DOCSLIB.ORG

Sulla's Overarching Goal Was to Consolidate Power in Rome

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Sulla's Overarching Goal Was to Consolidate Power in Rome Sulla’s overarching goal was to consolidate power in Rome in the hands of the senate. As an Optimate, Sulla intended to restore power to the traditional Roman system of government. His overarching goal was to cement power in the senate as demonstrated through his institution of pro-republican reforms and his opposition to the reformist Marius, despite his violent and authoritarian actions which contravened his original intention. Sulla was a conservative who firmly believed in the preservation of Roman tradition over pushing for social reforms. As a strong opposing force of the reformist and Populare leader Gaius Marius, Sulla made many attempts to shift power away from Marius’s grasp when his actions began to threaten the republic. Following Marius’s five consecutive and unconstitutional consulships from 104 to 100, Sulla’s reactionary conservatism led him to undertake many political reforms to ensure that equestrians like Marius would be unable to gain further power. Sulla passed laws banning non-patricians from the jury, which had previously been allowed under Marius. His actions demonstrated a clear preference of conservatism and an opposition to those who wished to shift power away from the senate’s grasp. Described by Keaveney as Rome’s ‘last republican’, Sulla clearly demonstrated his goal of strengthening the senate through ensuring non-senators would be unable to enact change. Furthermore, Sulla’s reforms clearly demonstrated his ultimate goal of maintaining the Roman constitution. After his second march on Rome in 82 BCE, Sulla immediately worked to promote the power of the senate through reforms. The number of senators was increased by 300, which significantly magnified their strength. The power of the senate was further increased through crippling the Concilium Plebis of its powers, such as jurisdiction and veto rights. Additionally, Sulla reduced the people’s assembly to ‘a shadow without substance’ (Velleius) by barring tribunes from further office. This caused those of reputable birth to ‘shun the office thereafter’ (Appian), which effectively prevented the emergence of future Gracchi-like figures. Through these reforms, Sulla was successfully able to restore the senate to its pre-Gracchan authority by ensuring that the people’s assembly was stripped of its powers to institute change without senatorial approval. Through his attempts to mend the fracturing Roman state to its former stability, Sulla clearly shows his overarching goal of strengthening the senate. Despite his intentions of upholding the constitution, Sulla’s actions ultimately had disastrous consequences on the Roman government and played a significant part in its eventual downfall. While he wished to restore power to the senate, his own unconstitutional actions, such as declaring himself dictator, inadvertently contravened his original intention of barring individuals from gaining too much power. Appian saw Sulla as ‘an unelected king’, demonstrating not just the unlawful nature of his leadership but also referring to him as a highly despised monarch. Sulla’s two marches on Rome was highly un-Roman, with Gwynn describing him as a ‘warlord with his private army’ who ‘threatened the very nature of the republic’, suggesting that he caused more harm than good to the senate. Sulla also demonstrated highly un-republican characteristics, such as striking coins in his image and keeping bodyguards known as the Cornelii. These practices, associated with later Roman emperors, caused Beard to name Pompey as ‘Rome’s first emperor’. Sulla’s proscriptions also posed a threat to the republic, as while Sulla used it to eliminate reformists, many personal enemies and rich landowners also fell victim to Sulla’s proscriptions. However, despite these harmful actions, by resigning from supreme power in 79 BCE, Sulla ultimately displays his goal as restoring power to the senate rather than to shift it to himself. Gwynn wrote that ‘paradoxically, Sulla was a true republican at heart’, showing that the unlawful aspects of his reign were not of his intention. Sulla was a firm republican to sought to restore power to the weakening senate. While his actions as dictator presented a very different image, his ultimate decision to resign from dictatorship highlights his ultimate goal in consolidating power in the hands of the senate. .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Imitation of Greatness: Alexander of Macedon and His Influence on Leading Romans
    Imitation of Greatness: Alexander of Macedon and His Influence on Leading Romans Thomas W Foster II, McNair Scholar The Pennsylvania State University Mark Munn, Ph.D Head, Department of Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies College of Liberal Arts The Pennsylvania State University Abstract This paper seeks to examine the relationship between greatness and imitation in antiquity. To do so, Alexander the Great will be compared with Romans Julius Caesar and Marcus Aurelius. The question this paper tries to answer concerns leading Romans and the idea of imitating Alexander the Great and how this affected their actions. It draws upon both ancient sources and modern scholarship. It differs from both ancient and modern attempts at comparison in distinct ways, however. This paper contains elements of the following: historiography, biography, military history, political science, character study, religion and socio-cultural traditions. Special attention has been given to the socio-cultural differences of the Greco-Roman world. Comparing multiple eras allows for the establishment of credible commonalities. These commonalities can then be applied to different eras up to and including the modern. Practically, these traits allow us to link these men of antiquity, both explicitly and implicitly. Beginning with Plutarch in the 1st/2nd century CE1, a long historical tradition of comparing great men was established. Plutarch chose to compare Alexander the Great to Julius Caesar. The reasons for such a comparison are quite obvious. Both men conquered swaths of land, changed the balance of power in the Mediterranean and caused many to either love them or plot to kill them. Scholars have assessed this comparison continuously.
