History buff input here: Arguably the downfall started with Sulla [0]: > Sulla's military coup—ironically enabled by Marius' military reforms that bound the a

History buff input here: Arguably the downfall started with Sulla [0]: > Sulla's military coup—ironically enabled by Marius' military reforms that bound the army's loyalty with the general rather than to the Republic—permanently destabilized the Roman power structure. Later leaders like Julius Caesar would follow his precedent in attaining political power through force. A far cry from the traditional virtue embodied by Cincinnatus [1]: > He came from his plow to assume complete control over the state but, upon achieving a swift victory, relinquished his power and its perquisites and returned to his farm. His success and immediate resignation of his near-absolute authority with the end of this crisis (traditionally dated to 458 BC) has often been cited as an example of outstanding leadership, service to the greater good, civic virtue, humility, and modesty. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulla https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulla [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucius_Quinctius_Cincinnatus https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucius_Quinctius_Cincinnatus