Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix: The General Who Reshaped the Roman Republic

Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix, born in 138 BC, was a pivotal figure in the late Roman Republic, whose military and political maneuvers reshaped Rome’s political landscape. Though from a patrician family that had faded into relative insignificance, Sulla's exceptional ambition and strategic brilliance elevated him to the highest echelons of Roman power.

Sulla's rise began during the Jugurthine War (112-105 BC), where, serving under Gaius Marius, he orchestrated the capture of Jugurtha, the elusive Numidian king. This success not only showcased his tactical acumen but also ignited a fierce rivalry with Marius. His reputation further solidified during the Social War (91-88 BC), where he proved instrumental in quelling Rome’s Italian allies' rebellion. His ability to lead and innovate on the battlefield earned him widespread acclaim and political capital.

In 88 BC, Sulla's political and military career intersected dramatically. As consul, he was tasked with leading the campaign against King Mithridates VI of Pontus, a formidable enemy challenging Rome's eastern dominance. However, Marius, seeking to regain influence, orchestrated Sulla's replacement. Sulla’s unprecedented decision to march his army on Rome underscored his determination and marked the first time a Roman general seized the city by force, setting a dangerous precedent for military intervention in politics.

Sulla’s dictatorship, commencing in 82 BC, was transformative. He enacted a series of constitutional reforms designed to restore senatorial authority and weaken the populares faction, which championed the plebeians. His reforms included enlarging the Senate, curbing the powers of the tribunes, and standardizing legal frameworks. While these changes temporarily stabilized Rome’s governance, they deepened societal divisions and sowed seeds for future conflicts.

Remarkably, Sulla voluntarily abdicated his dictatorship in 79 BC, a rare act in Roman history, and retired to private life. He died in 78 BC, leaving behind a legacy of military innovation and political reform. His career foreshadowed the Republic’s decline and the eventual rise of autocrats like Julius Caesar, who would follow his example of using military might to secure power. Sulla remains a complex figure, both admired and condemned, embodying the Republic's turbulent final years.
Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix: The General Who Reshaped the Roman Republic

Tocqueville Alexis De (1805-1859)

Tocqueville Alexis De, French political thinker, historian and statesman, was born in Verneil, France, to an aristocratic family that had narrowly escaped the guillotine during the French revolution.  He could trace his lineage back to the Normans who fought at the Battle of Hastings.

Tocqueville Alexis De was a leading abolitionist during the July Monarchy (1830-1848) of King Louis-Philippe. He is widely known for his classic study of the culture and politics of the United States, Democracy in America (1835-1840) the first analysis of American government written by a foreigner.

He studied law in Paris and served briefly as a junior magistrate at Versailles. In 1831 he accepted a commission to travel to the United States ostensibly to study the American penal system.

Throughout these travels, Tocqueville took extensive notes and observations that he would use later in his writing.

Tocqueville served in France’s Chamber of Deputies from 1839 to 1851 where he advocated government decentralization and the establishment of an independent judiciary.

He served as a foreign minister under Louis Napoleon Bonaparte for five months in 1849.

He spent his last year writing a massive history of France designed to return the French to the ideas of liberty and equality that were the core of the French Revolution.

From 1850 to 1851 he wrote Reflections of the Revolution of 1848. He completed the first volume, The Old Regime and the French Revolution (1856), before succumbing to tuberculosis in 1859.
Tocqueville Alexis De (1805-1859)