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The Roman Revolution

The Temporary Monarchy of Sulla

Sulla, with soldiers in tow, called the Senate into session. There, he had his cronies declare that the Republic was threatened (as indeed it was), and the Senate proceeded to elect Sulla dictator.

After the six-month period, Sulla called the Senate back into session, his cronies again declared a national emergency, and Sulla was duly elected dictator again. The next time, he was elected dictator for life. Although this was not part of the Roman constitution, since the Senate passed the decree, all was legal.

What we have here is a blatant undermining of the system under the cover of legality. Everyone understood what opposing Sulla would mean. The use of political violence that we saw on a modest scale in 133 had now become open warfare for political ends. And, at every step, those doing violence to the system were claiming that they were defending it. Even Sulla.

But Sulla raised the ante even further with his extensive use of political murder. When he entered Rome in 82, he made up lists of his enemies. He posted those lists so everyone knew who was marked, and he gave rewards to anyone who would betray them. Those proscribed on the lists were brought to trial, but the trial was a mere sham. They were then either executed or exiled (if they did not first commit suicide or flee) and their estates were confiscated.

The technique was horrifyingly effective. Sulla not only published his proscription lists, he changed them from time to time, so that a man might find himself in danger and then suddenly out of danger. He went on editing his lists for over a year, frightening people to no end. Even those who were not proscribed tread lightly lest they find their name on Sulla's lists one day.

The proscription lists served another function. After killing thousands in this way, and seizing their estates, Sulla was able to confiscate land and wealth and offices for about 120,000 of his soldiers. This was not generosity on his part: his soldiers were mostly landless men and he had to pay them or face unrest and rebellion.

Dictatorship

Sulla forced the Senate to make him dictator in 82. Although the office was supposed to last for only six months, he became dictator for life.

Despite this extraordinary appropriation of power, Sulla showed regard for Republican forms, keeping carefully within the law with the exception of himself. He instituted sweeping reforms -- of the Senate, finances, the army, and the provinces -- all carried through in proper form, though none were left to defy him.

Once he had implemented all the reforms he thought necessary, the dictator resigned in 79 and retired to his estates. He returned control of Rome to the Senate and refused to be drawn back into politics. He died the following year.