Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix

Lucius Cornelius Sulla
Apparent bust of Sulla in the Munich Glyptothek
Dictator of the Roman Republic
In office 82 or 81 BC – 81 BC
Preceded by	Gaius Servilius Geminus in 202 BC
Succeeded by	Gaius Julius Caesar in 49 BC
Consul of the Roman Republic
In office 88 BC – 88 BC
Preceded by	Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo and Lucius Porcius Cato
Succeeded by	Lucius Cornelius Cinna and Gnaeus Octavius
Consul of the Roman Republic
In office 80 BC – 80 BC
Preceded by	Gnaeus Cornelius Dolabella and Marcus Tullius Decula
Succeeded by	Appius Claudius Pulcher and Publius Servilius Vatia
Personal details
Born	c. 138 BC Rome, Roman Republic
Died	78 BC (aged c. 60) Puteoli, Roman Republic
Political party	Optimates
Spouse(s)	first wife Julia Caesaris, second wife Aelia, third wife Cloelia, fourth wife Caecilia Metella, fifth wife Valeria
Children	Lucius Cornelius Sulla, Cornelia, Faustus Cornelius Sulla, Cornelia Fausta, Cornelia Postuma
Religion	Roman Paganism

Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix (/ˈsʌlə/; c. 138 BC – 78 BC), known commonly as Sulla, was a Roman general and statesman. He had the distinction of holding the office of consul twice, as well as reviving the dictatorship. Sulla was a skillful general, achieving numerous successes in wars against different opponents, both foreign and Roman. He was awarded a grass crown, the most prestigious Roman military honor, during the Social War.

Sulla's dictatorship came during a high point in the struggle between optimates and populares, the former seeking to maintain the Senate's oligarchy, and the latter espousing populism. In a dispute over the eastern army command (initially awarded to Sulla by the Senate but withdrawn as a result of Gaius Marius's intrigues) Sulla unconstitutionally marched his armies into Rome and defeated Marius in battle. In 81 BC, after his second march on Rome, he revived the office of dictator which had been inactive since the Second Punic War over a century before, and used his powers to enact a series of reforms to the Roman Constitution, meant to restore the primacy of the Senate and limit tribune power. Sulla's ascension was also marked by political purges in proscriptions. After seeking election to and holding a second consulship, he retired to private life and died shortly after.

Sulla's decision to seize power – ironically enabled by his rival's military reforms that bound the army's loyalty with the general rather than to Rome – permanently destabilized the Roman power structure. Later leaders like Julius Caesar would follow his precedent in attaining political power through force.