulla returned from the east in 82 BC. He marched on Rome a second time. He crushed the populares and their allies. He then brought back the job of dictator, which hadn't been used in over a century. He used this power to remove his opponents. He also changed Roman laws to make the Senate stronger. He also limited the power of the tribunes of the plebs. Sulla gave up his dictatorship in 79 BC and retired. He died the next year.
Sulla's actions changed Roman politics forever. His use of the army to gain power set a dangerous example. Later leaders, like Julius Caesar, followed in his footsteps. This led to the end of the Roman Republic.
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Sulla's Early Life and Family
Sulla was born into a noble Roman family called the gens Cornelia. However, his family was not rich when he was born. One of his ancestors, Publius Cornelius Rufinus, was removed from the Senate for having too much silver. After that, Sulla's family didn't hold high offices until Sulla himself.
When Sulla was a baby, a woman supposedly said he would bring luck to his country. After his father died, Sulla was quite poor. He spent his youth with actors and musicians. He even wrote plays. Sulla likely had a good education, learning Greek and Latin. He was fluent in Greek. He became wealthy later in life through inheritances from his stepmother and a friend. This wealth helped him start his political career.
Sulla's First Steps in Politics
Sulla became a quaestor in 108 BC. This was his first official job in Roman politics. A quaestor was a public official who managed money. He was assigned to work under the famous general Gaius Marius.
The War Against Jugurtha (107–106 BC)
The Jugurthine War began in 112 BC. King Jugurtha of Numidia was fighting against Rome. He had killed Roman traders and used bribes. Several Roman commanders had failed against him. In 107 BC, Marius became consul and took over the war. Sulla joined his team.
Marius asked Sulla to organize cavalry (horse soldiers) in Italy. This was a very important job for a young man with little military experience. Sulla was popular with the soldiers. He got along well with other officers, including Marius.
In 106 BC, Sulla helped capture King Jugurtha. Jugurtha had fled to his father-in-law, King Bocchus I of Mauritania. Marius invaded Mauretania. After a big battle, Bocchus decided to betray Jugurtha to the Romans. Sulla was sent to negotiate with Bocchus. He successfully convinced Bocchus to hand over Jugurtha. This made Sulla very famous. Years later, Bocchus even built a statue showing Sulla capturing Jugurtha.
The Cimbrian War (104–101 BC)
In 104 BC, two Germanic tribes, the Cimbri and Teutones, threatened Italy. They had beaten Roman armies before. Marius was elected consul many times to deal with this crisis. Some Roman leaders in the Senate saw Sulla as a way to balance Marius's growing power.
Sulla served under Marius in Gaul. He helped defeat a Gallic tribe that had rebelled. The next year, he was a military tribune. He helped negotiate with the Marsi tribe, convincing them to leave the Cimbri. Sulla felt Marius wasn't giving him enough chances. So, he asked to be transferred to the army of Catulus, Marius's fellow consul.
In 102 BC, the invaders returned. Catulus and Sulla tried to stop them but were defeated. Marius, however, destroyed the Teutones. Marius then joined Catulus's army. Sulla was in charge of getting food for both armies. He did this very well. The Roman armies then attacked the Cimbri. At the Battle of the Raudian Field, the Cimbri were completely defeated.
Marius and Catulus were given triumphs (victory parades). Sulla ran for praetor in 99 BC but lost. People thought he was too proud of his military record for a junior officer. They also knew he was friends with a rich foreign king, Bocchus. They wanted him to spend money on public games. Sulla ran again the next year, promising good shows. He was elected praetor in 97 BC.
Governor in Cilicia (96–93 BC)
Sulla's time as praetor was mostly quiet. In 96 BC, he became governor of Cilicia in Asia Minor. The Senate ordered Sulla to put Ariobarzanes back on the throne of Cappadocia. King