A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

MARIUS. MARIUS. 957
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 coresist 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 rebroken 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 Mawar, 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 his sixty-seventh year: called upon the consuls to withdraw the justitiurn:
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, RUTILUS], 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 cornm- 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, compel 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. 88 the ambition of Marius at length in- the latter, Marius attempted to raise a force by the
volved Rome in a'civil war, which was attended abominable expedient of offering freedom to all
with the most frightful horrors. Insatiably fond slaves who would join him. But it was all in vain.'
of power and distinction, Marius was anxious to Sulla entered the city without much difficulty, and
obtain the command of the war against Mithridates; Marius, with his son and a few companions, were
and as he was supposed to be incapable of enduring obliged to take to flight. Sulla used his victory
the fatigues'of a campaign, he actually went daily'with comparative moderation. Marius, Sulpicius,'
to the Campus Martius, to go through the usual and a few others, were declared enemies of the
exercises with the young men. It was a melan- state, and condemned to death; their property was
choly sight- to see the old man so lost to all true confiscated, and a price set upon their heads; but no
dignity' and greatness; and the wiser part, says attempt was made against the lives of any others.
Plutarch, " lamented to witness his greediness after Marius and his son left Rome together, but aftergain and distinction; and:they pitied a man, who, wards separaited, and the latter escaped in safety to
having risen from poverty to enormous wealth, and Africa. Marius with his stepson Granius emnto the highest station from a low degree, knew not barked on board ship at Ostia, and thence sailed
when to put bounds to his good fortune, and was southward along the coast of Italy, exposed to the
-not satisfied with being an object of admiration, greatest dangers, and enduring the greatest hardand quietly'enjoying what he had; but as if he' was ships. At Circeii Marius and his companions
in want of every thing, after his triumphs and his were obliged to land, on account of the violence of
honours was'setting out to Cappadocia and the the wind and the want of provisions; but they
Euxine to oppose himself in his old age to Arche- could obtain nothing to eat, and after wandering
laus and:Neoptolemus,' the satraps of Mithridates." about for a long time, they learnt from some peaBut all his efforts were in vain: his great enemy sants that a number of horsemen had been in search
Sulla obtained' the consulship (B. c. 88), and the of them, and they accordingly turned aside from
senate gave him the command of the war against the road, and passed the night in a deep wood in
Mithridates.'Thereupon'Marius resolved to make great suffering' and want. But the indomitable
a desperate attempt to deprive his rival of this op- spirit of the old man did not fail him; and he