Another of my latest Roman Republican acquisitions: L CORNELIUS SULLA & L MALIUS AR Denarius OBV: Helmeted head of Roma right, L MANLI PROQ REV: Triumphator in quadriga right, crowned by Victory, L SVLLA IMP in ex. Struck at Rome Cr367/5; Cornelia39 Historical Background Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix (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 that of dictator. His life was habitually included in the ancient biographical collections of leading generals and politicians, originating in the biographical compendium of famous Romans, published by Marcus Terentius Varro. In Plutarch's Parallel Lives Sulla is paired with the Spartan general and strategist Lysander. Sulla's dictatorship came during a high point in the struggle between optimates and populares. The former sought to maintain the traditional oligarchic structure of power in the Republic, while the latter challenged the existing order, with the avowed aim of increasing the influence of the plebs. Sulla was a gifted and skilful general and won many victories against barbarians - and also against fellow Romans and Italians. One of his rivals, Gnaeus Papirius Carbo, described Sulla as having the cunning of a fox and the courage of a lion - but that it was the former attribute that was by far the most dangerous. Sulla used his armies to march on Rome twice, and after the second he revived the office of dictator, which had not been used since the Second Punic War over a century before. He used his powers to enact a series of reforms to the Roman constitution, meant to restore the balance of power between the Senate and the tribunes; he then stunned the Roman World (and posterity) by resigning the dictatorship, restoring constitutional government, and after his second Consulship, retiring to private life. [h=1][/h]
Someone who likes me pointed me in the right direction. I just can't seem to remember who that is. :devil:
Very nice coin! I was thinking about getting that coin but I don't have the money right now. Oh well. lol
Sulla... You missed the biggest part of the history Bing! Sulla killed Caesar's Uncle (Marius, I believe) and Cousin, put a bounty on Caesar's head and, long after he died, was the Grandfather of Caesar's last Wife! Sulla was the dictator of Caesar's childhood! This is why Caesar knew what a Dictator was...
Nice coin, Bing ... yup, ya bought yourself another good lookin' Roman Republican, eh? Wow, apparently once you bought that first one, the flood-gates blew wide open!! => you're kinda like a junkie with a fresh new crack habit!! *I could quit anytime* :help!A: Just jokes ... like I said => another great coin!! So, that is 2 outta the 5 new coins ... both Roman Republicans (I can hardly wait to view the next winner!!) :thumb::thumb:
I hope that everybody is having a nice weekend ... Ummm, this is a long-weekend in Canada ... hopefully it is also a stat-holiday in the US? (and the rest of the world) ... anyway, Bing ... this is the mood around the ol' stevex6 house this afternoon (after we've all been outside taking a long walk along the river ... in the minus twenty degree celcius temperatures) "Happiness is tired dogs"
Marius kinda rocked ... => yup, I always give full-points for dudes that manage to avoid drinking hot-gold, or taking their own lives ... => sure, I admit that it is far more heroic to die in battle, but to escape and live kinda happily-ever-after is a totally different ending for an ancient ruler, right? => how many rulers die of old age? (a very, "very" small perentage) ... So although I'm probably not gonna stitch Marius' name onto my jacket => I am gonna give him a big "cheers" for dodging the molten mug of death!!
He was amazing... He lived long past most people, was consul 7 (!) times and was loved by almost everyone... For him, "Old Man" was no insult... It was an affectionate title.. much like Felix (lucky) for Sulla. Marius' son, however, died badly... He committed suicide after his tunnel collapsed (during a siege) so he wouldn't be captured... If he was captured... he would have faced a triumph then execution.
