He trician nobleman
appropriated
the credit of it to
forth with began to intrigue against his general, and himself, by always wearing a signet-ring on which
to represent that the war was purposely prolouged he had had engraved the surrender of Jugurtha by
by Metellus to gratify his own vanity and love of Bocchus.
forth with began to intrigue against his general, and himself, by always wearing a signet-ring on which
to represent that the war was purposely prolouged he had had engraved the surrender of Jugurtha by
by Metellus to gratify his own vanity and love of Bocchus.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - b
i.
p.
365, &c.
)
MARINUS (Mapivos), a celebrated physician
and anatomist, who must have lived in the first
and second centuries after Christ, as Quintus,
Galen's tutor, was one of his pupils (Galen, Com-
ment. in Hippocr. “ De Nat. Hom. ” i. 6, vol. xv. p.
136). He wrote numerous anatomical treatises (or
else one long work in twenty books), which Galen
PROSSVTIVS
COIN OP C. COSSUTIUS MARIDIANUS.
MA
ASS
23 NIKE
DIVA
COIN OF MARINIANA.
3 P 4
## p. 952 (#968) ############################################
952
MARIUS.
MARIUS.
and says
that Marios was as
Caecilius Meieliis
Marius had long
almost keen to ID
to the Herennian
poses alen into
a bude further on
refused to give te
the latter was acre
bis being his ci
proposed a las
Deople at the elec
abridged, and of which he gives a short analysis Still, whatever may have been the exact con-
(De Libris Paropriis, c. 3, vol. xix. p. 25). Galen dition of the Marian family, it was certainly one of
frequently mentions bim in terms of commendation, no importance. Marius was born at a time when
he was one of the restorers of anatomical a large number of the Roman aristocracy, of whom
science (De Hippocr. et Plat. Decr. viii. 1, vol. v. the Scipios may be regarded as the type, were in-
p. 650). He appears also to have written a com- troducing into Rome a taste for Greek literature,
mentary on the aphorisms of Hippocrates, which is refinement, and art These innovations were
twice quoted by Galen (Comment, in Hippocr. strongly resisted by the elder Cato and the friends
"Aphor. " vii. 13, 54, vol. xviii. pt. i. pp. 113, 163). of the old Roman habits and mode of life, as
It is uncertain whether this anatomist is the having a tendency to corrupt and degrade the
same person as the Postumius Marinus, the phy- Roman character. If the father of Marius was
sician to the younger Pliny (Plin. Epist. x. 6); not a poor man, he certainly belonged to the old-
and also whether he is the person whose medical fashioned party, and accordingly brought up his
formulae are quoted by Andromachus (Galen, De son in his native village, in ignorance of the Greek
Compos. Medicum. sec. Locos, vii. 2, vol. xiii. p. language and literature, and with a perfect con-
25) and Avicenna (Canon, v. 1, 8. p. 306, ed. tempt for the new-fangled habits and opinions
1595).
(W. A. G. ) which characterised the politer society of Rome.
MARION (Maplwr), tyrant of Tyre, which po- Marius thus grew up with the distinguishing
sition he obtained through the favour of Cassius, virtues and vices of the old Sabine character. He
when the latter was in Syria, B. C. 43. Having was characterised at first by great integrity and
invaded Galilee, he made himself master of three industry ; he had a perfect command over his pas-
forts in that country, but was again expelled from sions and desires, and was moderate in all his ex-
it by Herod. (Joseph. Ant. xiv. 12. § 1, B. J. i. penses ; he possessed the stem and severe virtues
;
12. § 2. )
(E. H. B. ] of an ancient Roman, and if he had lived in earlier
MA'RIUS. 1. C. Marius, was born in B. c. times, would have refused, like Fabricius, the gold
157, at the village of Cereatae *, near Arpinum. of Pyrrhus, or have sacrificed his life, like Decius,
His father's name was C. Marius, and his mother's to save his country. But, cast as he was in an
Fulcinia ; and the family, according to the almost age of growing licentiousness and corruption, the
concurrent voice of antiquity, was in very humble old Roman virtues degenerated into vices ; love
circumstances. His parents, as well as Marius of country became love of self; patriotism, am-
himself, are said to have been the clients of the bition ; sternness of character produced cruelty,
noble plebeian house of the Herennii. So indigent, and personal integrity unmitigated contempt for
indeed, is the family represented to have been the corruption of his contemporaries. The character
from which the future saviour of Rome arose, that of Marius needed, above that of most men, the
young Marius is stated to have worked as a com- humanizing influences of literature and art, and
mon peasant for wages, before he entered the ranks there is much truth in the remark of Plutarch
of the Roman army (comp. Juv. viii. 246 ; Plin. (Mar. 2), “ that if Marius could have been per-
H. N. xxxii. 11; Aurel. Vict. Caes. 33). But suaded to sacrifice to the Grecian muses and graces,
although Marius undoubtedly sprang from an ob- he would never have terminated a most illustrious
scure family, yet it seems probable that his imme- career in an old age of cruelty and ferocity. "
diate ancestors could not have been in such mean Marius first served in Spain, and was present at
circumstances as is usually represented. From his the siege of Numantia in B. c. 134. Here he dis-
first entrance into public life, Marius never seems tinguished himself so much by his courage and his
to have been in want of money, and it is difficult readiness to submit to the severer discipline which
to imagine how he could have acquired it so early, Scipio Africanus introduced into the army, that he
except by inheritance from his family. In ad- attracted the notice of this great general, and re-
dition to which, his marriage with Julia, the aunt ceived from him many marks of honour. Scipio,
of the celebrated Julius Caesar, throws discredit indeed, even admitted him to his table ; and on a
upon the common stories about his origin ; as it is certain occasion, when one of the guests asked
unlikely that such an ancient patrician family Scipio where the Roman people would find such
should have given their daughter to one who had another general after his death, he is related to
been a labourer in the fields. There is, on the con- have laid his hand on the shoulder of Marius and
trary, no difficulty in understanding how these said, “ Perhaps here. ” The military genius of
stories should have arisen. The Roman nobles Marius must have been very conspicuous to have
would naturally upbraid the aspirant to the higher called forth such a remark from the conqueror of
dignities of the state with his mean and lowly Carthage and Numantia, and his natural abilities
birth; and the latter, instead of betraying that for war were no doubt greatly improved by the
weakness on this point which has often charac- experience he obtained under so great a master of
terized men who have risen from humble life, never the art. It happened strangely enough that Ju-
attempted to deny the fact, but rather made it a gurtha, who was afterwards to measure his abilities
glory and a boast, that mean as was bis origin he against Marius, was serving at the same time with
could excel his high-born adversaries in virtue, equal distinction in the Roman army.
ability, and courage. At the same time we can The name of Marius does not occur again in
hardly give credit to the statement of Velleius history for the space of fifteen years, of the wars
Paterculus (ii. 11) that Marius was of an equestrian of which period, however, we have very little in-
family (natus equestri loco); and we ought pro- formation. He doubtless continued to serve in the
bably to read agresti in this passage, instead of army, was unanimously elected military tribune by
equestri.
all the tribes, and became so much distinguished
that he was at length raised to the tribunate of the
* Plutarch ( Mar. 3) calls the village Cirrhaeaton, plebs, in B. c. 119, but not until he had attuined the
but this is undoubtedly a corruption of Cereatae. age of thirty-eight years. Plutarch tells us (Mur. 1)
Lar we know not
clause for making
into the septa or
(Cic
. De lag. ini.
have been to pre
the nobis it
Only four years
C. Gracchus, and
fished with pic
the state, resol
the least invasio
The state, acc
consul La Cotia
20count for his
triture, and es
in political life,
biseres might
They little kne
they bad to de
kerate, far fro
ticipated, he
unless the de
laiter asked the
and the lates
Manas strai:
Cauide the se
of Metellus
plored in vain
and the ken
rigorous deui
troual decree
The favour,
the people
komewhat di
rear, by his
of corn amor
World have
balrits of i
spreading
dig.
Still the
bunate ha
people ani
&
latter reso
and accord
the curul
frustrate
that he
sedile hiç
plebeian
the latte
Marius
must ha
feelings
which a
Eie It
his elect
number
;
1
be as
## p. 953 (#969) ############################################
MARJUS.
