Sulla (137–77 BCE)
Born 137 BCE, died 77 BCE.
Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix (, Latin pronunciation: [ˈɫuːkius kɔrˈneːlius ˈsulːa ˈfeːliːks]; 138–78 BC), commonly known as Sulla, was a Roman general and statesman of the late Roman Republic. He came to prominence for his military exploits and was the first general during the late republic to march on Rome and win a civil war. After purging his opponents, he assumed the dictatorship, sought to strengthen the republican system through constitutional reforms, and resigned his plenary powers after their enactment. Sulla held the office of consul twice and revived the office of dictator. A gifted general, he achieved successes in wars against foreign and domestic opponents. Sulla rose to prominence during the war against the Numidian king Jugurtha, whom he captured as a result of Jugurtha's betrayal by the king's allies, although his superior Gaius Marius took credit for ending the war. He then fought successfully against Germanic tribes during the Cimbrian War, and Italian allies during the Social War. He was awarded the Grass Crown for his bravery at the Battle of Nola.
Text from the Wikipedia article Sulla, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.