Gaius Marius

Gaius Marius (c. 157-86 bc), Roman general and statesman, who led the Populares during the civil war of 88-86 bc.

Marius was born at Arpinum (now Arpino, Italy). As a young man he served in Spain under the Roman general Scipio Africanus the Younger. In 119 bc he was elected tribune of the people. His marriage to Julia, the aunt of Julius Caesar, improved his social status, but as leader of the popular party he retained his sympathy with the lower classes. After serving as praetor in 115 bc, he returned to Spain, where he waged a successful campaign against the brigands and murderers who had been terrorizing the country. He accompanied the Roman general Quintus Caecilius Metellus to Africa in 109 bc. He was elected consul two years later and was appointed to conduct the war against Jugurtha, king of Numidia. Assisted by his chief aide, Lucius Cornelius Sulla, Marius captured Jugurtha and brought the war to a successful conclusion in 106 bc. Marius's opponents credited Sulla with the victory, thereby laying the foundation for the later animosity between the two leaders.

Following two years spent subjugating Numidia, Marius again became consul in 104 bc and advanced northwards to oppose the invading Germanic tribes of the Cimbri and the Teutons. He annihilated the Teutons at Aquae Sextiae (now Aix-en-Provence, France) in 102 bc and defeated the Cimbri the following year near Vercellae (now Vercelli, Italy). Marius was considered the saviour of his country and in 100 bc was made consul for the sixth time.

When Sulla, as consul, was entrusted with conducting the war against the powerful Asian king Mithridates VI Eupator in 88 bc, Marius, who had developed a jealous hatred for his patrician rival, attempted to deprive him of his command. Civil war broke out between the partisans of the two leaders. Marius was forced to flee, and Sulla proceeded to Asia Minor to take up his command. Marius then hurried back to Italy, where an uprising of his followers had occurred under Lucius Cornelius Cinna, another bitter opponent of Sulla. Marius and Cinna marched against Rome, forcing it to capitulate. Marius then took his revenge on the aristocracy in an indiscriminate massacre. He had himself and Cinna named after the consulship in 86 bc, but died a few days after obtaining office.