Sulla, on the other hand, had been born a patrician, and affected to preserve the old traditions of oligarchic rule; and, indeed, though he took all the power of the State into his own hands, he did restore, and for a time preserve, these old traditions.

It must be presumed that there was at his heart something of love for old Rome.

The proscriptions began toward the end of the year 82 B.C., and were continued through eight or nine fearful months--up to the beginning of June, 81 B.C.A day was fixed at which there should be no more slaughtering--no more slaughtering, that is, without special order in each case, and no more confiscation--except such as might be judged necessary by those who had not as yet collected their prey from past victims.

Then Sulla, as Dictator, set himself to work to reorganize the old laws.

There should still be Consuls and Praetors, but with restricted powers, lessened almost down to nothing.