Sometimes Tyrannies Fall

By Alec Pruchnicki

As we face four years of an administration of someone who wants to be a dictator “on day one” we may think that this is the permanent end of American Democracy. But sometimes democracies are more resilient than even the most determined tyrant. Here is a brief history of several such episodes and various outcomes when they fell.

After the Peloponnesian War when Sparta defeated Athens, it did not want to destroy the city. Among other reasons, it wanted to create a potential ally against the rising city state of Thebes. Besides harsh conditions in the peace treaty, a temporary government of 30 outstanding Athenian citizens would control the city and determine what type of new government should be established.

But instead of setting up a new government. they seized power themselves and became known as the Thirty Tyrants. Citizens’ rights were restricted, the right to trial by jury was often ignored, and opponents’ private property was seized by the Tyrants themselves. A reign of terror ensued and as much as 5% of Athens’ population was executed. Not only did the reign of the Tyrants become hated but the population of Athens rose up despite their recent defeat at the hand of Sparta, the Tyrants’ allies. After less than a year in office, the Tyrants and a small number of close supporters were condemned to death, although lower supporters were given a blanket amnesty so that the overthrow would not result in a protracted city war. Athens returned to the previous democratic government, although, as before, full rights were only for male citizens. A powerful and ruthless tyranny had been overthrown and democracy restored.

Rome had been ruled as a Republic for many years, but there were numerous internal political fights among prominent Romans. One of whom was Lucius Sulla, a prominent politician and military commander. In 88 BC, when one internal dispute didn’t go his way, he took his army and marched on Rome seizing the capital by force for the first time in its history. His rule was followed by some legal and political reforms but mostly by a brutal dictatorship, numerous executions of opponents, and seizures of property. Having succeeded in accomplishing his goals Sulla retired in 79 BC and died a year later. The Republic was restored and it appeared that things were back to normal. But a new generation of ambitious Roman politicians plunged the city into various conflicts until Julius Caesar arrived. After his assassination and another civil war, Augustus Caesar was proclaimed emperor of the new Roman Empire and the Republic vanished from history. Although Sulla’s reign was brief, the possibility of a military dictatorship was learned by Julius Caeser, and probably others, and he took the opportunity when he was strong enough to do so.

During the 17th century in England, there were many disagreements between Parliament and King Charles I as to their relative powers. This broke out into a civil war and eventually Oliver Cromwell became the military leader of the rebels, known as the Round Heads. The Royalists, aka The Cavaliers, were defeated in several rounds of wars and eventually Charles I was beheaded for treason against Parliament. Cromwell was appointed Lord Protector and essentially became a military dictator. While conducting many rebellion suppressions and wars, including a particularly brutal one against Irish Catholics, Cromwell controlled the government completely, eventually dissolving Parliament just as Charles I had done, although he declined becoming king himself. He didn’t have the direct power to order executions but he managed to manipulate the legal system so that his opponents were powerless. In 1658 he died and there was a period of political instability.

Instead of another Protector being appointed, the previous king’s son, Charles II, was recalled to England and installed as king. Although this was called the Restoration Period, there were actually many restrictions on his power, protections for the power of Parliament, and protections for the Anglican Church. There was a flourishing of intellectual freedom, except maybe for recognized religion. There was raunchier literature, a more flamboyant lifestyle for those who could afford it, and a general relaxation of the Puritan atmosphere of previous decades. It was a restoration of a democracy but only a limited one. Charles II ruled from 1660 to 1685, but afterward each monarchy up to the present day has been a democracy and not a dictatorship.

So, where does that leave us? There are probably many more examples of tyrannies that didn’t disappear and revert to democracies, but this is just a collection of a few that did, however briefly. Will Trump’s presidency be a non-fatal injury to democracy like Sulla’s before a smarter Trump like Augustus Caesar comes along to end it completely? Will Trump’s regime require more rigorous opposition like that of the Athenian citizens to the Thirty Tyrants? Or will the eventual passing of our Lord Protector Donald Trump lead to a Restoration and several centuries of expanded freedom and Democracy? I don’t know the answer to these, nor does anyone else, but these are the possible outcomes. Let’s hope we make the right choices when they inevitably occur.

Alec Pruchnicki, MD is a fellowship trained geriatrician with a primary care practice in a non-profit, community run, Medicaid supported assisted living facility in Manhattan. He has lived in the Village for over 30 years and is involved in healthcare, housing, and political issues.