bill to enroll the new citizens
and freedmen equally in each of the thirty-five tribes. Sulpicius
organized a body-guard of equestrians and instituted a reign of terror. He
passed his law by force in spite of the opposition of the consuls. When
Sulla had left the city to join his army, a law was passed in the Assembly
transferring his command in the East to Marius. But Sulla refused to admit
the legality of the act, and, relying upon the support of his troops,
marched on Rome. Having taken the city by surprise, he caused Sulpicius,
Marius, and others of their party to be outlawed. Sulpicius was slain; but
Marius made good his escape to Mauretania. The Sulpician Laws were
abrogated, and Sulla introduced a number of reforms, with the object of
strengthening the position of the Senate. The most significant of these
reforms was the revival of the Senatorial veto over laws proposed in the
Assembly of the Tribes. This done, upon the conclusion of his consulate,
Sulla embarked with his army for Greece early in 87 B. C.

*Siege of Athens and Piraeus, 87-86 B. C.* Driving the forces of Archelaus
and the Athenians from the open country, Sulla began the siege of Athens
and of its harbor town Piraeus in the autumn of 87. Athens was completely
invested, but in spite of hunger the resistance was prolonged until March,
86, when Sulla's troops penetrated an unguarded spot on the walls and the
city was sacked. A large number of the inhabitants were massacred but the
public buildings were spared. Soon after Piraeus was taken by storm at
terrific cost to the victors, but its citadel Munychia held out until
evacuated by Archelaus.

*Chaeronea and Orchomenus.* From Athens Sulla hastened to meet the army of
Mithradates which had penetrated as far as Boeotia. At Chaeronea the
numerically inferior but better disciplined Romans won a complete victory.
At this juncture there arrived in Greece the consul Flaccus at the head of
another army, with orders to supersede Sulla. The latter, however, was not
disposed to give up his command and as Flaccus feared to force the issue
they came to an agreement whereby each pursued a separate campaign. This
left Sulla free to meet a new Mithradatic army which had crossed the
Aegean. At Orchomenus he attacked and annihilated it. But Mithradates
still controlled the Aegean, and Sulla, being unable to cross into Asia,
was forced to winter in Greece.

*Peace with Mithradates, 85 B. C.* In 85 B. C. Lucius Lucullu