SULLA, Lucius Cornelius, Roman dictator: b. 138 a.c.; d. 78 B.C. He received a good education, but was notorious from his youth upward for his excessive dissipation and debauchery. He served with distinction under Marius in the Jugurthine (107 B.c.) and Cim brian (104-2) wars, and in 93 was chosen praetor. For his services in the Social war (90-88) he was appointed consul (88 a.c.), and the province of Asia, with the conduct of the war against Mithridates, fell to his lot. Marius, was also ambitious of his command, and re sorted to acts of violence to carry his point, by which Sulla was compelled to escape from Rome. But Sulla re-entered the city at the head of his army, drove Marius to Africa, and then sailed for Greece at the beginning of 87 s.c. He expelled the armies of Mithridates from Europe (86), crossed into Asia (84) and was everywhere victorious, gaining plenty of wealth for himself and his soldiers, and forcing Mithridates to conclude a peace. Marius had
died in 86 s.c., after proscribing Sulla and con fiscating his property, but the party of Marius was still strong. Sulla now hastened to Italy, and landed at Brundusium with 40,000 men 83 B.C. He was joined by many of his friends who had been banished from Rome. He gained four battles over the Roman forces in person, and defeated a Samnite army under Telesinus. He entered the city victorious in 82, and imme diately put to death between 6,000 and 7,000 prisoners of war in the Circus. Rome and all the provinces of Italy were filled with the most revolting scenes of cruelty. After satisfying his vengeance by the murder or proscription of thousands he caused himself to be named dictator for an indefinite period (81 s.c.). He ruled without restraint, repealed and made laws, abolished the tribuneship, and settled his vet erans in various parts of Italy. In 79 ac. he laid down his dictatorship.