BIOGRAPHY WORKBOOK Gaius Marius

GAIUS MARIUS (157-86 B.C.E.)

Gaius Marius was at this time 2. In what township was Gaius forty-eight years old. Two-thirds of Marius born? his life were over, and a name which ______was to sound throughout the world ______and be remembered through all ages, ______had as yet been scarcely heard of ______beyond the army and the political ______clubs in . Marius forced his way steadily 1. How old was Gaius Marius when upward, by his mere soldier-like he began to enter the public eye? qualities, to the rank of military ______tribune. Rome, too, had learnt to know ______him, for he was chosen tribune of the ______people the year after the murder of ______Gaius Gracchus. Being a self-made ______man, he belonged naturally to the popular party (the ). While Gaius Marius was born at in office he gave offense in some way Arpinum, a township, seventy to the men in power, and was called miles from the capital, in the year 157 before the Senate to answer for B.C.E. His father was a small farmer, himself. But he had the right on his and he was himself bred to the plow. side, it is likely, for they found him Gaius Marius joined the army early, stubborn and impertinent, and they and soon attracted notice by his could make nothing of their charges punctual discharge of his duties. against him. He was not bidding at In a time of growing looseness, this time, however, for the support of Marius was strict himself in keeping the mob. He had the integrity and discipline and in enforcing it as he sense to oppose the largesse of corn. rose in the service. He was in Spain He forfeited his popularity by trying to when was there, and made close the public granaries before the himself especially useful to Scipio. practice had passed into a system. He

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Gaius Marius seemed as if made of a block of hard Marius by this marriage became Roman oak, gnarled and knotted, but a person of social consideration. His sound in all its fibers. father had been a client of the Metelli. Cæcilius Metellus, who must have 3. To what political party did Gaius known Marius by reputation and Marius belong? probably in person, invited him to go ______as second in command in the African ______campaign. Marius was moderately ______successful. Towns were taken, battles ______were won: Metellus was incorruptible, ______and the Numidians sued for peace. But Jugurtha wanted terms, and the Gaius Marius’ professional merit consul demanded unconditional continued to recommend him. At the surrender. Jugurtha withdrew into the age of forty he became prætor, and desert and the war dragged on. was sent to Spain, where he left a Marius, perhaps ambitious, perhaps mark again by the successful severity impatient at the general's want of by which he cleared the province of vigor, began to think that he could banditti (bandits). He was a man make quicker work of it. neither given himself to talking, nor much talked about in the world. But 5. Why did the war with Jugurtha he was sought for wherever work was drag on? to be done, and he had made himself ______respected and valued in high circles. ______After his return from the Iberian ______Peninsula (Spain) he had married into ______one of the most distinguished of the ______patrician families. ______4. What public office did Marius enter ______at age forty? ______The popular party was stirring ______again in Rome, the Senate having so ______notoriously disgraced itself. There was ______just irritation that a petty African

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Gaius Marius prince could defy the whole power of was known. A successful general could Rome for so many years. Though a not be disposed of so easily as democratic consul had been unheard oratorical tribunes. Fortunately, of for a century, the name of Marius Marius was not a politician. He had no began to be spoken of as a possible belief in democracy. He was a soldier, candidate. Marius consented to stand. and had a soldier's way of thinking on The law required that he must be government and the methods of it. His present in person at the election, and first step was a reformation in the he applied to his commander for leave army. of absence. Metellus laughed at his pretensions, and bade him wait 7. Why was the Senate frightened by another twenty years. Marius, Marius’ election as tribune? however, persisted, and was allowed ______to go. The patricians strained their ______resources to defeat him, but he was ______chosen with enthusiasm. Metellus was ______recalled, and the conduct of the ______Numidian war was assigned to the ______new hero of the "Populares." ______6. Why did Metellus laugh at the ______perceived pretensions of Gaius ______Marius? ______Hitherto the Roman legions had ______been no more than the citizens in ______arms, called for the moment from their ______various occupations, to return to them ______when the occasion for their services ______was past. Marius had perceived that ______fewer men, better trained and ______disciplined, could be made more ______effective and be more easily handled. ______8. Why was Marius displeased with A shudder of alarm ran, no the system of a volunteer citizen doubt, through the Senate house, army? when the determination of the people ______

