When did Sulla land his army in Italy to start the civil war?
Sulla landed his army at Brundisium and Tarentum in the spring of 83 BC. This military landing marked the beginning of a brutal civil war that would reshape Rome.
Questions about Sulla's civil war
Short answers, pulled from the story.
How many people died during the proscriptions ordered by Sulla after winning the war?
Some 1,500 nobles were ordered executed though estimates suggest up to 9,000 died overall. The purge lasted several months with helping or sheltering proscribed individuals punishable by death.
What happened to Marius the Younger when he tried to escape from Praeneste?
Marius tried escaping through drains under Praeneste but failed committing suicide. The town surrendered with most defenders executed though Roman citizens were spared.
Which reforms did Sulla implement to strengthen the Senate authority in 81 BC?
Number of magistrates elected yearly increased allowing Senate size to grow from 300 to 600 senators. Newly elected quaestors gained automatic membership removing need for censor lists.
Who was the first person to engage Sulla directly during his return to Italy?
Norbanus blocked Sulla's advance at Canusium becoming the first to engage him directly. Sulla inflicted a crushing defeat where Norbanus lost six thousand men to Sulla's seventy.