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The Roman Revolution

Marius at his Height

In order for Marius to finance his campaigns and to carry out his reforms, he had to have legislation passed, for nothing of significance was done in Rome without the Senate. Marius was the general, however, and had to be with the troops.

Marius needed a representative in Rome, an advocate who could tend to the political side of Marius' career. This advocate was audio gif Saturninus - unscrupulous and brilliant, a rabble rouser of the first order. Himself ruthless, his only aim was to support the cause of Marius by whatever means. He used gangs and mob violence to see through Marius' measures.

Marius was never very good at politics, so he needed Saturninus. But he did not much like him. Eventually, Saturninus acquired his own ambitions. He went too far and Marius was forced to return and crush him in 99. At this time, Marius' army was in Rome; he could have used it to get anything he wanted. No one dared stand against him. He could have brought the Republic down and established himself as a tyrant.

Instead, he went to the East, where yet another war was offering. That Marius did not move against the Senate says much about his nature. He was no revolutionary. In truth, Gaius Marius wanted most the one thing he would never have: he wanted acceptance. He wanted to be part of the ruling class. But the path he took in fact dreadfully undermined the ruling class and the very balance of power within Roman politics.