www.STUDENTHANDOUTS.com Page 4 Gaius Marius ______for his own sword, shield, etc., or a ______man who has been equipped by the ______state? ______He had studied war as a science. ______He had perceived that the present ______weakness need be no more than an ______accident, and that there was a latent ______force in the Roman state, which ______needed only organization to resume its ______ascendency. "He enlisted," it was said, ______"the worst of the citizens," men, that is ______to say, who had no occupation, and who became soldiers by profession. As Marius’ discipline was of the persons without property could not sternest. The experiment was new. have furnished themselves at their Men of rank who had a taste for war own cost, he must have carried out the in earnest, and did not wish that the scheme proposed by Gracchus, and popular party should have the whole equipped them at the expense of the benefit and credit of the state. improvements, were willing to go with him. Among them was a dissipated 9. In the old , citizens young patrician, called Lucius , had to have enough money to buy whose name also was destined to be their own weaponry. Under memorable. Marius, a soldier’s wealth did not matter, because the government 10. Why were the wealthy still bought the soldier’s weaponry. Do willing to enter military service you believe that Marius was right following Marius’ reforms? to open up soldiering to the poor? ______Who, in your opinion, makes a ______better soldier—a man who has paid ______

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Gaius Marius ______The German forests were ______uncultivated. The hunting and pasture ______grounds were too straight for the ______numbers crowded into them, and two ______enormous hordes were rolling ______westward and southward in search of ______some new abiding place. Each division consisted of hundreds of thousands. By these methods, and out of They traveled with their wives and these materials, an army was formed, children. Their wagons, as with the such as no Roman general had ancient Scythians and with the early hitherto led. It performed American pioneers, being at once their extraordinary marches, carried its conveyance and their home. Gray- water supplies with it in skins, and haired priestesses tramped along followed the enemy across sandy among them, barefooted, in white deserts hitherto found impassable. In linen dresses, the knife at their less than two years the war was over. girdle—northern Iphigenias, The Moors, to whom Jugurtha had sacrificing prisoners as they were fled, surrendered him to Sulla. taken, to the gods of Valhalla. Jugurtha was brought in chains to Rome, where he finished his life in a 12. Why were Germanic barbarians dungeon. encroaching upon Roman territory? ______11. How long, after Marius’ reforms, ______until Jugurtha was defeated? ______Marius had formed an army ______barely in time to save Italy from being totally overwhelmed. A vast migratory On they swept, eating up the wave of population (largely Germanic country, and the people flying before barbarians) had been set in motion them. In 113 B.C.E., the skirts of the behind the Rhine and the Danube. (a barbarian tribe from

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Gaius Marius northern Europe, in what is now and were simply annihilated. Eighty Denmark’s Jutland Peninsula, thousand Romans and forty thousand probably Germanic but possibly Celtic) camp-followers were said to have had encountered a small Roman force fallen. The numbers in such cases are near Trieste, and destroyed it. Four generally exaggerated, but the years later another attempt was made extravagance of the report is a witness to stop the Cimbri, but the Roman to the greatness of the overthrow. The army was beaten and its camp taken. Romans had received a worse blow The Cimbrian host did not, however, than at Cannæ. They were brave turn at that time upon Italy. Their enough, but they were commanded by aim was the south of France. They persons whose recommendations for made their way through the into command were birth or fortune— , where the joined "preposterous men," as Marius termed them and the united mass rolled over them, who had waited for their the Jura (a mountain range located in appointment to open the military modern France near the French manuals. borders with Germany and Switzerland) and down the bank of the 14. Why was Marius opposed to Rhone. “preposterous men” in the military? ______13. Who were the Cimbri? ______Had the Cimbri chosen at this ______moment to re-cross the Alps into Italy, they had only to go and take Roused at last into the exertion, possession, and Alaric (a future the Senate sent into (what is barbarian conqueror of Rome) would now France) the largest force which have been antedated by five centuries. the Romans had ever brought into the In great danger it was the Senate's field. They met the Cimbri at Orange, business to suspend the constitution.

