Lucius Cornelius Cinna

Lucius Cornelius Cinna ruled Rome for three years and was killed by his own troops. Born into a patrician family of consular rank, he served in the Social War, and was elected consul for 87 BC — reportedly after swearing an oath to Sulla, who was leaving for the east, that he would not disturb the settlement Sulla had imposed. He broke it within weeks, proposing to distribute the newly enfranchised Italians across all thirty-five voting tribes rather than confining them to eight, which would have made their votes count. Fighting broke out in the forum, his colleague Octavius drove him from the city, and the Senate deprived him of the consulship — which had no precedent. He went to the armies besieging Nola, appealed to the soldiers as a magistrate wronged, and raised a force. Marius returned from Africa with veterans, and together they took Rome in late 87 BC. The massacre that followed lasted five days: Octavius, Merula, Catulus, the orator Marcus Antonius and many senators were killed, and heads were displayed on the rostra. Marius died weeks into his seventh consulship, and Cinna held the consulship for 86, 85 and 84 BC — three consecutive terms, without elections in any meaningful sense. The government was not chaotic. He stabilised the debased coinage, settled the Italian enfranchisement, and kept order. He was preparing to fight Sulla, who was returning from the Mithridatic war. His troops mutinied at Ancona in 84 BC rather than cross to Greece, and killed him. His daughter Cornelia was married to Julius Caesar.

• Lived: 130 BCE – 84 BCE
• Nationality: Roman
• Roles: ruler