953
MARIUS.
case.
that Marius was assisted in gaining this office by for bribery. Here he had a very narrow escape ;
Crecilius Metellus, of whose house the family of the nobles seem to have felt sure of his conviction,
Marius had long been adherents, which would and, contrary to all expectation, he was acquitted,
almost seem to imply that the relation of clientship but simply through the votes of the judges being
to the Herennian family had for all practical pur- equal. It appears, from a passage of Cicero (de
poses fallen into disuse, although Plutarch himself off
. iji. 20. $19), that seven years elapsed between
á little further on (c. 5) says that C. Herennius the praetorship and the first consulship of Marius ;
refused to give testimony against Marius, when and he must, therefore, have filled the former
the latter was accused of bribery, on the ground of office in B. C. 115, when he was now forty-two
his being his client. In his tribunate Marius years of . nge. During his praetorship Marius
proposed a law to give greater freedom to the either remained at Rome ns the praetor orbanus or
people at the elections. Of the provisions of this peregrinus, or had some province in Italy; and as
law we know nothing, except that it contained a his talents were not adnpted for civil life, it is not
clause for making the pontes narrower which led surprising that he should have guined but little
into the septa or inclosures where the people voted credit in this office, as Plutarch tells us was the
(Cic. De Ley. iii. 17); but as its object seems to In the following year he obtained a stage
have been to prevent intimidation on the part of more suitable to his abilities ; for he went as pro-
the nobles, it was strongly opposed by the senate. praetor into the province of Further Spain, which
Only four years had elapsed since the death of he cleared of the robbers and marauders who
C. Gracchus, and the aristocratical party at Rome, swarmed in that country.
flushed with victory, and undisputed masters of From the moment that Marius obtained the
the state, resolved to put down with a high hand praetorship, he no doubt kept his eyes steadily
the least invasion of their privileges and power. fixed upon the consulship; but he felt that his
The senate, accordingly, on the proposition of the time was not yet come. The nobles jealously
consul L. Cotta, summoned Marius before them to guarded the highest dignity of the state against
account for his conduct, probably thinking that any the intrusion of any new men ; but their venality
tribune, and especially one who had no experience and corruption, which were shortly to be displayed
in political life, with the fate of the Gracchi before with more than usual shamelessness in the war
his eyes, might be easily frightened into submission. with Jugurtha, were gradually raising at Rome a
They little knew, however, with what stern stuff storm of popular indignation, and preparing the
they had to deal. When he appeared before the way for Marius. Although he possessed neither ?
senate, far from being overawed, as they had an- wealth nor eloquence, by which the Roman people
ticipated, he threatened to send Cotta to prison, were chiefly influenced, yet he gained much 'popu-
unless the decree was rescinded ; and when the larity by his well-known energy of character, his
latter asked the opinion of his colleague Metellus, patient endurance of toil and hardship, and his
and the latter bade him adhere to the decree, simple mode of life, which formed a striking con-
Marius straightway sent for his officer, who was trast to the extravagant and voluptuous habits of
outside the senate-house, and ordered him to carry his noble contemporaries. It was about this time
off Metellus himself to prison. The consul im- too that he strengthened his connections, and gained
plored in vain the interposition of the other tribunes, additional consequence in the eyes of the people,
and the senate, unprepared for such an act of by forming an alliance with the illustrious Julian
vigorous determination, dropped their unconstitu- house, by marrying Julia, the sister of C. Julius
tioual decree, and allowed the law to be carried. Caesar, who was the father of the subsequent ruler
The favour, however, which Marius acquired with of Rome.
the people by his firmness in this matter, was We have no information of the occupations of
somewhat damped a short time after in the same Marius for the next few years, and we do not read
year, by his opposing a measure for the distribution of him again till B. c. 109, in which year he went
of corn among the people, which, he rightly thought, into Africa as the legate of the consul Q. Caecilius
would have only the tendency of fostering those Metellus, who had previously assisted him in
habits of idleness and licentiousness which were obtaining the tribunate of the plebs. Here, in the
spreading so rapidly among the population of the war against Jugurtha, the military genius of Marius
city.
had ample opportunity of displaying itself, and he
Still the general conduct of Marius in his tri- was soon regarded as the most distinguished officer
bunate had earned for him the goodwill of the in the army. The readiness with which he shared
people and the hatred of the aristocracy. The the toils of the common soldiers, eating of the
latter resolved to oppose him with all their might ; same food and working at the same trenches as
and accordingly, when he became a candidate for they did, endeared him to their hearts, and through
the curule aedileship, they used every effort to their letters to their friends at Rome, his praises
frustrate his election. Seeing on the day of election were in every body's mouth. His increasing reputa-
that he had no chance of obtaining the curule tion fired him with a stronger desire, and presented
aedileship, he offered himself as a candidate for the him with better hopes than he had hitherto had, of
plebeian aedileship, but likewise failed in obtaining obtaining the long-cherished object of his ambition.
the latter. The proud and haughty spirit of These desires and hopes were still further inflamed
Marius was deeply galled by this repulse ; and it and increased by a circumstance which happened to
must bave tended to foster and augment those him at Utica. Marius was not tainted by the
feelings of bitter personal hatred to the aristocracy fashionable infidelity which was gaining rapid
which were constantly apparent in his subsequent ground among the higher circles at Kome; he was
life. It was with great difficulty that he gained on the contrary very superstitious, and, in his wars
his election to the prietorship ; he had the smallest with the Cimbri, always carried with him a Syrian
number of votes of those who were elected ; and or Jewish prophetess of the name of Martha; and
he was still further exasperated by being prosecuted | while he was sacrificing on one occasion at Útican
1
## p. 954 (#970) ############################################
954
MARIUS.
MARIUS.
penetrate into
writers (Eu
Romans were
the con mard
defeated by
did not, bow
ose cutes
od marched
insation of
Cebri alos
poned by is
bad their fc
the Tigurir
20w poated
kent army
western par
Tince of the
L. 109
"
izated by
cat in piet
Marius's
who lost
Fards .
кер рги
the officiating priest told him that the victinis pre- chose to offer for the service, however poor and
dicted some great and wonderful events, and there mean, instead of taking them from the five classes
fore bade him, with full reliance upon the aid of according to ancient custom. Having thus col-
the gods, to execute whatever purpose he had in lected a larger number of troops than had been
his mind. Marius regarded this as a voice from decreed, he crossed over into Africa. Metellus,
heaven ; he was then, as ever, thinking of the not bearing to see the man who had robbed him of
consulship, and he therefore resolved at once to the glory of bringing the war to a conclusion, pri-
apply to Metellus for leave of absence, that he vately sailed from Africa, and left P. Rutilius, one
might proceed to Rome and offer himself as a can- of his legates, to deliver up the army to Marius.
didate. This, however, Metellus, who belonged to As soon as he had received the army, Marius con-
a family of the highest nobility, would not grant. tinued the war with great vigour ; but the history
He at first tried to dissuade him from his presump of his operations are related elsewhere. (JUGUR-
tuous attempt, by pointing out the certainty of THA. ) It is sufficient to state here that he was
failure ; and when he could not prevail upon him unable to bring the war to a conclusion in the first
to abandon his design, he civilly evaded his request campaign, and it was not till the beginning of the
by pleading the exigencies of the public service, next year (B. c. 106) that Jugurtha was betrayed
which required the presence and assistance of his by Boochus, king of Mauritania, into the hands of
legate. But, as Marius still continued to press Marius, who sent his quaestor L. Sulla to receive
him for leave of absence, . Metellus had the im- him from the Mauritanian king. Thus it hap-
prudence to say to him on one occasion, “You pened that Marius gave to his future enemy and
need not be in such a hurry to go to Rome; it the destroyer of his family and party, the first
will be quite time enough for you to apply for the opportunity of distinguishing himself; and this
consulship along with my son. The latter, who very circumstance sowed the seeds of the personal
was then serving with the army, was only a youth hatred which afterwards existed between them, and
of twenty years of age, and could not, therefore, which was still further increased by political causes.
become a candidate for the consulship for upwards The enemies of Marius claimed for Sulla the glory
of twenty years more. Such an insult was not of the betrayal of Jugurtha, and the young pa-
likely to be forgotten by a man like Marius.
He trician nobleman appropriated the credit of it to
forth with began to intrigue against his general, and himself, by always wearing a signet-ring on which
to represent that the war was purposely prolouged he had had engraved the surrender of Jugurtha by
by Metellus to gratify his own vanity and love of Bocchus. By constantly wearing this ring,” says
military power. He openly declared, that with Plutarch, * Sulla irritated Marius, who was an
one half of the army he would soon have Jugurtha ambitious and quarrelsome man, and could endure
in chains; and as all his remarks were carefully no partner in his glory. "
reported at Rome, the people began to regard him Though the war against Jugurtha was thus
as the only person competent to finish the war. brought to a close, Marius did not immediately
Metellus, wearied out with his importunity, and return to Italy, but remained nearly two years
perceiving that he was exciting intrigues against longer in Numidia, during which time he was pro-
him in the army, at last allowed him to go, but, bably engaged in completely subjugating the
according to Plutarch, only twelve days before the country, and establishing the Roman power on a
election. Meeting with a favourable wind, he firmer basis. Meantime, a far greater danger than
arrived at Rome in time, and was elected consul Rome had experienced since the time of Hannibal
with an enthusiasm which bore down all opposition was now threatening the state. Vast numbers of
before it.