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Gaius Marius The constitution was set aside Marius first triumphed (a now, but it was set aside by the people triumph was a sort of parade held for themselves, not by the Senate. One a military hero) for his African victory, man only could save the country, and and, as an intimation to the Senate that man was Marius. His consulship that the power for the moment was his was over, and custom forbade his and not theirs, he entered the Curia in reelection. The Senate might have his triumphal dress. He then prepared appointed him Dictator, but would for the barbarians who, to the alarmed not. The people, custom or no custom, imagination of the city, were already chose him consul a second time—a knocking at its gates. significant acknowledgment that the Time was the important element empire, which had been won by the in the matter. Had the Cimbri come at sword, must be held by the sword, and once after their victory at Orange, that the sword itself must be held by Italy would have been theirs. But they the hand that was best fitted to use it. did not come. With the unguided movements of some wild force of 15. Do you agree with the sentiment nature, the Cimbri swerved away that an empire won by the sword through Aquitaine to the Pyrenees. must be held by the sword? Why or They swept across the mountains into why not? Spain. Thence, turning north, they ______passed up the Atlantic coast and ______round to the Seine, the flying ______before them. Thence on to the Rhine, ______where the vast body of the ______joined them, and fresh detachments of ______the Helvetii. It was as if some vast ______tide-wave had surged over the country ______and rolled through it, searching out ______the easiest passages. ______16. Imagine that you are an ancient ______Cimbrian. Would you have ______marched on Rome? Why or why ______not? ______

www.STUDENTHANDOUTS.com Page 8 Gaius Marius ______professional service, with regular pay. ______Trained corps of engineers were ______attached to each legion. The ______campaigns of the Romans were ______thenceforward to be conducted with ______spade and pickaxe as much as with ______sword and javelin, and the soldiers ______learnt the use of tools as well as arms. ______17. The Roman army was given ______time to prepare for an invasion ______thanks to the wanderings of the ______Cimbrians. ______a. True ______b. False ______The effect of the change was like enchantment. The delay of the At length, in two divisions, the barbarians made it unnecessary to invaders moved definitely toward wait for them in Italy. Leaving Italy, the Cimbri following their old Catulus, his colleague in the tracks by the Eastern Alps toward consulship, to check the Cimbri in Aquileia and the Adriatic, the Teutons Venetia, Marius went himself, taking passing down through , and Sulla with him, into the south of making for the road along the France. Mediterranean. As the barbarian host came on, Two years had been consumed Marius occupied a fortified camp near in these wanderings, and Marius was Aix. He allowed the enormous by this time ready for them. The procession to roll past him in their Senate had dropped the reins, and no wagons toward the Alps. Then, longer governed or misgoverned. The following cautiously, he watched his popular party (the Populares), opportunity to fall on them. The represented by the army, was barbarians were brave, but they had supreme. Marius was continued in no longer mere to fight office, and was a fourth time consul. with, but a powerful machine, and the He had completed his military entire mass of them, men, women, and reforms, and the army was now a children, in numbers which, however

