Lucius Cornelius Cinna

• 1. Patrician Origins And Family Ties

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  Lucius Cornelius Cinna entered the world before 130 BC into a patrician family that lacked recent distinction. The historian Theodor Mommsen once argued the Cornelii Cinnae were plebeians, yet modern scholars largely view them as true patricians. His father may have served as consul in 127 BC, though some sources identify him while others make the connection explicit. Cinna married Annia and they produced three children together: two daughters and one son who shared his name. His eldest daughter wed Gaius Julius Caesar during Cinna's second consulship in 86 BC. This union linked Cinna directly to the future dictator who would later hold the consulship of 59 BC. His younger daughter married Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus, a man who died in 81 BC. Their homonymous son escaped Sulla's retribution by fleeing to Quintus Sertorius after the civil war ended. He eventually received amnesty under the lex Plautia and returned to Rome to become praetor in 44 BC.

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• 2. The Electoral Crisis Of Eighty-Eight Bc

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  Two major questions dominated Roman politics in 88 BC regarding citizenship and military command. Publius Sulpicius Rufus sought to enroll Italian allies equally into the thirty-five tribes to curry their favor. Politicians opposed this move because they wished to pack Italians into limited existing or newly created tribes. Mithridates VI Eupator had recently invaded Asia, creating a lucrative opportunity for any commander. Sulpicius attempted to transfer Lucius Cornelius Sulla's command against Mithridates to the aged general Gaius Marius. Sulla suborned his army to march on Rome and overturn these actions. He invalidated Sulpicius' laws and banished twelve men including Sulpicius and Marius. The Senate rejected Sulla's candidate Publius Servilius Vatia Isauricus and elected Cinna with Gnaeus Octavius instead. Sulla tried to induce Cinna and Octavius to swear not to overturn arrangements publicly before declaring winners. Octavius took the oath seriously while Cinna did not. This election occurred during deep revulsion over Sulla's march on Rome.

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• 3. War On Octavius And Siege

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  Cinna reached Nola where he appeared before an army stationed there in consular regalia. He addressed them as a mistreated consul deprived of a gift by the senate. The army raised him up and declared support for his cause. He administered an oath of loyalty to officers and men before traveling Italian towns for support. Gaius Marius returned to Italy and pledged loyalty to Cinna after being exiled. Marius drummed up support among Italians and returned to Cinna's camp with 6,000 men. Pompey Strabo encamped outside Rome but was unprepared to commit forces initially. Cinna led the main force opposite the Colline Gate while detachments under Sertorius and Marius covered north and south. The Samnites demanded citizenship and release of prisoners when Metellus negotiated peace. Cinna offered these concessions and gained the Samnites as allies. A military tribune defected and opened gates to the Janiculum allowing Cinna and Marius to storm the city. They were stopped by six cohorts from Strabo's army who initiated secret negotiations. Strabo soon died of plague extending the siege. Cinna's forces cut Rome's food supply forcing the Senate to negotiate.

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• 4. Extra-Legal Killings And Purge

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  Envoys secured a promise that Cinna would not willingly kill anyone though Marius stood behind his chair. A squadron of cavalry led by Gaius Marcius Censorinus killed consul Octavius who refused to flee. Censorinus presented the consul's head to Cinna marking the first time a consul's head appeared as a prize. Cinna and Marius moved to purge political opponents including Gaius and Lucius Julius Caesar without trial. Publius Licinius Crassus and Marcus Antonius also fell during this wave of violence. Merula and Quintus Lutatius Catulus faced trials before the people but committed suicide before verdicts. Later sources claim Cinna and Marius butchered their way through the city for five days. These claims likely represent Sullan propaganda filtered through Sulla's memoirs rather than historical fact. Cicero indicates they targeted only political enemies without threatening all inhabitants or sacking the city. The killings reflected Marius' grudges and did not target victims' families broadly across the political class.

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• 5. Dominatio And Legislative Reform

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  Cinna returned to dominate public affairs while taking measures against Sulla who was declared hostis. His property was confiscated, house demolished, and legislation repealed while wife and children fled to Greece. Elections in late 87 BC saw Cinna and Marius elected as consuls for 86 BC contrary to some ancient sources. Marius died thirteen days after assuming his seventh consulship possibly from pneumonia. Cinna elevated Lucius Valerius Flaccus to replace him. A census conducted by Lucius Marcius Philippus counted just 463,000 citizens indicating most newly enfranchised Italians remained unregistered. Flaccus passed legislation reducing all outstanding debts by three quarters. Late in 85 BC Sulla sent a letter reciting achievements in the Mithridatic war. He promised to avenge himself upon enemies in Rome while asserting no intention to overturn Italian enfranchisement. The Senate dispatched an embassy to reconcile with Sulla but instructed Cinna and Carbo to stop military preparations. They agreed to do so yet ignored orders and continued recruiting men and stockpiling provisions.

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• 6. Military Preparations Against Sulla

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  Cinna and Carbo continued office as consuls for 84 BC while preparing for war against returning dictator. Early that year Cinna started embarking men across the Adriatic to Liburnia in northern Adriatic region. First ships transited safely but second set encountered a storm causing many ships to sink. Many men deserted claiming unwillingness to fight fellow citizens. Remaining men waiting at Ancona refused to embark when called to assembly. Appian reports Cinna attempted to impose discipline which culminated in mutiny and his death. Plutarch offers alternative story about soldiers fearing Cinna assassinated young Pompey though this lacks credibility. After Cinna's death co-consul Carbo was recalled to hold elections for replacement. Two attempts received bad omens leading to indefinite postponement of elections. Carbo held office without colleague for rest of year. Sulla eventually invaded Italy in 83 BC triggering civil war where he emerged victorious next year.