barbarians, such as spread over the south of Europe
Marius entered upon his first consulship in B. C. in the later times of the Roman empire, had col-
107, at the age of fifty, and received from the lected together on the northern side of the Alps,
people the province of Numidia although the and were ready to pour down upon Italy. The
senate had previously decreed that Metellus should two leading nations of which they consisted are
continue in his command. The exultation of Marius called Cimbri and Teutones, the former of whom
knew no bounds. Instead of deserting the popular are supposed to have been Celts, of the same race
party, as has been constantly done by popular as the Cymri (comp. Amold, Hist. of Rome, vol. i.
leaders when they have once been enrolled in the p. 519, &c. ; Niebuhr, Lectures on Roman History,
ranks of the aristocracy, Marius gloried in his vol. i. p. 365), and the latter Gauls ; but the exact
humble origin, and took every opportunity of in- parts of Europe from which they came is quite un-
sulting and trampling upon the party which had certain. To these two great races were added the
for so many years been trying to put him down. Ambrones, who are conjectured, though on some
He told them that he regarded his election as a what slight grounds, to have been Ligurians (comp.
victory over their effeminacy and licentiousness, Plut. Mar. 19) and some of the Swiss tribes, such
and that he looked upon the consulship as a trophy as the Tigurini. The whole host is said to have
of his conquest ; and be proudly compared his own contained 300,000 fighting men, besides a much
wounds and military experience with their indolent larger number of women and children ; and though
habits and ignorance of war. It was a great the exact calculations of the numbers of such bar-
triumph for the people, and a great humiliation for barians is little worthy of credit, yet it is certain
the aristocracy, and Marius made the latter drink that there was an immense and almost incredible
to the dregs the bitter cup which they had to multitude hanging on the frontiers of Italy. The
swallow. His was no forgiving temper, but a general alarm at Rome was still further increased
stern, a fierce, and almost savage one; and he weil by the ill success which had hitherto attended the
earned the reputation of being a “good hater. ” arms of the republic against these barbarians Army
While engaged in these attacks upon the nobility, after army had fallen before them. They were
he at the same time carried on a levy of troops first heard of in B. c. 113, in Noricum, whence they
with great activity, and enrolled any persons who descended into Illyricum, but probably did not
command
and the
of 80. 000
berberat
the slave
These
Tels. E
only ma
accordin
He ente
Bc 10
consulsi
Pession.
of his
his trit
danger
ing the
been e
which
Fears.
by Ma
tening
tably
variou
arty,
be pui
duaily
troopa
their
the st
offend
As
103;
;
eren
recor
dates
COTIBU
repair
minus
Eusde
Mari
fourth
## p. 955 (#971) ############################################
MARIUS.
955
MARIUS.
penetrate into Italy, as is stated by some ancient | ances, he pretended to be anxious to be released
writers. (Eutrop. iv. 25; Obsequ. 98. ) The from the honour. And fortunate was it for Rome
Romans sent an army to defend Illyricum, under that the supreme command was still entrusted to
the command of Cn. Papirius Carbo, but he was him ; for in this very year the long-expected bar.
defeated by the barbarians (CARBO, No. 3), who barians at length arrived. The Cimbri
, who had
did not, however, follow up their victory, but for returned from Spain, united their forces with the
some causes unknown to us, retired into Noricum, Teutones, though where the latter people had been
and marched westward into Switzerland. In the meantime is quite uucertain. It is, moreover, ex-
invasion of Illyricum, mention is made of the ceedingly difficult to make out clearly the move
Cimbri alone ; and when and where they were ments of the different armies, since the records of
joined by the Teutones is uncertain. In Switzer- this period of history are very scanty and often
land their forces were still further augmented by contradictory. It appears, however, that Marius
the Tigurini and the Ambrones ; and the barbarians first took up his position in a fortified camp on the
low poured over Gaul, and seem to have plundered Rhone, probably in the vicinity of the modern
and ravaged it in every direction. The Romans Arles ; and as the entrance of the river was nearly
sent army after army to defend at least the south- blocked up by mud and sand, he employed his
western part of the country, which was now a pro- soldiers in digging a canal from the Rhone to the
vince of the Roman state ; but all in vain. ' In Mediterranean, that he might the more easily ob-
B. c. 109 the consul, M. Junius Silanus, was de tain his supplies from the sea. From thence he
feated by the Cimbri; in B. c. 107 the Tigurini marched northwards, and stationed himself at the
cut in pieces, near the lake of Geneva, the army of junction of the Rhone and the Isara (Isère). (Oros.
Marius's colleague, the consul L. Cassius Longinus, v. 16. ) Meantime, the barbarians had divided their
who lost his life in the battle ; and shortly after- forces. The Cimbri quitted the Teutones and
wards M. Aurelius Scanrus was also defeated and Ambrones, and marched round the northern foot
taken prisoner. But the most dreadful loss was of the Alps, in order to enter Italy by the north-
still to come. In B. c. 105 two consular armies, east, crossing the Tyrolese Alps by the defiles of
commanded by the consul Cn. Mallius Maximus Tridentum (Trent). The Teutones and Ambrones
and the proconsul Cn. Servilius Caepio, consisting on the other hand marched against Marius, intend-
of 80,000 men, were completely annihilated by the ing, as it seems, to penetrate into Italy by Nice
barbarians: only two men are said to have escaped and the Riviera of Genoa. Marius, anxious to
the slaughter. (Caepio, No. 7. )
accustom his soldiers to the savage and strange ap-
These repeated disasters hushed all party quar- pearance of the barbarians, would not give them
rels. Every one at Rome felt that Marius was the battle at first. The latter accordingly resolved to
only man capable of saving the state, and he was attack the Roman camp; but as they were re-
accordingly elected consul by the unanimous votes pulsed in this attempt, they broke up their en-
of all parties, wbile he was still absent in Africa campment, and pressed on at once for Italy. So
He entered Rome in triumph on the 1st of January, great were their numbers, that they are said to
B. c. 104, which was also the first day of his second have been six days in marching by the Roman
consulship, leading Jugurtha in chains in the pro camp. As soon as they had advanced a little way,
cession. On this day he gave a striking instance Marius also quitted his station and followed them;
of his arrogance, by entering the senate-house in and thus the armies continued to march for a few
his triumphal robes. Meanwhile, the threatened days, the barbarians in the front and Marius be-
danger was for a while averted. Instead of cross- hind, till they came to the neighbourhood of Aquae
ing the Alps, and pouring down upon Italy, as had Sextiae (Aix). Here the decisive battle was
been expected, the Cimbri marched into Spain, fought. Marius had pitched his camp in a spot
which they ravaged for the next two or three which was badly supplied with water, and is said
years. This interval was advantageously employed to have done so intentionally. The necessity which
by Marius in training the new troops, and accus the Roman soldiers were under of obtaining their
toming them to bardships and toil. It was pro- water in the neighbourhood of the barbarians' camp,
bably during this time that he introduced the led to a fierce skirmish between the two armies ;
various changes into the organization of the Roman and this was followed, after the lapse of two or
army, which are usually attributed to him. Not- three days, by a general engagement. The battle
withstanding the stemness and severity with which was fiercely contested ; but an ambush of 3000
he punished the least breach of discipline, he gra- soldiers, which Marius had stationed under the
dually became a great favourite with his new command of Claudius Marcellus, in the rear of the
troops, who learnt to place implicit confidence in barbarians, and which fell upon them when they
their general, and were especially delighted with were already retreating before Marius, decided
the strict impartiality with which he visited the the fortune of the day. Attacked both in front
offences of the officers as well as of the privates. and rear, and also dreadfully exhausted by the
As the enemy still continued in Spain, Marius excessive heat of the weather, they at length
was elected consul a third time for the year B. C. broke their ranks and fled. The carnage was
103 ; but since they did not make their appearance dreadful ; some writers speak of 200,000 slain,
even during the latter year, the Romans began to and 80,000 taken prisoners (Liv. Epit. 68 ; Oros.
recover a little from their panic, and several candi- v. 16); others state the number of the slain at
dates of distinction offered themselves for the 150,000 (Vell. Pat. ii. 12); while another state-
consulship. Under these circumstances Marius ment reduces the number to 100,000 (Plut. Mar.
repaired to Rome, where he gained over L. Satur- 21); but whatever may bave been the number that
ninus, the most popular of the tribunes, who per- fell, the whole nation was annihilated, for those
suaded the people to confer the consulship upon who escaped put an end to their lives, and their
Marius again, who was accordingly elected for the wives followed their example. Immediately after
fourth time (8. c. 102), although, to save appear- | the battle, as Marius was in the act of setting fire
## p. 956 (#972) ############################################
956
MARIUS.
