Marius and Sulla

Sarah Widder and Dani Skor

Marius

• He lived from 157 BCE to 86 BCE

• He was a soldier in the Jugurthan War, and then in 107 BCE he was elected consul and became the general in charge of the war

• by promising soldiers land, he recruited a large volunteer army and defeated Jugurtha in 105 BCE.

Marius

• he returned to Rome a hero and was reelected to the consulship four more times while he defeated German invaders

• he allied with Saturnius and Glaucia, leaders of the popular party, and together they ruled Rome

• people in Rome were unhappy with this - they started revolts and riots in Rome

Marius

• Saturnius and Glaucia were killed and Marius fled from Rome

• he returned to help the army defeat rebelling Italians, but Sulla, a rising political leader, was the chief commander

• Sulla was elected consul after defeating the Italians, and Marius was very jealous

Marius

• While Sulla was fighting a war in the east, Marius and the populares seized Rome

• Marius and his allies had their political enemies murdered or exiled and confiscated their property

• this ended with Marius' death early in his seventh consulship in in 86 BCE, and Sulla's return in 83 BCE.

Sulla

• Born into an aristocratic family, he became quaestor under Marius in 106-7 BC, consul in 88 and 80 BC, and dictator from 82-79 BC

• In the Social War, where Italiansfought for citizenship, he was madechief commander

• He gained more power when he was a lieutenant to Marius againstJugurtha, proved himself in the Cimbric War, leading to his 1st consulship

Sulla

• Sulla got to command the Eastern army, but Marius never did, so he worked hard to stay in shape despite old age to get his revenge

• Marius passed the Sulpician lawsto kick Sulla out of office force him to hand over the army

• Sulla used his troops to drive Marius out of Italy

Sulla

• The king of Pontus attacked Roman land, Sulla went off to fight and

won money and warships

• When he came back, he found that his followers had been killed by Marius

• He effectively had all of hisenemies murdered

Sulla

• Became dictator by giving veteran soldiers land to support him, killing enemies

• Made important reforms that were mostly reversed after his death like a criminal court system, giving Senate more power

• Once Senate had mostpower, he retired

• He died in 78 BC and had a huge publicfuneral.