Gaius Marius

Timeline

1. c. -157–-110Arpinum · LazioBorn into a plebeian family of the Latin town of Arpinum, he took up a military career in his youth and distinguished himself in the campaigns in Spain and Africa; through his toughness and battlefield ability he gradually entered Roman politics, breaking the aristocratic monopoly on high military office.
2. -107–-105North Africa · NumidiaAfter his first election as consul he carried out military reforms: relaxing property qualifications to recruit proletarians, standardizing equipment and training, extending terms of service, and promising settlement after discharge. He led the army to North Africa and defeated Jugurtha, establishing himself as the military leader of the popular faction.
3. -102–-101Aquae Sextiae · LombardyElected consul in successive years as the Teutones and Cimbri threatened Italy, he won great victories at Aquae Sextiae and Vercellae, lifting the Germanic invasion crisis, earning the title 'Third Founder of Rome', and reaching the peak of his military glory and popular support.
4. -88–-86Rome · LazioHe clashed fiercely with Sulla over command of the eastern expedition and at one point fled into exile in North Africa; he returned to organize resistance while Sulla was campaigning in the East, and died of illness shortly after his seventh election as consul. His plebeian followers and the Marians continued to oppose Sulla's forces in the ensuing civil war.