The Aims of Sulla in Changing the Structure of the Government

THE AIMS OF SULLA IN CHANGING THE STRUCTURE OF THE GOVERNMENT
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The Aims of Sulla in Changing the Structure of the Government
Former Roman statesman Sulla's civil war verdict resulted in the Republic's destruction. The Roman Republic's first full-scale civil war was won by Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix (138 BCE–79 BCE), who later became dictator (82–79 BCE). Xie (2022, 1073) claims that "in 88 BC, Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix was the first Roman general who led his army against Rome and declared Sullan Civil War." During the last hundred years of the Roman Republic, he made significant changes to the constitution that made the Roman Republic stronger. Sulla's goal as an optimist was to bring back the old Roman form of governance. His overall objective was to solidify authority in the Senate.
Even though his harsh and dictatorial actions went against what he wanted to do, Sulla pushed for republican reforms by setting up his government and fighting Marius, his political rival and a reformer. Sulla was a traditionalist who strongly favored upholding Roman custom over promoting social improvements. According to Sun (2021, 1169), although Gaius Marius was a reformer and the Populares leader, his opponent, Sulla, took back Rome city's control and sentenced the reformer and other populares to death. Sulla tried many times to take power away from Marius when the latter's actions started to hurt the republic. Cui (2021, 992) states, "in the late Roman Republic, a series of fundamental military reforms pioneered by Caius Marius ultimately led to the republic's demise." Sulla was a reactionary conservative, so after Marius held five illegal consulships in a row from 104 to 100, he made several political changes to ensure that equestrians such as Marius could not get more power.
Under Marius, non-patriots were no longer allowed to serve on juries because of a law passed by Sulla. His actions made it plain that he preferred conservatism and opposed those who wanted to take the Senate's hold on power away. Sulla made it clear that he wanted to strengthen the Senate by ensuring that people who were not senators could not make changes.
Sulla's reforms also adequately illustrated his intention to keep the Roman government in place. Sulla began changing immediately after his second march on Rome in 82 BCE to strengthen the Senate's authority. Sun (2021, 1170) asserts that senators were given an additional 300 seats, greatly enhancing their power. Additionally, Davidson (2021, 2) posits that the increase in the number of senators "would be further coupled with Lucius Cornelius Sulla and his constitutional reinstitution of elitist control through the Senate." The Senate got even more power when the Concilium Plebis lost its authority and the right to veto. Sulla also made it illegal for tribunes to hold other jobs, making the people's assembly a shadow government. After that, people of high birth started to avoid running for office. By ensuring that the people's assembly could only make changes with senatorial approval, Sulla gave the Senate the power it had before Gracchan. Moreover, Sulla made it clear that his main goal was strengthening the Senate through his work to bring stability bac...