Lucius Cornelius Sulla (138-78 BCE) was a ruthless military commander, who first distinguished himself in the Numidian War under the command of Gaius Marius. His relationship with Marius soured during the conflicts that would follow and lead to a rivalry which would only end with Marius' death. Sulla eventually seized control of the Republic, named himself dictator, and after eliminating his enemies, initiated crucial reforms. Believing he had left Rome for the better, he retreated to his villa in 79 BCE, but his reign could not forestall the fall of the Republic.
More about: SullaDefinition
Timeline
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138 BCE - 78 BCELife of Lucius Cornelius Sulla.
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107 BCE - 100 BCEGaius Marius reforms the Roman army.
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91 BCE - 89 BCESocial War between Rome and its Italian allies. Italians want Roman Citizenship and equal share in power. Only won by Rome by granting the Italian wishes.
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88 BCEMithridates Rebellion and massacre of Latin speaking Ephesians by Sulla.
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88 BCEMithridates attacks and detroys the island of Delos.
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88 BCE - 87 BCEFirst Civil War between Marius and Sulla. First march on Rome by Sulla.
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c. 87 BCEThe second battle of Chaeronea. The armies of Mithridates VI Eupator led by his general Archelaos, including a phalanx of freed slaves, was defeated by a Roman army led by Lucius Cornelius Sulla, in spite of the supremacy in cavalry of the Pontic army.
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86 BCEThe Roman general Sulla sacks Athens and the port of Piraeus.
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86 BCESiege of Athens by the Roman general Sulla. Agora is destroyed.
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84 BCESulla mints new silver and gold coins to pay his army.
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83 BCEPompey fights under the Roman dictator Sulla.
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83 BCE - 82 BCESulla's second march on Rome. Mass Proscriptions.
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82 BCE - 80 BCEVolterra is besieged and sacked by Roman general Sulla.
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81 BCESulla significantly curbs the powers of the Roman tribuni plebis.
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80 BCESulla sacks Pompeii following a rebellion and founds the 'Colony of Venus', resettling 4-5,000 war veterans.
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80 BCESulla is persuaded to give Pompey his first triumph in Rome.
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80 BCESulla moves the Olympic Games to Rome for a single Olympiad.