    [Show full text]
  • Autobiography and Civil War
    Autobiography and Civil War Anchoring Fortuna in the Commentarii of Sulla, Cicero and Caesar Jacqueline Klooster, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen Outline ⬜ How did the writers of the political memoirs of the Civil Wars anchor their new practice in the past? Role of ‘Fortuna.’ ⬜ The Roman Civil Wars ⬜ Hypomnemata, Commentarii, and Civil War ⬜ Sulla ⬜ Cicero ⬜ Caesar ⬜ Conclusion The Roman Civil Wars ⬜ “The Crisis of the Roman Republic” - extended period of political instability and social unrest, from about 133 BC to 30 BC. ⬜ War in the 80s BC between Marius and Sulla ⬜ War in the 40s BC between Julius Caesar and Pompey ⬜ Conspiracy of Catiline 65-63 BC Cicero consul ⬜ War between Caesar's successors, Octavius (Augustus) and Mark Anthony in the 30s BC. Hypomnemata and Commentarii ⬜ Between historiography, war bulletin, political pamphlet and personal document ⬜ ‘unfinished material’ ⬜ Propaganda, apologia pro vita sua: political function Fortuna/ Tyche Fortuna (chance) as opposed to virtus Fortuna (chance) to underline animus and virtus Fortuna (divine providence) as justification of the victor’s cause Fortuna / Tyche ⬜ Polybius (200-118 BC) : teleological explanation of the Roman expansion (tyche often equals divine providence) ⬜ Plutarch 45-120 AD : De fortuna Romanorum (idem, even more explicitly) ⬜ Sallustius 86-35 BC : De coniuratione Catilinae: Fortuna morally ambiguous ⬜ → Fortuna in commentarii of Civil War? Lucius Cornelius Sulla ‘Felix’ ⬜ 138-78 BC, Rome ⬜ War against King Mithridates of Pontus ⬜ 80’s BC: War against Gaius Marius
    [Show full text]
  • Roman History the LEGENDARY PERIOD of the KINGS (753
    Roman History THE LEGENDARY PERIOD OF THE KINGS (753 - 510 B.C.) Rome was said to have been founded by Latin colonists from Alba Longa, a nearby city in ancient Latium. The legendary date of the founding was 753 B.C.; it was ascribed to Romulus and Remus, the twin sons of the daughter of the king of Alba Longa. Later legend carried the ancestry of the Romans back to the Trojans and their leader Aeneas, whose son Ascanius, or Iulus, was the founder and first king of Alba Longa. The tales concerning Romulus’s rule, notably the rape of the Sabine women and the war with the Sabines, point to an early infiltration of Sabine peoples or to a union of Latin and Sabine elements at the beginning. The three tribes that appear in the legend of Romulus as the parts of the new commonwealth suggest that Rome arose from the amalgamation of three stocks, thought to be Latin, Sabine, and Etruscan. The seven kings of the regal period begin with Romulus, from 753 to 715 B.C.; Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, from 534 to 510 B.C., the seventh and last king, whose tyrannical rule was overthrown when his son ravished Lucretia, the wife of a kinsman. Tarquinius was banished, and attempts by Etruscan or Latin cities to reinstate him on the throne at Rome were unavailing. Although the names, dates, and events of the regal period are considered as belonging to the realm of fiction and myth rather than to that of factual history, certain facts seem well attested: the existence of an early rule by kings; the growth of the city and its struggles with neighboring peoples; the conquest of Rome by Etruria and the establishment of a dynasty of Etruscan princes, symbolized by the rule of the Tarquins; the overthrow of this alien control; and the abolition of the kingship.
