The survivors of the old governing class, shattered in spirit, gave up the contest. […] Italy suffered devastation and sacking of cities, with proscription and murder of the best men; for the ambitions of the dynasts provoked war between class and class. […] On the class from which Sulla’s new senators were drawn, cf. […] They represented, not regions, but a class in society and a party in politics. […] Octavianus did not belong to that class.