Vault of Secrets - Unpopular History

General Lucullus and the Bankers Lucullus rescued Asia from usurers who had established a predatory system to exploit the population, akin to modern practices where corrupt governments, merchants, and bankers conspire to tighten the financial noose—akin to the exploitation experienced by Germany during the reparations following the Treaty of Versailles. Lucullus was a distinguished military commander, who was trusted to address the most difficult situations. He said that he would prefer to save a single Roman from the enemy rather than seize all the enemy's wealth. Plutarch chronicled the situation Lucullus confronted in Asia: "Lucullus now turned his attention to the cities in Asia, aiming to address the severe injustices and lawlessness that had plagued the province. The people had suffered immense misfortunes due to a long absence of justice. They were plundered and enslaved by tax-gatherers and money-lenders. Families were compelled to sell their sons and daughters, and cities had to part with their votive offerings, paintings, and sacred statues. People were often forced to surrender to their creditors and serve them as slaves, but the conditions leading up to this were even worse—tortures involving ropes, barriers, and horses, standing exposed under the blazing summer sun, and being thrust into mud or ice during winter. In comparison, slavery seemed almost like relief and peace. These were the dire circumstances Lucullus encountered in the cities, and he quickly took steps to alleviate these suffering conditions. Firstly, he decreed that the monthly rate of interest should be no more than one percent. Secondly, he eliminated all interest that exceeded the principal amount. Thirdly, and most importantly, he mandated that a lender could claim no more than one-quarter of the debtor's income, and any lender who added interest to the principal was to forfeit the entire debt. Within less than four years, all debts were repaid, and properties were returned to their owners free of encumbrances. This public debt had originated from the twenty thousand talents that Sulla had imposed on Asia as a contribution, and twice this amount had been repaid to the money-lenders. However, through usurious interest, the total debt had been inflated to a hundred and twenty thousand talents. Consequently, the money-lenders felt aggrieved and raised a clamor against Lucullus in Rome. They also bribed some influential tribunes to take action against him, who had many politicians in their debt. Despite this, Lucullus was deeply beloved by the people he had helped, and other provinces wished for him to govern them, praising those fortunate enough to have such a benefactor." Reference: Plutarch. Parallel Lives. Vol. II: The Life of Lucullus. Translated by B. P. Grenfell and A. S. Hunt. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1914.