Gaius Marius (157 BC-13 January 86 BC) was Consul of the Roman Republic in 107 BC, from 104 to 100 BC, and from 1 to 13 January 86 BC. He was best known for proposing a series of laws that allowed the proletariat to join his reorganized Roman Army. In return for many years of military service every soldier would be given land as a kind of pension. This reform was passed in the people's assembly without the approval of the Roman Senate, but this populist appeal did him no favors in the long run, as he died of natural causes while he was in the midst of a civil war with the conservative statesman Sulla.
Biography[]
Marius inspecting the Roman Army
Born into an obscure provincial family in Arpinum, Italia, Roman Republic in 157 BC, Marius made his reputation in the war against the Numidian king, Jugurtha, in North Africa between 107 and 105 BC. His renown was confirmed when he saved Rome from a barbarian invasion by the Cimbri and Teutones, with victories at Aquae Sextae and Vercellae. Marius was noted as a commander who shared the hardships of his troops on campaign. At Aquae Sextae he led his amry into battle sword in hand - unusual for a Roman commander. He encouraged recruitment from the poor, stressing professional training, fitness, and endurance. His men were known as "Marius' mules" because of the great weight of their packs.
In the Social War (91-88 BC) against Rome's rebellious Italian allies, Marius was eclipsed by the rising star Sulla. At the war's end Sulla and Marius, each backed by their loyal soldiers, fell into dispute over who should command a potentially lucrative campaign in Asia. Sulla seized military control of Rome, then left for Asia, after which Marius took the city with his army. He died soon after, but the power struggle between Sulla's allies and enemies continued.