[2519] In this way a justitium, cessation of civil business, was indirectly brought about; Plut. Sull. 8; Mar. 35; App. B. C. i. 55. 244; p. 141 above; Long, Rom. Rep. ii. 221; Neumann, Gesch. Roms, i. 513; Fröhlich, in Pauly-Wissowa, Real-Encycl. iv. 1533; Mommsen, Röm. Staatsr. i. 263, n. 6.
[2520] For the abrogation of Sulla’s imperium Vell. ii. 18. 6 is authority. Plutarch, Sull. 8, states that Pompeius, not Sulla, was deprived of the consulship and that from Sulla was taken merely the provincial command. Appian, B. C. i. 56. 249 (cf. Plut. Mar. 35; Schol. Gronov. 410) speaks only of the transfer of the command. That the fourth article was added after the departure of Sulla from Rome, and that the latter knew nothing of it till summoned to deliver up his command is clearly stated by Appian, ibid. ch. 56 f.; cf. Fröhlich, in Pauly-Wissowa, Real-Encycl. iv. 1533 f.
[2521] Plutarch, Sull. 8 and Livy, ep. lxxvii, speak of a decree of the senate only, whereas the account of Appian, B. C. i. 60. 271 (Πολεμίους Ῥωμαίων ἐψήφιστο εἶναι) implies a vote of the assembly. Velleius, ii. 19. 1 (“Lege lata exules fecit”) distinctly mentions a comitial act, though he is wrong in supposing it to be a sentence of exile, as may be gathered from his context; cf. Ihne, Hist. of Rome, v. 237.
[2522] App. B. C. i. 59. 268; Cic. Phil. viii. 2. 7. Scholars are at variance as regards the character and motives of Sulpicius. Herzog, Röm. Staatsverf. i. 501 (cf. Ferrero, Rome, i. 85 f.), can see in his measures no earnest purpose of reform. Ihne, Hist. of Rome, v. 225 f., 233 f., hesitatingly inclines to regard him as a demagogue. Fröhlich, in Pauly-Wissowa, Real-Encycl. iv. 1532, looks upon him as a statesman with a mind and heart for the best interests of his country. In the opinion of Mommsen, Hist. of Rome, iii. (1898). 531 f., he was essentially the successor of Drusus, a reformer in the interest of the senate, yet led by the force of circumstances to adopt revolutionary methods. Cf. also Lange, Röm. Alt. iii. 121-5; Long, Rom. Rep. II. ch. xvii; Neumann, Gesch. Roms, i. 507-17.
[2523] P. 277, 313 f.
[2524] App. B. C. i. 59. 266: Εἰσηγοῦντό τε μηδὲν ἔτι ἀπροβούλευτον ἐς τὸν δῆμον ἐσφέρεσθαι, νενομισμένον μὲν οὕτω καὶ πάλαι, παραλελυμένον δ’ ἐκ πολλοῦ.
[2525] Ibid.: Εἰσηγοῦντο ... καὶ τὰς χειροτονίας μὴ κατὰ φυλάς, ἀλλὰ κατὰ λόχους, ὡς Τύλλιος βασιλεὺς ἔταξε γίνεσθαι.
[2526] P. 86.
[2527] In Hermes, xxxiii (1898). 652.
[2528] This view is held by Sunden, De trib. pot. imm. (1897) 21 ff.; Meyer, ibid. 652-4; Vassis, in Athena, xii (1900). 54-7. Fröhlich, in Pauly-Wissowa, Real-Encycl. iv. 1537, supposes that elections simply were thereby transferred to the comitia centuriata; but the word χειροτονίαι used by Appian, though often denoting elections (as in B. C. i. 14. 58-60; 15. 66; 28. 127, where the meaning is easily derived from the context), includes also voting on laws, as in B. C. i. 23. 100; 55. 244. Had he meant elections, he would here have written ἀρχαιρεσία (cf. i. 1. 1; 44. 196), as otherwise the meaning would have been doubtful. The view represented by Fröhlich, moreover, would in no way explain the passage, nor was it likely that Sulla would leave to the tribes the ratification of laws but deprive them of the politically unimportant right to elect minor officials.