Sulla was the Roman dictator who ordered Julius Caesar to divorce Cornelia, but Caesar refused. The demand arose after Sulla’s victory in Rome’s civil conflicts, when he used political proscriptions and personal pressure to weaken families connected to his enemies.
Caesar had married Cornelia, the daughter of Lucius Cornelius Cinna, a leading opponent of Sulla, around 84 BC. Sulla ordered Caesar to put her aside, apparently because the marriage linked the young politician to the defeated Cinnan faction. Caesar chose to defy the order, even though doing so put his life and property at risk.
Sulla’s regime confiscated Caesar’s priesthood, dowry, and inheritance, and Caesar went into hiding. He eventually returned after influential relatives and allies interceded, although ancient writers differ over the exact details. The episode is often treated as an early sign of Caesar’s determination and political independence. Cornelia remained his wife until her death in 69 BC, despite later pressure and danger.