    [Show full text]
  • The Roman World • Lecture 6 • the End of the Republic: Julius Caesar
    • MDS1TRW: The Roman World • Lecture 6 • The End of the Republic: Julius Caesar CRICOS Provider 00115M latrobe.edu.au CRICOS Provider 00115M The end of the Republic: 133-27 BCE 1. Poli=cal and civil conflict of late Republic 2. Julius Caesar http://www.clas.ufl.edu/users/jmarks/Caesar/Caesar.html 133 BCE • AEalus III of PerGamum • Tiberius Gracchus = Tribune of the People (plebs) • veto power • T. Gracchus’ Land Bill http://sightseeingrome.blogspot.com.au/2010/10/portrait-of-gracchi-according-to.html 123 BCE • Gaius Gracchus = Tribune of the People (plebs) – Grain price – Extor=on Courts • equites – Ci=zenship Bill http://sightseeingrome.blogspot.com.au/2010/10/portrait-of-gracchi-according-to.html Op=mates and Populares • Op=mates: senatorial • Populares: people • Lucius Cornelius Sulla http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sulla_Glyptothek_Munich_309_white_bkg.jpg • Gaius Marius http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaius_Marius GAIUS MARIUS • 105: Gauls • Army reform • Consul 107, 104-100, 86 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaius_Marius Rome vs. ItalY • Ci=zenship Bill • 91 Drusus murdered • 91-88 Social War • vs. socii http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_image.aspx?image=ps297454.jpg&retpage=17508 Rome vs. Pontus • Mithridates VI • Sulla… • Sulpicius: Marius Sulla vs. Marius • Proscrip=ons • Cinna consul 87 • Cinna & Marius 86 • Sulla dictator 82 • New cons=tu=on 81 Sulla dictator • New cons=tu=on 81 – Tribunes of the People lose veto – Council of People lose leGislave riGhts – doubles Senate – Extor=on court -> senate –
    [Show full text]
  • Julius Caesar.Docx
    Julius Caesar Julius Caesar was a renowned statesman, military leader and politician who ultimately became the linchpin for the Roman Republic's transition to the Roman Empire. His cognomen (third name) was subsequently adopted as a synonym for "Emperor"; the title "Caesar" was used throughout the Roman Empire, giving rise to modern cognates such as Kaiser and Tsar. The information from this article will be useful in the World History Segment of the IAS Exam Early Life of Julius Caesar Gaius Lulius Caesar was born on July 13 100 BC. His father was also Gaius Julius Caesar and his mother Aurelia Cotta. Julius Caesar was also the nephew of Gaius Marius, who was instrumental in reforming the Roman army Although Ceaser traced his family back to the mythical Aeneas, said to be the ancestors of Romulus and Remus (founders of Rome), his family was neither wealthy nor influential in Roman politics. His father died in 85 BC, which made Caesar the head of his family at the age of 16. It was at this time that his uncle was in a civil war with Lucius Cornelius Sulla, a dictator who ruled Rome. In 84 B.C., he married Cornelia, the daughter of an ally of Marius. Caesar and Cornelia had one child, a daughter named Julia. Sulla won the civil war in 82 BC and began to exact vengeance on whoever sided with Marius, including immediate family members. He ordered Caesar to divorce Cornelia. Upon Caesar's refusal, Sulla ordered his execution. Caesar's family intervened and pleaded for clemency.
    [Show full text]
  • Plutarch's Lysander and Sulla: Integrated Characters in Roman Historical Perspective
    PLUTARCH'S LYSANDER AND SULLA: INTEGRATED CHARACTERS IN ROMAN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE THE TERM ritratto paradossale has been used to describe a formula of character portrayal seen in Latin literature of the first centuries B.C. and A.D. whose basic process consists in combining in one character appar- ently contradictory traits (La Penna 1976). To be precise, the formula produced a type of man who in his moments of action shows energy, diligence, and constancy but exhibits licentious feelings, allows himself to be taken in by indolence, and succumbs to pleasures when his nego­ tia are finished. This model may already have been present in Greek historical literature of the fourth century B.c., as the portrait of Philip I1 that the historian Theopompus delineates seems to bear this stamp. The public image of Maecenas and the Petronius of Tacitus are two clear ex- amples of ritratto paradossale. The figure of Sulla also falls under this influence; in fact, according to La Penna (1976, 284), Plutarch's biogra- phy of Sulla often exhibits these same characteristics. The terms "paradox" and "paradoxical" also occur frequently in works devoted to Plutarch's Life of Lysander. Its paradoxical features are the central point of Pelling's comments (1988a, 268-74) on that bi- ography. Pelling explores aspects of "integration" in the Parallel Lives, a technique of portrayal which he defines as follows: "a man's qualities are brought into some sort of relation with one another, and every trait goes closely with the next."l An almost universal literary habit in the 'Pelling 1988a, 262.
