Gaius Marius came to prominence during the war in North Africa against Jugurtha and the Numidians. Marius was not from a senatorial family, but an equestrian family, and yet he rose up from the ranks. He was loved by his army, and while on campaign, wrote letters to popular politicians in order to create lasting political relationships. Marius had served as a legate to Metellus, and they often quarreled.

In 107 B.C. Marius wanted to run for consulship but Metellus said he could become a general only when Metellus’ son ran for senate. When Marius returned to Rome, he ran for the consulship under a single platform, “Win the War”. Despite being a novus homo (new man) from the equestrian order, he was elected. Marius was elected to the consulship in 106 B.C.. Marius ennobles his family and he also the first to hold the consulship in his family. Marius’ first goal was to remove Mellitus as general. The Senate opposed this outright, but equestrians were the first to vote in the Centuriate Assembly, so the vote was always to “0”. Marius was reelected to the consulship in 105 B.C., when he would undertake profound reform in the Roman army.

Gaius Marius believed the army had previously spent too much time in leisure so he expels all camp followers. He institutionalized the Roman army, and by doing so, turned it into a moving city of shoemakers, armorers, prostitutes, etc. The soldiers were now responsible for food, swords, and they had to carry their own equipment, which could weigh upwards of 70lbs. All soldiers were equipped and outfitted the same to promote uniformity among them. The army had traditionally been a conscript army of small landholders, but Marius changed this. He recruited volunteers from urban and rural proletariat who owned no land. They were fitted with armor and a sword and meant to fight. Each solder was equipped with a javelin and squirmishers became heavy infantry. A cohort system was created which includes ten cohorts. These ten cohorts made up a legion. It was fifty centuriates prior to this. These men swore loyalty to the army and not the senate, thereby placing immense power in the hand of the generals. However, in order to recruit these men, the generals had to play politics to get legislation to pass laws, providing land for the returning soldiers.

Marius brought the Jugurthine War to an end and then successfully defeated the Celts, who had initially annihilated the Roman army. Marius was again made consul for a further five years from 104 to 100 B.C.. His defeat of the Celtic tribes and his newly formed army left him in the position of personal ascendancy in Rome. Marius is the savior in the Roman state. His popularity is enormous and unmatched. His power unparelled in Roman history.

The war was now over and he became a piece time politician, but he still controlled the Roman state. Marius returned to the scene around 88 B.C. when the senate transferred command of the war against Mithridates from Sulla to him. When Sulla returned, Marius fled. Marius joined up with the consul Cinna and marched on Rome, seized the government, and outlawed Sulla, killing many of Sulla’s supporters.

Gaius Marius died soon after.

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