Explanation: The Roman dictator Sulla was an ultraconservative who took power in order to empower the Senate. The Senate was the more oligarchic aspect of Roman government, and at this point in the Late Republic, was constantly in conflict with democratic elements of the traditional constitutional Roman government. Sulla did this, in part, by 'proscribing' a large number of his enemies - effectively, publicly marking them to be caught, killed, and their property seized.
The young Julius Caesar almost fell victim to Sulla's proscriptions, but was saved by the intervention of some of his connections. Sulla is said to have mused, "There are many Mariuses (his longtime nemesis who favored the democratic elements of Roman government to get his way) in that Caesar."
Sulla would retire peacefully to a nice island with his actor boytoy, Metrobius, and die of worms in his gut two years later. Good riddance.