    [Show full text]
  • Course Summary
    PRELIMINARY COURSE SYLLABUS Quarter: Spring 2021 Course Title: The Roman World Course Code: HIS 197 W Instructor: Gary Devore Course Summary: This course will look at the lives of famous Romans (such as Julius Caesar, Nero, Hadrian, and Constantine) as well as the more obscure but still interesting Romans (like fraternal revolutionaries Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus, the dictator Sulla, the 3rd-century emperor Gallienus, and the powerful women who safeguarded the patrician Cornelius family). Through these personages, we will see how Rome grew from a tiny village of mud huts clustered atop hills along the Tiber River into an empire controlling land and people across all of Europe, from Spain to the Near East and from Britain to the shores of the Sahara. Grade Options and Requirements: Each week the students should 1) watch the video treatment of the material, 2) read the assigned reading, 3) take an online “open book” quiz based on the reading to check comprehension and if possible 4) take part in an online Discussion Topic sessions (an hour on Zoom, Fridays from 7-8pm Pacific time). (The Zoom discussions are optional and will be recorded so those not able to attend can watch them later.) Every week will start with an announcement reminding the students of what ancient Roman we are meeting that week and telling the students what they should be on the look out for (in the readings and the video material) with regards to the Discussion Topic sessions. A brief final essay exam is available for those wishing to take the course for a grade.
    [Show full text]
  • Pompey the Great (106-‐48)
    4/2/12 Sulla (Marius’ Marius Pompey the Great (106-48) lieutenant) “A9er having rescued the seacoast from pirates and restored to the Roman people the command of Network of the sea, he celebrated Civil War triumphs over Asia, Pontus, Armenia, Paphlagonia, Cappadocia, Cilicia, Syria, the Scythians, the Jews, Caesar (Marius’ Crassus (Sulla’s Pompey (Sulla’s the Albanians, Iberia, the nephew) lieutenant) lieutenant) Island of Crete, and in addiLon to these, over King Mithridates & King Tigranes… He routed, scaered, slew, or received the surrender of 12,380,000 people; sank or captured 846 ships; received the capitulaon of 1,538 towns & forts…” • Pompey’s boast: “I found Asia the furthest off of Rome’s provinces & le9 her at center of Rome’s empire” The “last generaon” of the Republic Gnaeus Pompeius (Magnus) • Greatest conqueror of Roman Republic • Final Lpping point between a Rome controlled – or just most opportunisLc? best at taking credit? by small groups of super-imperialists who • FighLng under Sulla, Pompey (in his 20’s) want to be considered principes (first men)— – adopts surname Magnus: The Great and a Rome ruled by one man: the only – others call him adulescens carnifex: Teenage butcher princeps. • dominated Roman poliLcs for 30 years aer Sulla • Individualist general and imitator of Alexander “Pompey could not bear having a superior. but – bUT, by accident of history, gets painted as last basLon of Caesar could not even bear having an equal.” old Rome—symbol of lost Republic, bulldozed by Caesar. – From teenage butcher & violator of consLtuLon to guardian of mos maiorum??? 1 4/2/12 Rise of Pompey Lepidus, consul in 78 • Son of successful general, Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo.
    [Show full text]
  • 6Th Grade Social Studies Briley March 12-16, 2018
    6th Grade Social Studies Briley March 12-16, 2018 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Common Core 6.H.1, 6.H.2, 6.G.1, 6.G2, 6.H.1, 6.H.2, 6.G.1, 6.G2, 6.H.1, 6.H.2, 6.G.1, 6.G2, 6.H.1, 6.H.2, 6.G.1, 6.G2, 6.H.1, 6.H.2, 6.G.1, 6.G2, Standards 6.E.1 6.E.1 6.E.1 6.E.1 6.E.1 Learning I will learn about Ancient Rome. I will learn about Ancient Rome. I will learn about Ancient Rome. I will learn about Ancient Rome. I will learn about Ancient Rome. Goals Blooms' Remembering, Understanding, Remembering, Understanding, Remembering, Understanding, Remembering, Understanding, Remembering, Understanding, Taxonomy Applying, Analyzing, Evaluating, Applying, Analyzing, Evaluat- Applying, Analyzing, Evaluat- Applying, Analyzing, Evaluat- Applying, Analyzing, Evaluat- Creating ing, Creating ing, Creating ing, Creating ing, Creating Academic Aeneas, Romulus and Remus, Aeneas, Romulus and Remus, Aeneas, Romulus and Remus, Aeneas, Romulus and Remus, Aeneas, Romulus and Remus, Vocabulary republic, dictators, Cincinnatus, republic, dictators, Cincinnatus, republic, dictators, Cincinnatus, republic, dictators, Cincinnatus, republic, dictators, Cincinnatus, plebeians, patricians, magistrates, plebeians, patricians, magis- plebeians, patricians, magis- plebeians, patricians, magis- plebeians, patricians, magis- consuls, Roman senate, veto, Lat- trates, consuls, Roman senate, trates, consuls, Roman senate, trates, consuls, Roman senate, trates, consuls, Roman senate, in, checks and balances, forum, veto, Latin, checks and balances, veto, Latin, checks and
    [Show full text]
  • The Role of Marius's Military Reforms in the Decline of the Roman Republic
