L. Cornelius Sulla

b. 138 BCE - d. 78 BCE

Lucius Cornelius Sulla was born in 138 BCE into a noble but impoverished patrician family.  He began his public career late, at age 30, because he didn’t have the financial ability until he received an inheritance from his stepmother.  He was very successful in both his military and political careers. 

Subject ID: 166546

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b. 138 BCE - d. 78 BCE

Lucius Cornelius Sulla was born in 138 BCE into a noble but impoverished patrician family.  He began his public career late, at age 30, because he didn’t have the financial ability until he received an inheritance from his stepmother.  He was very successful in both his military and political careers. 

In the military, he distinguished himself quickly as a commander, by capturing Jugurtha to end the Numidian War (112 – 106 BCE).  This led to other important commands.  Later he was a successful commander in the Social War (91 – 87 BCE); and defeated Mithridates VI in the first Mithridatic War (88 BCE – 84 BCE).  Fighting against Marius, Cinna, and their supporters Sulla invaded the city twice (both before and after the conflict with Mithradates), becoming the first man in to seize power in Rome by force. 

In politics Sulla was elected consul twice and, after his victory in the Civil Wars, he revived the office of dictator (c. 82 BCE). In this position he enacted constitutional reforms that he saw as necessary to strengthen the Roman Republic.  During his second consulship (80 BCE) Sulla attempted to show that he had re-established the normal consular government of the Republic and resigned the dictatorship.  He retired into private and died in 78 BCE shortly after completing his memoirs.

Subject ID: 166546

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