MARIUS.
which Marias
state was still
popularity and
Erected in the
the surrender
infamed with
down by iorce
least him ; 2:
come to openi
broken dat je
required at
Rome possess
Sula were ac
Manus show
112111et in a
war, Fet be
too slow; an
the shade by
Seila Marii
Eis body had
F4 incapa
active servia
consul P. Rt
failen in ba
command of
Upon Mario
saccess retro
band, and
to the vast heap of broken arms which had been gain the tribunate, did not hesitate to assassinato
collected together, and which was intended as an A. Nonius, because he was a rival candidate.
offering to the gods, horsemen rode up to him, and Marius in his sixth consulship (B. C. 100) was
greeted him with the news of his being elected guilty of an act of the deepest perfidy, in order to
consul for the fifth time.
ruin his old enemy Metellus. Saturninus had pro
The Cimbri, in the mean time, had forced their posed an agrarian law (SATURNINUS), and had
way into Italy. The colleague of Marius, Q. Lu- added to it the clause, that if the people passed the
tatius Catulus, despairing of defending the passes law, the senate should swear obedience to it
of the Tyrol, had taken up a strong position on the within five days, and whoever refused to do so
Athesis (Adige); but in consequence of the terror should be expelled from the senate, and pay a fine
of his soldiers at the approach of the barbarians, he of twenty talents. In order to entrap Metellus,
was obliged to retreat even beyond the Po, thus Marius got up in his place in the sennie, and de-
leaving the whole of the rich plain of Lombardy clared that he would never take the oath, and
exposed to the ravages of the barbarians. Marius Metellus made the saine declaration ; but when the
was thereupon recalled to Rome. The senate tribune summoned the senators to the rostra to
offered him a triumph for his victory over the comply with the demand of the law, Marius, to the
Teutones, which he declined while the Cimbri were astonishment of all, inmediately took the oath, and
in Italy, and proceeded to join Catulus, who now advised the senate to follow his example. Metellus
commanded as proconsul, B. c. 101. The army of alone refused compliince, and was in consequence
Marius had also marched into Italy, and with banished from the city. The next act of Marius
their united forces Marius and Catulus hastened in was one of equal treachery. He had availed him-
search of the enemy. They came up with them self of the services of Situminus to gain the con-
near Vercellae (Vercelli), westward of Milan, and sulship and ruin Metellus, and had supported him
the decisive battle was fought on the 30th of July, in all his violent and unconstitutional proceedings;
in a plain called the Raudii Campi, the exact posi- but when he found that Saturninus had gone too
tion of which is uncertain, but which must have far, and had excited a storm of universal indig-
been in the neighbourhood of Vercellae. The nation and hatred, Marius deserted his companion
Cimbri met with the same fate as the Teutones ; in guilt ; and being applied to by the senate to
the slain are again spoken of as between one and crush Saturninus and his crew, he complied with
two hundred thousand ; and the women, like those the request. Invested by the senate with absolute
of the Teutones, put an end to their lives. The power, by the well-known decree, Videret, nequid
Tigurini, who had been stationed at the passes of res publica detrimenti caperet, he collected an armed
the Tyrolese Alps, took to flight and dispersed, as force, and laid siege to the capitol, where Satur-
soon as they heard of the destruction of their ninus, Glaucia, and their confederates, had taken
brethren in arms. The details of this battle are refuge. Marius cut off the pipes which supplied
given elsewhere (Catulus, No. 3), where it is the capitol with water, and obliged the conspirators
shown that there are strong reasons for doubting to surrender at discretion ; and though he made
the account of Plutarch, which assigns the glory of some efforts to save their lives, they were put to
this victory to Catulus. At Rome, at all events, death immediately they had descended into the
the whole credit was given to Marius ; he was forum. By the share which he had taken in this
hailed as the saviour of the state ; his name was transaction, Marius lost the favour of a great part,
coupled with the gods in the libations and at ban- of the people, without gaining that of the senate ;
quets, and he received the title of third founder of and, accordingly, when the time for the election of
Rome. He celebrated his victories by the most the censors came, he did not venture to offer him-
brilliant triumph, in which Catulus, however, was self as a candidate, but allowed persons of far in-
allowed to share.
ferior pretensions to gain this dignity, to which his
Hitherto the career of Marius had been a glorious rank and position in the state would seem to have
one, and it would have been fortunate for him, as entitled him.
Niebubr has remarked, if he had died on the day The sixth consulship of Marius ended in disgrace
of his triumph. The remainder of his life is full and shame. In the following year (B. c. 99) he
of borrors, and brings out into prominent relief the left Rome, in order that he might not witness the
worst features of his character. As the time for return of Metellus from exile, a measure which he
the consular elections approached, Marius was eager had been unable to prevent, and set sail for Cap-
to obtain this dignity for the sixth time, and was padocia and Galatia, under the pretence of offering
therefore obliged, contrary to his inclination and sacrifices which he had vowed to the Great Mother.
character, to play the part of a popular man, and to He had however a deeper purpose in visiting these
court the favour of the electors. He wished to be countries. Finding that he was losing his influence
first in peace as well as in war, and to rule the and popularity while the republic was in a state of
state as well as the army. But he did not possess peace, he was anxious to recover his lost ground by
the qualities requisite for a popular leader at Rome ; gaining fresh victories in war, and accordingly re-
he had no power of oratory, and lost his presence paired to the court of Mithridates, in hopes of
of mind in the noise and shouts of the popular rousing him to make war upon the Romans.
assemblies. In order to secure his election, he was during his absence that he was elected augur.
entered into close connection with two of the worst Marius on his return to Rome built a house
demagogues that ever appeared at Rome, Satur- near the forum, that the people might not have to
ninus and Glaucia, the former of whom was a can- come so far to pay their respects to him ; but all
didate for the tribunate, and the latter for the prae- his efforts were vain to regain his lost popularity ;
· torship, and by their means, as well as by bribing and the hopes he had entertained of obtaining the
the tribes, he secured his election to the consulship command of the war in Asia were also frustrated by
for the sixth time. Saturninus and Glaucia also the ability with which Sulla repressed all disturb-
carried their elections ; and the former, in order to , ances in the East in B. c. 92. The disappointment
bis weaknes
toils of the
been most is
warlike and
An anecdo
conduet of
of the veter
trenched bi
the stratage
estice him
Pompaedius
voured to do
pride 1
dow and
“Nay, do
me to fight
In B. C. &
volved Roc
with the me
of power a
obtain the c
and as he
tbe fatigues
to the Car
Exercises w
choly sight
dignity
Plutarch,
gain and di
baring riser
and
to the highe
When to pu
not satisfiec
and quietly
in want of
bonours wa
Eaxine to o
bans and le
Bat all his
Salla obtain
senate rare
Mithridates.
desperate
2
## p. 957 (#973) ############################################
MARIUS.
957
MARIUS.
;
:
which Marius felt at losing his influence in the portunity for distinction, and obtain it for himself.
state was still further exasperated by the growing He got the tribune, P. Sulpicius Rufus, to bring
popularity and power of Sulla ; and when Bocchus forward a law for distributing the Italian allies,
erected in the capitol gilded figures, representing who had just obtained the Roman franchise, among
the surrender of jugurtha to Sulla, Marius was so all the tribes ; and as they greatly exceeded
inflamed with rage, that he resolved to pull them the old citizens in number, they would of course
down by force. Sulla was making preparations to be able to carry whatever they pleased in the co-
resist him ; and both parties would probably have mitia. If this law were passed, they would of
come to open violence, had not the Social War course, out of gratitude to Marius, annul the re-
broken out just at that time (B. C. 90). This war solution of the senate, and give the command of
required all the services of all the generals that the Mithridatic war to their benefactor. This law
Rome possessed, and, accordingly, both Marius and met with the most vehement opposition from the
Sulla were actively employed in it. But although old citizens; and the consuls, to prevent it from
Marius showed great military abilities in the being carried, declared a justitium, during which
manner in which he conducted his share of the no business could be legally transacted. But Ma-
war, yet he was considered to be over cautious and rius and Sulpicius were resolved to have recourse
too slow; and his achievements were thrown into to the last extremities sooner than lose their point.
the shade by the superior energy and activity of They entered the forum with an armed force, and
Sulla. Marius was now in bis sixty-seventh year: called upon the consuls to withdraw the justitium:
his body had grown stout and unwieldy, and he in the tumult which followed the young son of
was incapable of enduring the fatigue of very Pompeius, the colleague of Sulla, was murdered,
active service. He served as the legate of the and Sulla himself only escaped by taking refuge in
consul P. Rutilius Lupus; and after the latter had the house of Marius, which was close to the forum.
fallen in battle [Lupus, RUTILIUS), the chief To save their lives the consuls were obliged to
command of the northern scene of the war devolved withdraw the justitium : the law of Sulpicius was
upon Marius.