    The Role of Marius’s Military Reforms in the Decline of the Roman Republic Andrew White Hst 499: Senior Seminar Spring 2011 First Reader: Dr. Alaric Trousdale Second Reader: Dr. Narasingha P. Sil June 13, 2011 © Andrew White, 2011 1 I Gaius Marius’ military reforms caused more problems for the Roman Republic than any enemy of Rome ever could. Marius’s reforms were created to strengthen the Republic by professionalizing Rome’s military, but instead the political impact of the reforms had long term consequences that helped contribute to the decline of the late Roman Republic. In this paper the decline of the Roman Republic refers to the weakening of the Senate’s authority over Rome’s military and generals. The reform with the biggest impact was the opening up of the military to the capite censi or landless poor. In passing this reform Marius opened up the military to Rome’s largest class, but it created problems for the Republic, in the form of what to do with the men once they retired from active duty. Marius believed that he solved the issue of what to do with the retired men, when he made a deal with the Senate to give his troops plots of land on retirement. Instead of fixing the problem, Marius opened the door for other generals to use the giving of land to manipulate their troops into supporting their political ambitions. Marius did not use his troops to gain political power, but his reforms allowed other generals to test their troop’s loyalty. After the Social War generals began to realize they had the complete loyalty of their troops.
    [Show full text]
  • The Military Significance of Venus in Late Republican and Augustan Rome Catherine Julia Smallcombe Bachelor of Arts (Honours)
    The Military Significance of Venus in Late Republican and Augustan Rome Catherine Julia Smallcombe Bachelor of Arts (Honours) A thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Philosophy at The University of Queensland in 2017 School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry i Abstract The Roman goddess Venus is conventionally associated with love, sex, and beauty. However, these were only some of her areas of influence. In reality, her role within the Roman religious system was far more complex and multi-faceted, and was not confined to these associations. Venus, in the Roman mind, bore associations with warfare and military success that were just as prominent. On one hand, this is hardly surprising due to her divine status, especially as one of the Dii Consentes. All Roman deities could be thought of as ‘militaristic’ in some sense. However, even the Romans themselves made a sharp distinction between her role as the goddess of love, and her martial qualities. This indicates both her importance as a martial deity, and the surprising nature of her multi-faceted role in Roman religion. In addition to analysing the development and political advantages of Venus’ martial attributes in Roman religion, this thesis will also offer a survey of the major temples dedicated to Venus in her capacity as a military goddess during the Republican and Augustan periods. An investigation of these temples is a particularly important step towards understanding her influence over military success. Whilst some of the temples have been investigated previously in scholarship, a comprehensive analysis of these sites as evidence for Venus’ role as a martial goddess is still lacking in many cases.
    [Show full text]
  • 08. Hodgkinson, Malalas, Licinius Macer 85-92
    Histos () - JOHN MALALAS, LICINIUS MACER, AND HISTORY OF ROMULUS Abstract : The history of the reign of Romulus given in the Chronographia of John Malalas has preserved a historiographical tradition hostile to Rome’s founder, one which appears to have been influenced by the late Republican historian Licinius Macer. In compiling his collection of the fragments of Licinius Macer Peter chose to omit the two references to Macer in the Origo Gentis Romanae . In order not to disturb Peter’s numeration I shall refer to these two fragments as A and A. Fragment A ( OGR .) tells of the rape of Rhea Silvia, giving the variant that it was her uncle, Amulius, who overcame her in luco Martis . Fragment A ( OGR .), for our purposes much the more important of the two, fol- lows the story of the augury contest, in which Romulus clearly cheats and Remus becomes aware of the fact later ( OGR .), and runs as follows: At vero Licinius Macer libro primo docet contentionis illius pernici- osum exitum fuisse; namque ibidem obsistentes Remum et Faustulum interfectos. Livy introduces the augury story with a similar pessimistic sentiment (..): Intervenit deinde his cogitationibus avitum malum, regni cupido, atque inde foedum certamen coortum a satis miti principio. Since Livy refers to more than one variant of the story (..), it is theoreti- cally possible that he is using Macer as one of his sources for this part of the narrative. An important element of Livy’s account is his description of the outbreak of fighting during which both Romulus and Remus were hailed king by their respective supporters and which led ultimately to bloodshed (..-).
    [Show full text]