First They Came for the Samnites

The bloody dictatorship of Lucius Cornelius Sulla was a turning point for the Roman Republic, marking the beginning of a death spiral from which it would never recover. For as Sulla sought to remake and solidify the power of the Roman elite through violent purges he unwittingly provided the blueprint that would be used by later generals to consolidate power and lay the foundations for the Roman Empire. This history documentary explores how Sulla utilized his unprecedented power as dictator to fracture opposition to his rule one group at a time, starting with the Samnites - a group that was both protected by Roman law but also distinct enough to be viewed as a hated other. Learn why the inability to show solidarity among those targeted by his regime doomed them all. 00:00 Sulla's Plan 02:37 Samnites, the Perfect Victims 09:46 Sending a bloody message 12:34 The Proscriptions 16:43 Why Sulla failed Join this channel to get access to perks:    / @tribunatespqr   Related Content: Nostalgia and the Fall of the Roman Republic -    • Nostalgia and the Fall of the Roman Republic   Caesar the Fugitive -    • Rome's Most Wanted - Caesar the Fugitive   Sulla: Rome's Bloodiest Dictator:    • Sulla, Rome's Bloodiest Dictator   Murder in Rome: Cicero's Most Famous Case:    • Murder in Rome: Cicero’s Most Famous Case   Ancient Sources: Geography - Strabo Epitome of Roman History - Florus Life of Sulla - Plutarch https://amzn.to/3VMxTq0 Life of Julius Caesar - Suetonius https://amzn.to/3zylr5J Modern Sources: Social Conflicts in the Roman Republic - P.A. Brunt https://amzn.to/3XOuGsF Sulla, the Elites and the Empire - Frederico Santangelo https://amzn.to/3WfgBSP The Storm Before the Storm - Mike Duncan https://amzn.to/3LeIJAk Rubicon - Tom Holland https://amzn.to/3VXipzk Caesar: Life of a Colossus - Adrian Goldsworthy https://amzn.to/4btJ8JO The Education of Julius Caesar - Arthur Kahn https://amzn.to/3LfzEXV The Assassination of Julius Caesar - Michael Parenti https://amzn.to/4bBB35V Rome, Blood and Politics: Reform, Murder and Popular Politics in the Late Republic 133-70 BC - Gareth C. Sampson The End of the Roman Republic, 146 to 44 BC: Conquest and Crisis: Catherine Steel Support us on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/shop/tribunate... Branding and design by Kate Hillstead: katehillstead.com Host sculpture portraits by Daisydewdles: instagram.com/daisydewdles #spqr #history #ancienthistory #rome