He defeated the Marsi in two carried ; and the tribes, in which the new citizens
successive battles, after which he gave up the com- now had the majority, appointed Marius to the
mand, and returned to Rome, on the ground that command of the war against Mithridates.
his weakness rendered him unable to endure the Marius had now gained the great object of his
toils of the campaign. His services, however, had ambition ; but it was hardly to be expected that a
been most important, for he had defeated the most power which had been violently obtained should
warlike and the most dangerous of all the allies. be peacefully surrendered. The army destined for
An anecdote preserved by Plutarch respecting the the Mithridatic war was stationed at Nola, and
conduct of Marius in this campaign is characteristic thither Marius sent two military tribunes, to take
of the veteran general. Marius had strongly in the command of the troops and bring them to him.
trenched himself in a fortified camp, and neither But Sulla, who had previously joined the army,
the stratagems nor the taunts of the enemy could encouraged the soldiers to disobey the orders: they
entice him from his favourable position. At length murdered the tribunes whom Marius had sent";
Pompaedius Silo, the leader of the Marsi, endea- and when Sulla declared his intention of marching
voured to draw him out by appealing to his military to the city, and of putting down force by force,
pride. “If you are a great general, Marius, come they readily responded to his call. Marius had not
down and fight;" to which the veteran replied, expected this daring step, and was not prepared to
“Nay, do you, if you are a great general, coinpel meet it. Sulla was marching at the head of six
me to fight against my will. "
legions; and in order to obtain troops to oppose
In B. C.
MARINUS (Mapivos), a celebrated physician
and anatomist, who must have lived in the first
and second centuries after Christ, as Quintus,
Galen's tutor, was one of his pupils (Galen, Com-
ment. in Hippocr. “ De Nat. Hom. ” i. 6, vol. xv. p.
136). He wrote numerous anatomical treatises (or
else one long work in twenty books), which Galen
PROSSVTIVS
COIN OP C. COSSUTIUS MARIDIANUS.
MA
ASS
23 NIKE
DIVA
COIN OF MARINIANA.
3 P 4
## p. 952 (#968) ############################################
952
MARIUS.
MARIUS.
and says
that Marios was as
Caecilius Meieliis
Marius had long
almost keen to ID
to the Herennian
poses alen into
a bude further on
refused to give te
the latter was acre
bis being his ci
proposed a las
Deople at the elec
abridged, and of which he gives a short analysis Still, whatever may have been the exact con-
(De Libris Paropriis, c. 3, vol. xix. p. 25). Galen dition of the Marian family, it was certainly one of
frequently mentions bim in terms of commendation, no importance. Marius was born at a time when
he was one of the restorers of anatomical a large number of the Roman aristocracy, of whom
science (De Hippocr. et Plat. Decr. viii. 1, vol. v. the Scipios may be regarded as the type, were in-
p. 650). He appears also to have written a com- troducing into Rome a taste for Greek literature,
mentary on the aphorisms of Hippocrates, which is refinement, and art These innovations were
twice quoted by Galen (Comment, in Hippocr. strongly resisted by the elder Cato and the friends
"Aphor. " vii. 13, 54, vol. xviii. pt. i. pp. 113, 163). of the old Roman habits and mode of life, as
It is uncertain whether this anatomist is the having a tendency to corrupt and degrade the
same person as the Postumius Marinus, the phy- Roman character. If the father of Marius was
sician to the younger Pliny (Plin. Epist. x. 6); not a poor man, he certainly belonged to the old-
and also whether he is the person whose medical fashioned party, and accordingly brought up his
formulae are quoted by Andromachus (Galen, De son in his native village, in ignorance of the Greek
Compos. Medicum. sec. Locos, vii. 2, vol. xiii. p. language and literature, and with a perfect con-
25) and Avicenna (Canon, v. 1, 8. p. 306, ed. tempt for the new-fangled habits and opinions
1595).
(W. A. G. ) which characterised the politer society of Rome.
MARION (Maplwr), tyrant of Tyre, which po- Marius thus grew up with the distinguishing
sition he obtained through the favour of Cassius, virtues and vices of the old Sabine character. He
when the latter was in Syria, B. C. 43. Having was characterised at first by great integrity and
invaded Galilee, he made himself master of three industry ; he had a perfect command over his pas-
forts in that country, but was again expelled from sions and desires, and was moderate in all his ex-
it by Herod. (Joseph. Ant. xiv. 12. § 1, B. J. i. penses ; he possessed the stem and severe virtues
;
12. § 2. )
(E. H. B. ] of an ancient Roman, and if he had lived in earlier
MA'RIUS. 1. C. Marius, was born in B. c. times, would have refused, like Fabricius, the gold
157, at the village of Cereatae *, near Arpinum. of Pyrrhus, or have sacrificed his life, like Decius,
His father's name was C. Marius, and his mother's to save his country. But, cast as he was in an
Fulcinia ; and the family, according to the almost age of growing licentiousness and corruption, the
concurrent voice of antiquity, was in very humble old Roman virtues degenerated into vices ; love
circumstances. His parents, as well as Marius of country became love of self; patriotism, am-
himself, are said to have been the clients of the bition ; sternness of character produced cruelty,
noble plebeian house of the Herennii. So indigent, and personal integrity unmitigated contempt for
indeed, is the family represented to have been the corruption of his contemporaries. The character
from which the future saviour of Rome arose, that of Marius needed, above that of most men, the
young Marius is stated to have worked as a com- humanizing influences of literature and art, and
mon peasant for wages, before he entered the ranks there is much truth in the remark of Plutarch
of the Roman army (comp. Juv. viii. 246 ; Plin. (Mar. 2), “ that if Marius could have been per-
H. N. xxxii. 11; Aurel. Vict. Caes. 33). But suaded to sacrifice to the Grecian muses and graces,
although Marius undoubtedly sprang from an ob- he would never have terminated a most illustrious
scure family, yet it seems probable that his imme- career in an old age of cruelty and ferocity. "
diate ancestors could not have been in such mean Marius first served in Spain, and was present at
circumstances as is usually represented. From his the siege of Numantia in B. c. 134. Here he dis-
first entrance into public life, Marius never seems tinguished himself so much by his courage and his
to have been in want of money, and it is difficult readiness to submit to the severer discipline which
to imagine how he could have acquired it so early, Scipio Africanus introduced into the army, that he
except by inheritance from his family. In ad- attracted the notice of this great general, and re-
dition to which, his marriage with Julia, the aunt ceived from him many marks of honour. Scipio,
of the celebrated Julius Caesar, throws discredit indeed, even admitted him to his table ; and on a
upon the common stories about his origin ; as it is certain occasion, when one of the guests asked
unlikely that such an ancient patrician family Scipio where the Roman people would find such
should have given their daughter to one who had another general after his death, he is related to
been a labourer in the fields. There is, on the con- have laid his hand on the shoulder of Marius and
trary, no difficulty in understanding how these said, “ Perhaps here. ” The military genius of
stories should have arisen. The Roman nobles Marius must have been very conspicuous to have
would naturally upbraid the aspirant to the higher called forth such a remark from the conqueror of
dignities of the state with his mean and lowly Carthage and Numantia, and his natural abilities
birth; and the latter, instead of betraying that for war were no doubt greatly improved by the
weakness on this point which has often charac- experience he obtained under so great a master of
terized men who have risen from humble life, never the art. It happened strangely enough that Ju-
attempted to deny the fact, but rather made it a gurtha, who was afterwards to measure his abilities
glory and a boast, that mean as was bis origin he against Marius, was serving at the same time with
could excel his high-born adversaries in virtue, equal distinction in the Roman army.
ability, and courage. At the same time we can The name of Marius does not occur again in
hardly give credit to the statement of Velleius history for the space of fifteen years, of the wars
Paterculus (ii. 11) that Marius was of an equestrian of which period, however, we have very little in-
family (natus equestri loco); and we ought pro- formation. He doubtless continued to serve in the
bably to read agresti in this passage, instead of army, was unanimously elected military tribune by
equestri.
all the tribes, and became so much distinguished
that he was at length raised to the tribunate of the
* Plutarch ( Mar. 3) calls the village Cirrhaeaton, plebs, in B. c. 119, but not until he had attuined the
but this is undoubtedly a corruption of Cereatae. age of thirty-eight years. Plutarch tells us (Mur. 1)
Lar we know not
clause for making
into the septa or
(Cic
. De lag. ini.
have been to pre
the nobis it
Only four years
C. Gracchus, and
fished with pic
the state, resol
the least invasio
The state, acc
consul La Cotia
20count for his
triture, and es
in political life,
biseres might
They little kne
they bad to de
kerate, far fro
ticipated, he
unless the de
laiter asked the
and the lates
Manas strai:
Cauide the se
of Metellus
plored in vain
and the ken
rigorous deui
troual decree
The favour,
the people
komewhat di
rear, by his
of corn amor
World have
balrits of i
spreading
dig.
Still the
bunate ha
people ani
&
latter reso
and accord
the curul
frustrate
that he
sedile hiç
plebeian
the latte
Marius
must ha
feelings
which a
Eie It
his elect
number
;
1
be as
## p. 953 (#969) ############################################
MARJUS.
