Cornelius Sulla came to prominence mainly in the Social War that was fought from 91-89 BC. When in 88 BC, Mithridates, King of Pontus, attacked the Roman province in Asia; the senate decided that Sulla, who was then one of the current consuls, would be commander of the army against Mithridates. After successfully completing his campaign against Mithridates, Sulla returned to Italy, marched to Rome, and took charge politically by force, as a dictator.
Sulla introduced a new judicial device called ‘proscription’. This meant, the publication of lists of any people he deemed undesirable. Rewards would be made to those who brought them in, be they dead or alive. It goes without saying that Sulla used this device in order to wipe out any political opposition. He introduced a law by which, any new member to be admitted to the Senate had to have at least to have had some experience in an official position. Sulla created new courts for particular types of crime. Only Senators could sit as judges, and this strengthened the Senate. Unusually for a tyrant, Sulla retired in 79 BC.