After the Social War
The End of the Republic
"Marius" > Page 1, 2, 3
Timeline of Events in Gaius Marius' Life
Marius Seeks the Mithridates Command
In Italy, poverty, taxation, and discontent led to the rebellion known as the Social War in which Marius played an unappreciated role. The allies (socii, hence Social War) won their citizenship at the end of the Social War (91-88 B.C.), but by being put into, perhaps, 8 new tribes, their votes wouldn't count for much. They wanted to be distributed among the 35 pre-existing ones.In 88 B.C., P. Sulpicius Rufus, tribune of the plebs, favored giving the allies what they wanted and enlisted Marius' support, with the understanding that Marius would get his Asian command.
Sulla returned to Rome to oppose Sulpicius Rufus' bill about distribution among the tribes. With his consular colleague Q. Pompeius Rufus, Sulla officially declared business suspended. Sulpicius, with armed supporters, declared the suspension illegal. A riot broke out during which Q. Pompeius Rufus' son was murdered and Sulla fled to Marius' house. After striking some sort of deal, Sulla fled to his army in Campania (where they had fought during the Social War).
Sulla had already been given what Marius wanted -- command of the forces against Mithridates, but Sulpicius Rufus had a law passed to create a special election to put Marius in charge. Similar measures had been taken before.
Sulla told his troops that they would lose out if Marius were put in charge and so, when envoys from Rome came to tell them of a change in leadership, Sulla's soldiers stoned the envoys. Sulla then led his army against Rome.
The senate tried to order Sulla's troops to stop, but the soldiers, again, threw stones. When Sulla's opponents fled, he seized the city. Sulla then declared Sulpicius Rufus, Marius, and others enemies of the state. Sulpicius Rufus was killed, but Marius and his son fled.
In 87, Lucius Cornelius Cinna became consul. When he tried to register the new citizens (acquired at the end of the Social War) in all 35 tribes, rioting broke out. Cinna was driven from the city. He went to Campania where he took over Sulla's legion. He led his troops towards Rome, recruiting more along the way. Meanwhile, Marius gained military control of Africa. Marius and his army landed in Etruria (north of Rome), raised more troops from among his veterans and went on to capture Ostia. Cinna joined forces with Marius and together they marched on Rome.
When Cinna took the city, he revoked Sulla's law against Marius and the other exiles. Marius then took revenge. Fourteen prominent senators were killed. This was a slaughter by their standards.
Cinna and Marius were both (re-)elected consuls for 86, but a few days after taking office, Marius died. L. Valerius Flaccus took his place.
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Primary Source
Plutarch's Life of Marius
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http://ancienthistory.about.com/library/weekly/aa052300c.htm
This feature is copyrigh tŠ 2000-2003 N.S. Gill.
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