953
MARIUS.
case.
that Marius was assisted in gaining this office by for bribery. Here he had a very narrow escape ;
Crecilius Metellus, of whose house the family of the nobles seem to have felt sure of his conviction,
Marius had long been adherents, which would and, contrary to all expectation, he was acquitted,
almost seem to imply that the relation of clientship but simply through the votes of the judges being
to the Herennian family had for all practical pur- equal. It appears, from a passage of Cicero (de
poses fallen into disuse, although Plutarch himself off
. iji. 20. $19), that seven years elapsed between
á little further on (c. 5) says that C. Herennius the praetorship and the first consulship of Marius ;
refused to give testimony against Marius, when and he must, therefore, have filled the former
the latter was accused of bribery, on the ground of office in B. C. 115, when he was now forty-two
his being his client. In his tribunate Marius years of . nge. During his praetorship Marius
proposed a law to give greater freedom to the either remained at Rome ns the praetor orbanus or
people at the elections. Of the provisions of this peregrinus, or had some province in Italy; and as
law we know nothing, except that it contained a his talents were not adnpted for civil life, it is not
clause for making the pontes narrower which led surprising that he should have guined but little
into the septa or inclosures where the people voted credit in this office, as Plutarch tells us was the
(Cic. De Ley. iii. 17); but as its object seems to In the following year he obtained a stage
have been to prevent intimidation on the part of more suitable to his abilities ; for he went as pro-
the nobles, it was strongly opposed by the senate. praetor into the province of Further Spain, which
Only four years had elapsed since the death of he cleared of the robbers and marauders who
C. Gracchus, and the aristocratical party at Rome, swarmed in that country.
flushed with victory, and undisputed masters of From the moment that Marius obtained the
the state, resolved to put down with a high hand praetorship, he no doubt kept his eyes steadily
the least invasion of their privileges and power. fixed upon the consulship; but he felt that his
The senate, accordingly, on the proposition of the time was not yet come. The nobles jealously
consul L. Cotta, summoned Marius before them to guarded the highest dignity of the state against
account for his conduct, probably thinking that any the intrusion of any new men ; but their venality
tribune, and especially one who had no experience and corruption, which were shortly to be displayed
in political life, with the fate of the Gracchi before with more than usual shamelessness in the war
his eyes, might be easily frightened into submission. with Jugurtha, were gradually raising at Rome a
They little knew, however, with what stern stuff storm of popular indignation, and preparing the
they had to deal. When he appeared before the way for Marius. Although he possessed neither ?
senate, far from being overawed, as they had an- wealth nor eloquence, by which the Roman people
ticipated, he threatened to send Cotta to prison, were chiefly influenced, yet he gained much 'popu-
unless the decree was rescinded ; and when the larity by his well-known energy of character, his
latter asked the opinion of his colleague Metellus, patient endurance of toil and hardship, and his
and the latter bade him adhere to the decree, simple mode of life, which formed a striking con-
Marius straightway sent for his officer, who was trast to the extravagant and voluptuous habits of
outside the senate-house, and ordered him to carry his noble contemporaries. It was about this time
off Metellus himself to prison. The consul im- too that he strengthened his connections, and gained
plored in vain the interposition of the other tribunes, additional consequence in the eyes of the people,
and the senate, unprepared for such an act of by forming an alliance with the illustrious Julian
vigorous determination, dropped their unconstitu- house, by marrying Julia, the sister of C. Julius
tioual decree, and allowed the law to be carried. Caesar, who was the father of the subsequent ruler
The favour, however, which Marius acquired with of Rome.
the people by his firmness in this matter, was We have no information of the occupations of
somewhat damped a short time after in the same Marius for the next few years, and we do not read
year, by his opposing a measure for the distribution of him again till B. c. 109, in which year he went
of corn among the people, which, he rightly thought, into Africa as the legate of the consul Q. Caecilius
would have only the tendency of fostering those Metellus, who had previously assisted him in
habits of idleness and licentiousness which were obtaining the tribunate of the plebs. Here, in the
spreading so rapidly among the population of the war against Jugurtha, the military genius of Marius
city.
had ample opportunity of displaying itself, and he
Still the general conduct of Marius in his tri- was soon regarded as the most distinguished officer
bunate had earned for him the goodwill of the in the army. The readiness with which he shared
people and the hatred of the aristocracy. The the toils of the common soldiers, eating of the
latter resolved to oppose him with all their might ; same food and working at the same trenches as
and accordingly, when he became a candidate for they did, endeared him to their hearts, and through
the curule aedileship, they used every effort to their letters to their friends at Rome, his praises
frustrate his election. Seeing on the day of election were in every body's mouth. His increasing reputa-
that he had no chance of obtaining the curule tion fired him with a stronger desire, and presented
aedileship, he offered himself as a candidate for the him with better hopes than he had hitherto had, of
plebeian aedileship, but likewise failed in obtaining obtaining the long-cherished object of his ambition.
the latter. The proud and haughty spirit of These desires and hopes were still further inflamed
Marius was deeply galled by this repulse ; and it and increased by a circumstance which happened to
must bave tended to foster and augment those him at Utica. Marius was not tainted by the
feelings of bitter personal hatred to the aristocracy fashionable infidelity which was gaining rapid
which were constantly apparent in his subsequent ground among the higher circles at Kome; he was
life. It was with great difficulty that he gained on the contrary very superstitious, and, in his wars
his election to the prietorship ; he had the smallest with the Cimbri, always carried with him a Syrian
number of votes of those who were elected ; and or Jewish prophetess of the name of Martha; and
he was still further exasperated by being prosecuted | while he was sacrificing on one occasion at Útican
1
## p. 954 (#970) ############################################
954
MARIUS.
MARIUS.
penetrate into
writers (Eu
Romans were
the con mard
defeated by
did not, bow
ose cutes
od marched
insation of
Cebri alos
poned by is
bad their fc
the Tigurir
20w poated
kent army
western par
Tince of the
L. 109
"
izated by
cat in piet
Marius's
who lost
Fards .
кер рги
the officiating priest told him that the victinis pre- chose to offer for the service, however poor and
dicted some great and wonderful events, and there mean, instead of taking them from the five classes
fore bade him, with full reliance upon the aid of according to ancient custom. Having thus col-
the gods, to execute whatever purpose he had in lected a larger number of troops than had been
his mind. Marius regarded this as a voice from decreed, he crossed over into Africa. Metellus,
heaven ; he was then, as ever, thinking of the not bearing to see the man who had robbed him of
consulship, and he therefore resolved at once to the glory of bringing the war to a conclusion, pri-
apply to Metellus for leave of absence, that he vately sailed from Africa, and left P. Rutilius, one
might proceed to Rome and offer himself as a can- of his legates, to deliver up the army to Marius.
didate. This, however, Metellus, who belonged to As soon as he had received the army, Marius con-
a family of the highest nobility, would not grant. tinued the war with great vigour ; but the history
He at first tried to dissuade him from his presump of his operations are related elsewhere. (JUGUR-
tuous attempt, by pointing out the certainty of THA. ) It is sufficient to state here that he was
failure ; and when he could not prevail upon him unable to bring the war to a conclusion in the first
to abandon his design, he civilly evaded his request campaign, and it was not till the beginning of the
by pleading the exigencies of the public service, next year (B. c. 106) that Jugurtha was betrayed
which required the presence and assistance of his by Boochus, king of Mauritania, into the hands of
legate. But, as Marius still continued to press Marius, who sent his quaestor L. Sulla to receive
him for leave of absence, . Metellus had the im- him from the Mauritanian king. Thus it hap-
prudence to say to him on one occasion, “You pened that Marius gave to his future enemy and
need not be in such a hurry to go to Rome; it the destroyer of his family and party, the first
will be quite time enough for you to apply for the opportunity of distinguishing himself; and this
consulship along with my son. The latter, who very circumstance sowed the seeds of the personal
was then serving with the army, was only a youth hatred which afterwards existed between them, and
of twenty years of age, and could not, therefore, which was still further increased by political causes.
become a candidate for the consulship for upwards The enemies of Marius claimed for Sulla the glory
of twenty years more. Such an insult was not of the betrayal of Jugurtha, and the young pa-
likely to be forgotten by a man like Marius.
