Lex Valeria (82 BC)
The Lex Valeria was an 82 BC law under which the Senate of the Roman Republic appointed Lucius Cornelius Sulla dictator. It also allowed Sulla dictatorial imperium, which gave him total control of the republic and set no limit on his time as dictator, whereas the dictatorship was previously limited to six months. It was passed by Lucius Valerius Flaccus, who was "princeps senatus" since 86 BC, and gave his name to the law. Sulla in turn appointed him his "magister equitum". This decision is even more important because, at the time, leaders were only appointed  dictators in times of extreme danger to the city of Rome. This was the first time that a single individual was given dictatorial powers since Gaius Servilius Geminus, 120 years before. Also, it was the last time an individual would be appointed dictator of Rome until Julius Caesar. Sulla's powers as dictator. As dictator of Rome, Sulla was granted the power to make numerous decisions within the state. More importantly, as Boatwright notes, "His appointment to it specifically validated all his actions in advance." The results of the "Lex Valeria" were as harsh as they were short-lived. Sulla  retired as dictator in 81, and died of acute liver failure not long after. Even before his death however, Marcus Aemilius Lepidus (elected consul in 78) overturned most of Sulla's acts and re-introduced the grain distributions.