Lex Valeria (82 BC)

The Lex Valeria of 82 BC, passed by the Roman interrex Lucius Valerius Flaccus, ratified Sulla's appointment as dictator legibus scribundis et rei publicae constituendae ("dictator for writing laws and reorganizing the state") without term limit. This granted Sulla extraordinary powers, effectively legalizing his actions and allowing him to reshape the Roman constitution and political landscape.

Prior to this lex, the dictatorship had been an emergency magistracy with a maximum term of six months. Sulla’s dictatorship, sanctioned by the Lex Valeria, was different; it was ostensibly intended to restore order and reform the Republic, but it granted him virtually unlimited authority over life and death, and the power to enact any law he deemed necessary.

The Lex Valeria legitimized Sulla's proscriptions, which involved the public listing and execution or exile of his political enemies. It also enabled him to enact a series of reforms aimed at strengthening the Senate and weakening the tribunes of the plebs. This included limiting the powers of the tribunes, restricting their ability to hold higher office, and increasing the size and influence of the Senate.

The Lex Valeria ultimately allowed Sulla to consolidate his power and implement his vision for the Roman Republic, leaving a lasting impact on Roman politics and setting a precedent for future strongmen. While Sulla eventually resigned his dictatorship in 79 BC, the effects of his reforms and the precedent set by the Lex Valeria contributed to the political instability that ultimately led to the demise of the Republic.