Cornelius Sulla was a Roman general and statesman who lived from 138 BC to 78 BC. He is best known for his role in the late Roman Republic, where he became the first general to march on Rome, seizing power in 88 BC. Sulla's military successes included victories in the Social War and against the Kingdom of Mithridates, which solidified his reputation as a formidable leader. Sulla's political career was marked by his reforms and the establishment of the dictatorship in 82 BC. He implemented significant changes to the Roman government, including increasing the power of the Senate and reducing the influence of the popular assemblies. His legacy is complex, as he is both praised for his military achievements and criticized for his authoritarian rule.