Civel War and Sulla's Victory

Cinna's Italy

• Three years of peace: 86-84
• Cinna not exactly liked by senatorial oligarchy, but still legitimate
• After Sulla's victory this period called one of oppression
• What to do with Sulla?
  • Oulawed in Rome
  • Wary negotiations
• Cinna killed by rebellious troops in 84
• Sulla resolves to return by violence

Civil War

• Sulla invades Italy in 83
• Many senators go over to him
• The anti-Sullan magistrates are the "legitimate" government
• Marius' young son elected consul for 82
• Sulla's veteran troops superior to newly raised units of loyalists
• Sulla triumphs at Colline Gate (outside Rome)
• Marius commits suicide
• Holdout loyalists (including consul) hunted down
• Sulla elected dictator
  • Office not used in more than century
  • No time limit
  • "for restoring the state"
• Bloodbath regularized as formal list of enemies
  • "Proscription"
  • Those listed could be killed with impunity
  • Property of proscribed confiscated

Sullan Settlement

• Strips tribunes of powers
• Increases # of magistrates
  • Eight praetors
  • 20 quaestors
• Restores courts to senate
• Tries to return control of political system to senate
  • Can't undo own precedent of using military force to get his way in politics
• V. vindictive
  • Helps friends
  • Kills enemies
• Confiscated land to veterans
• Sulla resigns as dictator in 79, soon dies
• Sulla's heritage determines political parties for rest of Republic
  • Many revere him for benefits or success
  • Many embittered by his vindictivenesss
  • Populares opposed to Sulla's arrangments