He celebrated the scotching of his enemy’s bloodline by awarding himself the title of Felix—“The Fortunate One.” This had always been a cherished private nickname, but now Sulla decided to broadcast it publicly. By doing so, he signaled that there would be no herding of voters into the Ovile to validate his rule. Luck had brought Sulla to power, and luck—Sulla’s famous luck—would save the Republic in turn. Until her favorite’s work was done, and the constitution restored, Fortune was to rule as the mistress of Rome.
