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This was the beginning of the reorganization of the Roman army for which Gaius Marius was to become justly famous.8 Not only was he to use otherwise unused resources of men, but he was also determined to streamline the forces he had at his disposal.
expanding empire it was never going to be possible to keep all those disparate people under control by subjugation alone. It was far better to show those subject people that the Roman way could work to their advantage too, and to gradually get them to appreciate it and assimilate with Roman ideas.
To the regulated Roman mind the idea of not taking full advantage of their successes in Gaul by immediately moving on towards Italy was incomprehensible.
Firstly though, he would address his troops. This has always been a normal component of a battle plan, right up until medieval battles, where the commander, or King, would ride along the front of the waiting soldiers, wearing all his decorations,
or his crown if he had one, in order to show himself to his gathered forces.24 It is unlikely that many of the men could hear anything that was shouted at them by their commander at those times, but it was enough for them to see him, glittering in the sunlight, obviously fearless and eager for battle, and full of encouragement.
Sulla stated that no planned military enterprise of his ever succeeded so well as those he undertook when he was relying on the impulse of the moment.
When any young man no longer needs his mentor it is unfortunate but it happens far too regularly to be remarkable. Throughout history the examples are numerous.
A Roman man free born in Rome, however humble, was a citizen, although a man born elsewhere, however worthy, was generally not.
Sulla showed his keen regard for proper law and order.
Marius said that he would allow no selection of victims for death, or life, but simply intended to massacre all the people who in any way opposed him.
That was what being a militaristic society was all about.
Armies were (and remained) notorious for their destructive powers, not only with enemies, but also with any unfortunates who came across their path. Living off the land was the norm, along with rape and pillage for entertainment along the way.
It seems harsh to us in our modern world, but they were harsh times and we must always remember to judge people in accordance with the standards of the world in which they lived, not by our own.
Imagine saying this during a WOKE seminar? A breath of fresh air!!!!
Sulla lived in a world in which Rome held pre-eminence over other nations and it cannot be reiterated too often that this is what a militaristic society is all about.
Sulla is too often judged by a different set of rules to any which would have made sense to military men in his own time, is his personal tragedy.
Again! More fresh air about making judgements from the past.
The lands, which had recently been confiscated from conquered Italian cities, were given to his veterans, to be divided between them, which was normal procedure.
His personal motto was ‘no better friend, no worse enemy’
power of the Senate itself, rather than the individual senators in it, should be pre-eminent and unassailable. Increasing the numbers to form a far larger ruling body was likely to be necessary to cope with an increasing and enlarging empire, but it also divided authority and lessened that of any one member.
It effectively prevented one man from taking over within it, rather than working with it, as was intended.25
There were also basic monetary considerations, which affected such decisions. Life on a farm might be regular, but it was hard. Life as a soldier might be dangerous, but it often gave back far more in the gathering of booty and the sharing of spoils. It also offered excitement and the chance to see the world. It might be uncertain in many ways, but it could also be far more interesting and satisfying than the humdrum life of a small farmer, who would forever be trapped in one place.
Therefore, it must be admitted that the larger part of the settlement of land on veteran troops probably, rather regrettably, ended in failure.
Whether most of Sulla’s improvements were to prove lasting or not, it was at least apparent that this man had turned from a very able soldier into an equally able politician, and that his ultimate intention was to restore Rome’s stability for the benefit of all her people. Many of those reasonable citizens – and most reasonable people simply want to get on with their lives in peace – would have admitted that they would do better to help the process of regeneration than consistently oppose it. That it was necessary to work together in order to make the city of Rome once again what she ought to
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His greatest desire, in ensuring stability and justice, was to see that all men should be treated equally with regard to the law. At the end of the trial the decision went, of course, to Roscius and Sulla’s steward Chrysogonus was executed as a result of it. It was exactly the message Sulla had intended to give, to show all the people that he meant what he said and that he would ensure
Or it may necessitate the removal of people whose alternative ideas to the accepted norm may even be blocking the route to healthy prosperity for the majority of the people, whose requirements must be considered paramount.
Imagine the hissing and screeching if you stated this publicly today! It would all depend on what you think the majority of the people think is normal. And of course the word normal would have to be accepted.
It is hardly democratic, or even basically sensible, to allow a disruptive element to take over, which would then destroy good order.
Something to think about today.
At least the Romans had the firm belief that the punishment should fit the crime, which is something we have forgotten, resulting in much misery from recidivists which otherwise might be avoided. We are certainly little better than they were.
The people of his own time did not view it in such a way. They knew that they were special, that they had created a society which could not only cast its net over the entire known world, but could lead that world in civilization, culture and knowledge. Their sensible laws, their calendar, architecture, building projects from aqueducts to amphitheatres, their language, their ideals and their ability to be flexible and to integrate and expand new ideas, have all come down to us. Furthermore, they lasted, far more than any other empire ever did. If anyone wishes to ask the old question ‘What did
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Now imagine saying this on a legacy news channel or talk show today. Ughhh what would AOC and Tom Hanks think. Lol 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
