Gaius+Marius


 * Who:** Gaius Marius - only has 2 names
 * What:** Roman pleb who grew to become a general and consul for 7 times before he died
 * When:** 157 - 86 BCE. Roman Republic just before Julius Caesar
 * Where:** Political dealings in Rome itself. Marius fought in campaigns across the Mediterranean. Most notably in Africa against King Jugurtha of Numidia when he revolted against Rome. This is when Marius was first elected consul. He later fought in Gaul before returning to Rome.
 * Why:** When fighting against Jugurtha, Marius had an officer named Sulla. After the war, Sulla claimed credit for Marius' victories. He gained power in Rome and exiled Marius. The two eventually started a civil war: both marched on Rome with their armies and killed anyone who opposed them. Marius died during his 7 consulship and Sulla gained power and attempted to undo what Marius had done. Because Marius was a pleb, people were upset that he had risen to such great power. Sulla attempted to erase any memory of this.

-The events came just years after the attempted reforms of the Gracchus brothers. It demonstrates political and social change in Rome just before it became an Empire.