Sulla or in Latin ) is a statesman Roman , born in 138 BC. BC , died at Cumae in 78 BC. AD

Summary 1 Its origin 2 His life 3 His death 4 See also 4.1 Sources ancient 4.2 Bibliography 5 Notes and references 5.1 Article Related 6 External links

Its origin

Sylla is a cognomen of the people patrician Cornelia. Sulla was one of those families that make up the first houses of Rome. We know that Publius Cornelius Rufinus, one of his ancestors, arrived at the consulate in 290 and 277 BC. AD, but he was less known than the elevation wilt he received: they found him in over ten pounds of silver plate, and this violation of the law had him driven from the Senate. His descendants lived in obscurity since, and Sylla himself was raised in a poor state of wealth.

Born in 138 BC, he was, according to his biographer Plutarch (Life of Sulla) and modest wealth would be the legacy of his mistress Nicopolis and that of his stepmother, who would have made him a certain ease. But as always, as regards this character, literary sources are often biased by the controversy that her story has aroused. His family, a bit lost as a result of the conviction of Rufinus, had not been very active in the Roman conquest ^of the second century, and was therefore not enriched, but we can not forget that his great grandfather and his great uncle had exercised the courthouse one in Sicily and one in Sardinia , and that these functions were still profitable.

Whatever the relative modesty of his fortune, the young man received training worthy of its origins and all sources agree to make him a very cultured. Even the historian Sallust , who did not support Sylla told him he "had knowledge of Greek and Latin literature worthy of the most erudite scholars" ^{His life}

His career began at -105 in Africa. As legate, he then leads the secret negotiations that would lead his general, Marius in a victory over Jugurtha of Numidia.

In particular, he persuaded the king Bocchus from Mauretania to betray Jugurtha, who had fled to Mauritania to shelter. It was a delicate operation, King Bocchus weighing the benefits of delivering Jugurtha to Sylla, or Sulla to Jugurtha.

Thereafter, it will consolidate its position by winning several successes during the war of the Cimbri , took him prisoner Copillus (General Gauls Tectosages ), attracted the Marsi (italics numerous and warlike nation) in the alliance of the Romans and during the war Social (from -91 to -89 ). Became an important figure in Roman politics, he became the rival of Marius, who supports the movement of the populares , Sylla joining the camp of the senatorial aristocracy and conservative optimates. He faces Marius and forced him to exile after the Civil War of the Republic.

Consul -88 with Quintus Pompeius Rufus , he led a victorious campaign against Mithridates VI , king of the bridge , for the control of the Greek cities of Asia Minor , Roman province from -129 (campaign marked by numerous depredations). A conflict took place between him and Marius to determine which would lead the first war against Mithridates, Sulla up to march on Rome with his troops to prevent the appointment of Marius supported by the mob, but not the Senate.

After taking Athens (March 1 -86) and Piraeus (a few days later), Sulla marched his army over the troops of Mithridates ahead in the plain of Chaeronea. Lucius Cornelius won a brilliant victory, which earned him to receive the crown of Imperator. Then he will celebrate games at Thebes. But Mithridates set up a new army, commanded by his minister of war, Doryalos. In the autumn meeting Sulla's army in the plain of Doryalos Orchomenos. Initially, the Roman legionnaires are receding. Sulla then grabs a sign of the Legion and began the battle, exclaiming: "To me Romans the glory of dying here! You, if you are asked where you abandon your general, n ' Remember to answer in Orchomenos. The Roman army takes over and eventually completely undo the new army of Mithridates. Sylla received on this occasion his second crown of laurel. Mithridates was forced to ask for peace.

Back in Italy after the Peace of Dardanus in -85 and reorganization of the province of Asia, it faces the Marianist supporters who took power during his absence. After the second civil war in 81 BC. BC , which ended in victory for syllaniens, he was appointed dictator and support between December 1 -82. He then takes the name of Felix (Fortunate, beloved of the gods, he explains himself one day as a protg of Venus ), and makes a political purge by many proscriptions. It restores the power of the Roman Senate ( 79 BC. ), in hopes of saving the Republic "aristocratic" and limits the power of the tribunes of the plebs , vectors of the populist opposition. Many people are forced to hide or flee, including Julius Caesar. Sulla abdicated the dictatorship six months later, on June 1 -81. But he retains his imperium and was elected consul for the year 80 a few weeks later.

In 81 BC. BC, he founded the colony of Rome ' Aleria in Corsica. During that same year, his nephew, Sextus Nonius Sufenas , establishes the "ludi victoriae Sullan" to commemorate the victory of his uncle to the Colline gate. In 80 BC. BC, he transforms Pompeii Roman colony, named Colonia Cornelia Veneria Pompeii: Roman colonists then replace the inhabitants driven from their homes.

His death

Following his second consulship, Sulla retired in -79 , from politics before he died a year later. Plutarch stretches the horrors of a phthiriasis (pediculosis, which is to say, caused by lice) which Sylla had suffered in his last days and sees the indirect cause of his death, but we no longer believe little to the clinical picture that the ancient authors gave the phthiriase . Modern historians attach more importance to the circumstance of the last moments of Sulla mentioned by Plutarch himself, 37, 5, and Valerius Maximus, 9, 3, 8: vomiting blood concomitant with a fit of anger against the Granius quaestor, who was the public treasury a considerable sum but differed from the pay pending the death of the dictator to defeat the Republic .

Sylla had just expired, as several citizens banded together with the consul Lepidus to prevent one had him a funeral befitting a man of his rank. But Pompey , using his prestige and forced them to abandon their project and had to go all the honors appropriate Sylla.

"The statues that remain to us him, we can judge the air of his face: his eyes were fierce and rude. And the color of her face made her look even more terrible, it was a dark red, dotted with white spots. We even believe that's where he drew his nickname Sylla. A pleasant Athens did that to his satirical tone, "Sylla is a mulberry flour footprint." "