Lucius Cornelius Merula (d. 87 BC) was a politician and priest of the late Roman Republic. Lucius Cornelius Cinna is elected consul of Rome, thus returning the rule of Rome back to the democrats. ... See also Roman Republic (18th century) and Roman Republic (19th century). ...

He held the office of Flamen Dialis (high priest of Jupiter), and wore the flamen's cap at all times, unlike the other flamines who only wore it while performing sacrifices. The Flamen Dialis was an important position in Roman religion. ... Jupiter et Thétis - by Jean Ingres, 1811. ...

In 87 BC, during the civil war between Marius and Sulla, he was appointed consul by the Senate in place of Marius's ally Cinna, who had been driven from the city. He negotiated the return of Cinna and Marius from banishment, and abdicated his consulship. However, false charges were made against him during Marius's purges of his political enemies, and he committed suicide, opening his veins in the Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus and imploring the gods to avenge him on Cinna and his allies. He had first taken care to remove his flamen's cap, for it was considered a sin for a flamen to wear it at his death. Gaius Marius Gaius Marius (Latin: C·MARIVS·C·F·C·N)[1] (157 BC — January 13, 86 BC) was a Roman general and politician elected Consul an unprecedented seven times during his career. ... Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix (Latin: L·CORNELIVS·L·F·P·N·SVLLA·FELIX)[1] ( 138 BC–78 BC) Roman general and dictator, was usually known simply as Sulla. ... Consul (abbrev. ... The Roman Senate (Latin: Senatus) was the main governing council of both the Roman Republic, which started in 509 BC, and the Roman Empire, which ended in the 6th century AD. The word Senatus is derived from the Latin word senex, meaning old man or elder. ... Lucius Cornelius Cinna (Latin: L·CORNELIVS·L·F·L·N·CINNA), a member of the Cinna family of the Cornelii of ancient Rome, was a supporter of Marius in his contest with Sulla. ... Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus on Capitoline Hill, 6th-1st century BC. The Temple of Jupiter in the ancient Pompeii. ...

The position of Flamen Dialis was now vacant. Marius's seventeen-year-old nephew Julius Caesar was nominated to fill it in 83 BC, but this nomination was annulled by Sulla the following year. The position was not filled again until 11 BC, under Augustus. For other uses, see Julius Caesar (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Augustus (disambiguation). ...

References

• Appian, Civil Wars 1.65, 70, 75
• Velleius Paterculus, Roman History 2.20, 22
• Florus, Epitome of Roman History 2.9
• Suetonius, Julius 1
• Cassius Dio, Roman History 54.35