Sulla came from a patrician family, served as consul, and led military campaigns in North Africa, and against Mithidrates of Pontus. In his abscence he was declared a public enemy in Rome by his opponents.

Sulla returned with his army to Italy and marched on Rome. His defeat of his enemy gained him the dictatorship.

Sulla was the first man to use the army to establish a personal autocracy at Rome. He used his power to re-establish the supremacy of Senate in the Roman state and to carry out other reforms. In 79 BC he suddenly resigned.