Gaius Marius (155-86B.C.) was a Plebian, son of a farmer. He fought under Africanus in Spain and also fought in Gaul. He married Julius Caesar's aunt and was a populare. By marring Julia (Caesar's aunt) he got a new social ranking. He also was elected Consul, which was a strange honor for a man of Plebian decent. Marius was elected Consul 6 times and fought against the Teutons who were the most powerful of the region. Once there was a war with Mithradates and Athens, and Sulla was sent to fight them off. Marius then sent 15,000 men to fight them off. Strangely the men joined sides with Sulla, and Sulla went to Rome. Sulla conquered Rome and became dictator.
Gaius Marius made great changes to the Roman Army. He first made the Cohort the military unit instead of the maniple. He also was the first to use the Mercenaries. Gaius also made another and even greater reform involving soldiers. Before, soldiers could become other things and weren't well disciplined. He now made official cohorts that served full time and a soldier could only be a soldier. Without many of his reforms the Roman Empire might not have lasted the time it did. |