He trician nobleman appropriated the credit of it to
forth with began to intrigue against his general, and himself, by always wearing a signet-ring on which
to represent that the war was purposely prolouged he had had engraved the surrender of Jugurtha by
by Metellus to gratify his own vanity and love of Bocchus. By constantly wearing this ring,” says
military power. He openly declared, that with Plutarch, * Sulla irritated Marius, who was an
one half of the army he would soon have Jugurtha ambitious and quarrelsome man, and could endure
in chains; and as all his remarks were carefully no partner in his glory. "
reported at Rome, the people began to regard him Though the war against Jugurtha was thus
as the only person competent to finish the war. brought to a close, Marius did not immediately
Metellus, wearied out with his importunity, and return to Italy, but remained nearly two years
perceiving that he was exciting intrigues against longer in Numidia, during which time he was pro-
him in the army, at last allowed him to go, but, bably engaged in completely subjugating the
according to Plutarch, only twelve days before the country, and establishing the Roman power on a
election. Meeting with a favourable wind, he firmer basis. Meantime, a far greater danger than
arrived at Rome in time, and was elected consul Rome had experienced since the time of Hannibal
with an enthusiasm which bore down all opposition was now threatening the state. Vast numbers of
before it.
barbarians, such as spread over the south of Europe
Marius entered upon his first consulship in B. C. in the later times of the Roman empire, had col-
107, at the age of fifty, and received from the lected together on the northern side of the Alps,
people the province of Numidia although the and were ready to pour down upon Italy. The
senate had previously decreed that Metellus should two leading nations of which they consisted are
continue in his command. The exultation of Marius called Cimbri and Teutones, the former of whom
knew no bounds. Instead of deserting the popular are supposed to have been Celts, of the same race
party, as has been constantly done by popular as the Cymri (comp. Amold, Hist. of Rome, vol. i.
leaders when they have once been enrolled in the p. 519, &c. ; Niebuhr, Lectures on Roman History,
ranks of the aristocracy, Marius gloried in his vol. i. p. 365), and the latter Gauls ; but the exact
humble origin, and took every opportunity of in- parts of Europe from which they came is quite un-
sulting and trampling upon the party which had certain. To these two great races were added the
for so many years been trying to put him down. Ambrones, who are conjectured, though on some
He told them that he regarded his election as a what slight grounds, to have been Ligurians (comp.
victory over their effeminacy and licentiousness, Plut. Mar. 19) and some of the Swiss tribes, such
and that he looked upon the consulship as a trophy as the Tigurini. The whole host is said to have
of his conquest ; and be proudly compared his own contained 300,000 fighting men, besides a much
wounds and military experience with their indolent larger number of women and children ; and though
habits and ignorance of war. It was a great the exact calculations of the numbers of such bar-
triumph for the people, and a great humiliation for barians is little worthy of credit, yet it is certain
the aristocracy, and Marius made the latter drink that there was an immense and almost incredible
to the dregs the bitter cup which they had to multitude hanging on the frontiers of Italy. The
swallow. His was no forgiving temper, but a general alarm at Rome was still further increased
stern, a fierce, and almost savage one; and he weil by the ill success which had hitherto attended the
earned the reputation of being a “good hater. ” arms of the republic against these barbarians Army
While engaged in these attacks upon the nobility, after army had fallen before them. They were
he at the same time carried on a levy of troops first heard of in B. c. 113, in Noricum, whence they
with great activity, and enrolled any persons who descended into Illyricum, but probably did not
command
and the
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## p. 955 (#971) ############################################
MARIUS.
955
MARIUS.
penetrate into Italy, as is stated by some ancient | ances, he pretended to be anxious to be released
writers. (Eutrop. iv. 25; Obsequ. 98. ) The from the honour. And fortunate was it for Rome
Romans sent an army to defend Illyricum, under that the supreme command was still entrusted to
the command of Cn. Papirius Carbo, but he was him ; for in this very year the long-expected bar.
defeated by the barbarians (CARBO, No. 3), who barians at length arrived. The Cimbri
, who had
did not, however, follow up their victory, but for returned from Spain, united their forces with the
some causes unknown to us, retired into Noricum, Teutones, though where the latter people had been
and marched westward into Switzerland. In the meantime is quite uucertain. It is, moreover, ex-
invasion of Illyricum, mention is made of the ceedingly difficult to make out clearly the move
Cimbri alone ; and when and where they were ments of the different armies, since the records of
joined by the Teutones is uncertain. In Switzer- this period of history are very scanty and often
land their forces were still further augmented by contradictory. It appears, however, that Marius
the Tigurini and the Ambrones ; and the barbarians first took up his position in a fortified camp on the
low poured over Gaul, and seem to have plundered Rhone, probably in the vicinity of the modern
and ravaged it in every direction. The Romans Arles ; and as the entrance of the river was nearly
sent army after army to defend at least the south- blocked up by mud and sand, he employed his
western part of the country, which was now a pro- soldiers in digging a canal from the Rhone to the
vince of the Roman state ; but all in vain. ' In Mediterranean, that he might the more easily ob-
B. c. 109 the consul, M. Junius Silanus, was de tain his supplies from the sea. From thence he
feated by the Cimbri; in B. c. 107 the Tigurini marched northwards, and stationed himself at the
cut in pieces, near the lake of Geneva, the army of junction of the Rhone and the Isara (Isère). (Oros.
Marius's colleague, the consul L. Cassius Longinus, v. 16. ) Meantime, the barbarians had divided their
who lost his life in the battle ; and shortly after- forces. The Cimbri quitted the Teutones and
wards M. Aurelius Scanrus was also defeated and Ambrones, and marched round the northern foot
taken prisoner. But the most dreadful loss was of the Alps, in order to enter Italy by the north-
still to come. In B. c. 105 two consular armies, east, crossing the Tyrolese Alps by the defiles of
commanded by the consul Cn. Mallius Maximus Tridentum (Trent). The Teutones and Ambrones
and the proconsul Cn. Servilius Caepio, consisting on the other hand marched against Marius, intend-
of 80,000 men, were completely annihilated by the ing, as it seems, to penetrate into Italy by Nice
barbarians: only two men are said to have escaped and the Riviera of Genoa. Marius, anxious to
the slaughter. (Caepio, No. 7. )
accustom his soldiers to the savage and strange ap-
These repeated disasters hushed all party quar- pearance of the barbarians, would not give them
rels. Every one at Rome felt that Marius was the battle at first. The latter accordingly resolved to
only man capable of saving the state, and he was attack the Roman camp; but as they were re-
accordingly elected consul by the unanimous votes pulsed in this attempt, they broke up their en-
of all parties, wbile he was still absent in Africa campment, and pressed on at once for Italy. So
He entered Rome in triumph on the 1st of January, great were their numbers, that they are said to
B. c. 104, which was also the first day of his second have been six days in marching by the Roman
consulship, leading Jugurtha in chains in the pro camp. As soon as they had advanced a little way,
cession. On this day he gave a striking instance Marius also quitted his station and followed them;
of his arrogance, by entering the senate-house in and thus the armies continued to march for a few
his triumphal robes. Meanwhile, the threatened days, the barbarians in the front and Marius be-
danger was for a while averted. Instead of cross- hind, till they came to the neighbourhood of Aquae
ing the Alps, and pouring down upon Italy, as had Sextiae (Aix). Here the decisive battle was
been expected, the Cimbri marched into Spain, fought. Marius had pitched his camp in a spot
which they ravaged for the next two or three which was badly supplied with water, and is said
years. This interval was advantageously employed to have done so intentionally. The necessity which
by Marius in training the new troops, and accus the Roman soldiers were under of obtaining their
toming them to bardships and toil. It was pro- water in the neighbourhood of the barbarians' camp,
bably during this time that he introduced the led to a fierce skirmish between the two armies ;
various changes into the organization of the Roman and this was followed, after the lapse of two or
army, which are usually attributed to him. Not- three days, by a general engagement. The battle
withstanding the stemness and severity with which was fiercely contested ; but an ambush of 3000
he punished the least breach of discipline, he gra- soldiers, which Marius had stationed under the
dually became a great favourite with his new command of Claudius Marcellus, in the rear of the
troops, who learnt to place implicit confidence in barbarians, and which fell upon them when they
their general, and were especially delighted with were already retreating before Marius, decided
the strict impartiality with which he visited the the fortune of the day. Attacked both in front
offences of the officers as well as of the privates. and rear, and also dreadfully exhausted by the
As the enemy still continued in Spain, Marius excessive heat of the weather, they at length
was elected consul a third time for the year B. C. broke their ranks and fled. The carnage was
103 ; but since they did not make their appearance dreadful ; some writers speak of 200,000 slain,
even during the latter year, the Romans began to and 80,000 taken prisoners (Liv. Epit. 68 ; Oros.
recover a little from their panic, and several candi- v. 16); others state the number of the slain at
dates of distinction offered themselves for the 150,000 (Vell. Pat. ii. 12); while another state-
consulship. Under these circumstances Marius ment reduces the number to 100,000 (Plut. Mar.
repaired to Rome, where he gained over L. Satur- 21); but whatever may bave been the number that
ninus, the most popular of the tribunes, who per- fell, the whole nation was annihilated, for those
suaded the people to confer the consulship upon who escaped put an end to their lives, and their
Marius again, who was accordingly elected for the wives followed their example. Immediately after
fourth time (8. c. 102), although, to save appear- | the battle, as Marius was in the act of setting fire
## p. 956 (#972) ############################################
956
MARIUS.
