2. Sulla (70s-60s) Flashcards
Plutarch, Life of Sulla 31
“neither temple of god, nor hearth of hospitality, nor paternal home was free from the stain”
“Many too, were killed to gratify private hatreds, although they had no relations with Sulla, but he gave his consent in order to gratify his adherents”
“those who now escaped his memory, he would proscribe at a future time”
Suetonius, Julius 77
“They will be more favourable when I wish it; it should not be regarded as a portent, if a beast has no heart…” (aka he has a lot of control over those following him)
Plutarch, Life of Crassus 2
“wishing to defile with his crime as many and as influential men as he could” (speaking about Sulla’s proscriptions)
How does Sulla legally gain power in 88BC after marching on Rome?
Passes a bill to appoint an “interrex” after the deaths of both consuls, with unchecked power while there was still chaos
How did Sulla’s reforms affect Rome
- Added 300 new equestrian families to the Senate (kept senate-class in check: not only are the equestrians loyal to him now, but they are also replacing the senators who were killed by proscriptions)
- Tribunes unable to veto, propose or hold other offices (kept assembly in check)
- Cursus honorum more strictly enforced and quaestor numbers increase (closing the way to the top back up behind him)
Valleius Paterculus II.30
“Anyone of reputation or birth shunned the office thereafter” (talking about the tribunes)
Plutarch, Sulla 34
“He laid down his dictatorship and gave back to the people the right of electing consuls”
Why did Appian say Sulla retired?
“He was weary of war, weary of power, weary of Rome”
What does the modern historian Caropino argue Sulla’s true motive was in his retirement
He did not intend to make himself a monarch, but lost the support of the nobility and was forced into retirement
Plutarch, Crassus 6
“[those] who were illegally and unjustly put to death, and whose murderers I am pursuing.” (Sulla giving orders to Crassus during the march on Rome)
Appian, The Civil wars, 100
“But Sulla, like a reigning sovereign, was dictator over the consuls.”
Who was Appian?
Born in Alexandria in 95AD, lived in Greece under the Flavians. He is heavily biased in favour of Roman imperialism however, he has access to good sources. Since he is writing for a Greek audience he can overlook Roman complexities
Who was Plutarch?
Greek biographer born in 46 AD in Greece. His work consists primarily of Parallel Lives, where he seeks to compare dramatically the lives of Greeks and Romans. For this reason, he is seen as quite unreliable. On the other hand, he is a Roman citizen under the Flavians
Plutarch, Moralia 5
“Pompey remarked to those present that Sulla did not realise that more people worship the rising than the setting sun” He says this after Sulla refuses to give him a triumph at age 24, afterwards Sulla concedes
