Sulla, Lucius Cornelius, 138 B.C.-78 B.C., Roman general. At the height of his career he assumed the name Felix. He served under Marius in Africa and became consul in 88 B.C., when Mithradates VI of Pontus was overrunning Roman territory in the east. Sulla and Marius both wanted the command against Mithradates—Marius as a popular leader, Sulla as a senatorial favorite. Sulla got the office by marching (88 B.C.) his soldiers on Rome. By 85 B.C. he had driven Mithradates' armies back to Asia; Sulla's exploits had included a bloody sack of Athens (86 B.C.). After Marius' death in 86 B.C., his party (led by Cinna) sent another army to Greece, designed to supplant Sulla's, but the other Marian commander, Fimbria, fought independently. Mithradates was defeated (84 B.C.); then Sulla defeated Fimbria. Sulla came back to Italy (83 B.C.) with 40,000 men. The ensuing civil war lasted about a year in Italy (Sertorius continued it in Spain); Sulla's chief opponent was Cnaeus Papirius Carbo. The war ended just after the battle of the Colline Gate, a last desperate foray by Marians from Samnium; Sulla captured and massacred 8,000 prisoners. He had himself named dictator (82 B.C.) and began the systematic butchery of his enemies; this proscription, done with public lists, soon surpassed all Roman precedents. As the murders were legalized, the property of the victims, naturally including many very rich men, went to Sulla's friends. The dictator reorganized the government with measures, suggested by the Metellus faction, which would remove any popular check on the senate. Sulla also founded a number of colonies for his veterans. In 80 B.C. he retired. His so-called reforms did not last. Sulla's dictatorship was notorious for its cruelty and lack of legality.

(born circa 138—died 79 BC, Puteoli, near Naples) Victor in the Roman civil war (88–82) and dictator (82–79). He fought alongside Gaius Marius against Jugurtha, whose capture through Sulla's trickery led to a break with Marius. After being made consul, he was given command in the war against Mithradates VI; when Marius was named to replace him, he marched on Rome, and Marius fled. Though he succeeded in subduing Mithradates, the reigning popular party declared him a public enemy. From southern Italy he marched again successfully on Rome (83). Proclaimed dictator with no time limit (at which time he took the name Felix, “Lucky”), he reestablished the power of the Senate, increased the number of criminal courts, and passed new treason and citizen-protection laws, but he became chiefly known for his ruthlessness. He resigned in 79 and died that year.

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