MARIUS.
which Marias
state was still
popularity and
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command of
Upon Mario
saccess retro
band, and
to the vast heap of broken arms which had been gain the tribunate, did not hesitate to assassinato
collected together, and which was intended as an A. Nonius, because he was a rival candidate.
offering to the gods, horsemen rode up to him, and Marius in his sixth consulship (B. C. 100) was
greeted him with the news of his being elected guilty of an act of the deepest perfidy, in order to
consul for the fifth time.
ruin his old enemy Metellus. Saturninus had pro
The Cimbri, in the mean time, had forced their posed an agrarian law (SATURNINUS), and had
way into Italy. The colleague of Marius, Q. Lu- added to it the clause, that if the people passed the
tatius Catulus, despairing of defending the passes law, the senate should swear obedience to it
of the Tyrol, had taken up a strong position on the within five days, and whoever refused to do so
Athesis (Adige); but in consequence of the terror should be expelled from the senate, and pay a fine
of his soldiers at the approach of the barbarians, he of twenty talents. In order to entrap Metellus,
was obliged to retreat even beyond the Po, thus Marius got up in his place in the sennie, and de-
leaving the whole of the rich plain of Lombardy clared that he would never take the oath, and
exposed to the ravages of the barbarians. Marius Metellus made the saine declaration ; but when the
was thereupon recalled to Rome. The senate tribune summoned the senators to the rostra to
offered him a triumph for his victory over the comply with the demand of the law, Marius, to the
Teutones, which he declined while the Cimbri were astonishment of all, inmediately took the oath, and
in Italy, and proceeded to join Catulus, who now advised the senate to follow his example. Metellus
commanded as proconsul, B. c. 101. The army of alone refused compliince, and was in consequence
Marius had also marched into Italy, and with banished from the city. The next act of Marius
their united forces Marius and Catulus hastened in was one of equal treachery. He had availed him-
search of the enemy. They came up with them self of the services of Situminus to gain the con-
near Vercellae (Vercelli), westward of Milan, and sulship and ruin Metellus, and had supported him
the decisive battle was fought on the 30th of July, in all his violent and unconstitutional proceedings;
in a plain called the Raudii Campi, the exact posi- but when he found that Saturninus had gone too
tion of which is uncertain, but which must have far, and had excited a storm of universal indig-
been in the neighbourhood of Vercellae. The nation and hatred, Marius deserted his companion
Cimbri met with the same fate as the Teutones ; in guilt ; and being applied to by the senate to
the slain are again spoken of as between one and crush Saturninus and his crew, he complied with
two hundred thousand ; and the women, like those the request. Invested by the senate with absolute
of the Teutones, put an end to their lives. The power, by the well-known decree, Videret, nequid
Tigurini, who had been stationed at the passes of res publica detrimenti caperet, he collected an armed
the Tyrolese Alps, took to flight and dispersed, as force, and laid siege to the capitol, where Satur-
soon as they heard of the destruction of their ninus, Glaucia, and their confederates, had taken
brethren in arms. The details of this battle are refuge. Marius cut off the pipes which supplied
given elsewhere (Catulus, No. 3), where it is the capitol with water, and obliged the conspirators
shown that there are strong reasons for doubting to surrender at discretion ; and though he made
the account of Plutarch, which assigns the glory of some efforts to save their lives, they were put to
this victory to Catulus. At Rome, at all events, death immediately they had descended into the
the whole credit was given to Marius ; he was forum. By the share which he had taken in this
hailed as the saviour of the state ; his name was transaction, Marius lost the favour of a great part,
coupled with the gods in the libations and at ban- of the people, without gaining that of the senate ;
quets, and he received the title of third founder of and, accordingly, when the time for the election of
Rome. He celebrated his victories by the most the censors came, he did not venture to offer him-
brilliant triumph, in which Catulus, however, was self as a candidate, but allowed persons of far in-
allowed to share.
ferior pretensions to gain this dignity, to which his
Hitherto the career of Marius had been a glorious rank and position in the state would seem to have
one, and it would have been fortunate for him, as entitled him.
Niebubr has remarked, if he had died on the day The sixth consulship of Marius ended in disgrace
of his triumph. The remainder of his life is full and shame. In the following year (B. c. 99) he
of borrors, and brings out into prominent relief the left Rome, in order that he might not witness the
worst features of his character. As the time for return of Metellus from exile, a measure which he
the consular elections approached, Marius was eager had been unable to prevent, and set sail for Cap-
to obtain this dignity for the sixth time, and was padocia and Galatia, under the pretence of offering
therefore obliged, contrary to his inclination and sacrifices which he had vowed to the Great Mother.
character, to play the part of a popular man, and to He had however a deeper purpose in visiting these
court the favour of the electors. He wished to be countries. Finding that he was losing his influence
first in peace as well as in war, and to rule the and popularity while the republic was in a state of
state as well as the army. But he did not possess peace, he was anxious to recover his lost ground by
the qualities requisite for a popular leader at Rome ; gaining fresh victories in war, and accordingly re-
he had no power of oratory, and lost his presence paired to the court of Mithridates, in hopes of
of mind in the noise and shouts of the popular rousing him to make war upon the Romans.
assemblies. In order to secure his election, he was during his absence that he was elected augur.
entered into close connection with two of the worst Marius on his return to Rome built a house
demagogues that ever appeared at Rome, Satur- near the forum, that the people might not have to
ninus and Glaucia, the former of whom was a can- come so far to pay their respects to him ; but all
didate for the tribunate, and the latter for the prae- his efforts were vain to regain his lost popularity ;
· torship, and by their means, as well as by bribing and the hopes he had entertained of obtaining the
the tribes, he secured his election to the consulship command of the war in Asia were also frustrated by
for the sixth time. Saturninus and Glaucia also the ability with which Sulla repressed all disturb-
carried their elections ; and the former, in order to , ances in the East in B. c. 92. The disappointment
bis weaknes
toils of the
been most is
warlike and
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desperate
2
## p. 957 (#973) ############################################
MARIUS.
957
MARIUS.
;
:
which Marius felt at losing his influence in the portunity for distinction, and obtain it for himself.
state was still further exasperated by the growing He got the tribune, P. Sulpicius Rufus, to bring
popularity and power of Sulla ; and when Bocchus forward a law for distributing the Italian allies,
erected in the capitol gilded figures, representing who had just obtained the Roman franchise, among
the surrender of jugurtha to Sulla, Marius was so all the tribes ; and as they greatly exceeded
inflamed with rage, that he resolved to pull them the old citizens in number, they would of course
down by force. Sulla was making preparations to be able to carry whatever they pleased in the co-
resist him ; and both parties would probably have mitia. If this law were passed, they would of
come to open violence, had not the Social War course, out of gratitude to Marius, annul the re-
broken out just at that time (B. C. 90). This war solution of the senate, and give the command of
required all the services of all the generals that the Mithridatic war to their benefactor. This law
Rome possessed, and, accordingly, both Marius and met with the most vehement opposition from the
Sulla were actively employed in it. But although old citizens; and the consuls, to prevent it from
Marius showed great military abilities in the being carried, declared a justitium, during which
manner in which he conducted his share of the no business could be legally transacted. But Ma-
war, yet he was considered to be over cautious and rius and Sulpicius were resolved to have recourse
too slow; and his achievements were thrown into to the last extremities sooner than lose their point.
the shade by the superior energy and activity of They entered the forum with an armed force, and
Sulla. Marius was now in bis sixty-seventh year: called upon the consuls to withdraw the justitium:
his body had grown stout and unwieldy, and he in the tumult which followed the young son of
was incapable of enduring the fatigue of very Pompeius, the colleague of Sulla, was murdered,
active service. He served as the legate of the and Sulla himself only escaped by taking refuge in
consul P. Rutilius Lupus; and after the latter had the house of Marius, which was close to the forum.
fallen in battle [Lupus, RUTILIUS), the chief To save their lives the consuls were obliged to
command of the northern scene of the war devolved withdraw the justitium : the law of Sulpicius was
upon Marius.
He defeated the Marsi in two carried ; and the tribes, in which the new citizens
successive battles, after which he gave up the com- now had the majority, appointed Marius to the
mand, and returned to Rome, on the ground that command of the war against Mithridates.
his weakness rendered him unable to endure the Marius had now gained the great object of his
toils of the campaign. His services, however, had ambition ; but it was hardly to be expected that a
been most important, for he had defeated the most power which had been violently obtained should
warlike and the most dangerous of all the allies. be peacefully surrendered. The army destined for
An anecdote preserved by Plutarch respecting the the Mithridatic war was stationed at Nola, and
conduct of Marius in this campaign is characteristic thither Marius sent two military tribunes, to take
of the veteran general. Marius had strongly in the command of the troops and bring them to him.
trenched himself in a fortified camp, and neither But Sulla, who had previously joined the army,
the stratagems nor the taunts of the enemy could encouraged the soldiers to disobey the orders: they
entice him from his favourable position. At length murdered the tribunes whom Marius had sent";
Pompaedius Silo, the leader of the Marsi, endea- and when Sulla declared his intention of marching
voured to draw him out by appealing to his military to the city, and of putting down force by force,
pride. “If you are a great general, Marius, come they readily responded to his call. Marius had not
down and fight;" to which the veteran replied, expected this daring step, and was not prepared to
“Nay, do you, if you are a great general, coinpel meet it. Sulla was marching at the head of six
me to fight against my will. "
legions; and in order to obtain troops to oppose
In B. C.
