SULLA: A Dictator Reconsidered

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Reappraisal of the late Roman Republic reign of Lucius Cornelius Sulla, who is often considered a major catalyst in the death of the republican system. The ambitious general, whose feud with a rival (Marius) led to his marching on Rome with an army at his back, led to civil war and the terrible internecine bloodletting of the proscriptions. While accepting that he was responsible for much bloodshed, he may have been no more brutal than many of his contemporaries who have received a kinder press. Moreover, even his harshest measures were motivated not by selfish ambition but by genuine desire to do what he believed best for Rome. After all, he voluntarily laid aside dictatorial power and enjoyed a peaceful retirement without fear of assassination. The contrast to Caesar is obvious.