# Sylla — The City of God character guide

> Sylla in The City of God by Augustine of Hippo.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0002-part-i-book-i

## Who they are

Roman dictator and general, used as an example of cruelty and civil war.

## In the story

### [Book II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-book-ii)

Mentioned for his cruel rule and the demons' boast of aiding him, showing the gods' complicity in evil.

### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xviii)

Cited as an example of the vices that flourished in Rome after Carthage's fall.

### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xxii)

Mentioned as scorning divine laws, with his life and deeds abhorred by all.

### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xxiii)

Roman leader who came to power after Marius, mentioned as one who escaped Marius's fate.

### [Of the deeds of Sylla, in which the demons boasted that he had their help.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xxiv)

Roman general whose cruel rule and civil war atrocities are recounted; he received demonic prophecies of victory but no moral correction.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-vii)

Sylla is mentioned as the leader of the faction for whom the Trojans preserved their city, and to whom the gods predicted success.

### [Of the civil dissension occasioned by the sedition of the Gracchi](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xxiv)

Not mentioned in this chapter.

### [Of the civil war between Marius and Sylla](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xxvii)

Leader of the opposing faction; avenged Marius's victory with excessive cruelty.

### [Of the victory of Sylla, the avenger of the cruelties of Marius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xxviii)

Victorious leader who avenged Marius's cruelties, but whose peace was marked by continued bloodshed and atrocities.

### [A Comparison of the Disasters of the Gothic and Gallic Invasions with Those of the Civil Wars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xxix)

Sylla is depicted as a conqueror who issued death-warrants from the Capitol and later proscribed many senators, surpassing the Goths in the number of senators killed.

### [Of the connection of the wars which with great severity and frequency followed one another before the advent of Christ](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xxx)

His wars with Marius and his acts influenced subsequent conflicts.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/characters/sylla
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/characters