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Gaius Marius uncertain, were rather those of a means were devised sufficient to nation than an army, were swept out encounter, it might be supposed, the of existence. The barbarians were new danger. Standing armies were destroyed on the 20th of July, 102 prohibited in Italy. Victorious generals B.C.E. In the year following, the same returning from campaigns abroad fate overtook their comrades. were required to disband their legions on entering the sacred soil. But the 18. When were the Cimbri materials of these legions remained a destroyed by Marius near the Alps? distinct order from the rest of the ______population, capable of instant ______combination, and in combination, ______irresistible, save by opposing ______combinations of the same kind. ______19. How did Marius’ military The Cimbri had forced the reforms change the political passes through the mountains. They landscape of ? had beaten the unscientific patrician ______Catulus, and had driven him back on ______the Po. But Marius came to his rescue. ______The Cimbri were cut to pieces near ______Mantua, in the summer of 101 B.C.E., ______and Italy was saved. ______The victories of Marius mark a ______new epoch in Roman history. The ______legions were no longer the levy of the ______citizens in arms, who were themselves ______the state for which they fought. The legionaries were citizens still. They The danger from the Germanic had votes, and they used them. But barbarians was no sooner gone than they were professional soldiers with political anarchy broke loose again. the modes of thought which belong to Marius, the man of the people, was the soldiers. Besides, the power of the savior of his country. He was made hustings (platforms for making consul a fifth time, and a sixth. The political speeches) was now the power party which had given him his of the sword. The constitution command shared, of course, in his pre- remained to appearance intact, and eminence. The elections could be no

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Gaius Marius longer interfered with or the voters ______intimidated. The public offices were ______filled with the most violent agitators, ______who believed that the time had come ______to avenge the , and carry out ______the democratic revolution, to establish ______the ideal Republic, and the direct rule ______of the citizen assembly. ______This, too, was a chimera (a foolish or impossible fantasy). If the Marius was an indifferent could not govern, far politician. He perceived as well as less could the Roman mob govern. anyone that violence must not go on, Marius stood aside, and let the voices but he hesitated to put it down. He rage. He could not be expected to knew that the aristocracy feared and support a system which had brought hated him. Between them and the the country so near to ruin. He had no people's consul no alliance was belief in the visions of the possible. He did not care to alienate demagogues, but the time was not ripe his friends, and there may have been to make an end of it all. Had he tried, other difficulties, which we do not the army would not have gone with know, in his way. The army itself was him; so he sat still, till faction had perhaps divided. On the popular side done its work. The popular heroes of there were two factions: a moderate the hour were the tribune Saturninus one, represented by Memmius, who, as and the prætor Glaucia. They carried tribune, had impeached the senators corn laws and land laws—whatever for the Jugurthine infamies; the other, laws they pleased to propose. The the advanced radicals, led by Glaucia administration remaining with the and Saturninus. Memmius and Senate, they carried a vote that every Glaucia were both candidates for the senator should take an oath to execute consulship; and as Memmius was their laws under penalty of fine and likely to succeed, he was murdered. expulsion. Marius did not like it, and even opposed it, but let it pass at last. 21. Who led the two factions within the Populares? 20. Why was the dream of direct ______democracy a chimera? ______

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Gaius Marius Above the tumults of the The contrast of character factions in the Capitol, a cry rising between two classes of population into shrillness began to be heard from became at once uncomfortably evident. Italy. had wished to The provincials had been the right extend the Roman franchise (right to arm of the empire. Rome, a city of rich vote) to the Italian states, and the men with families of slaves, and of a suggestion had cost him his popularity crowd of impoverished freemen and his life. The Italian provinces had without employment to keep them in furnished their share of the armies health and strength, could no longer which had beaten Jugurtha, and had bring into the field a force which could destroyed the German invaders. They hold its ground against the gentry and now demanded that they should have peasants of Samnium. the position which Gracchus designed The Senate enlisted Greeks, for them: that they should be allowed Numidians—anyone whose services to legislate for themselves, and no they could purchase. They had to longer lie at the mercy of others, who encounter soldiers who had been neither understood their necessities, trained and disciplined by Marius, and nor cared for their interests. they were taught, by defeat upon The Italian provincials had no defeat, that they had a worse enemy friends in the city, save a few far- before them than the Germanic sighted statesmen. Senate and mob barbarians. had at least one point of agreement— Marius himself had almost that the spoils of the empire should be withdrawn from public life. He had no fought for among themselves. At the heart for the quarrel, and did not care first mention of the invasion of their greatly to exert himself. At the monopoly on voting, a law was passed bottom, perhaps, he thought that the making the very agitation of the were in the right. The Senate subject punishable by death. discovered that they were helpless, and must come to terms if they would 22. On what point were the Romans escape destruction. They abandoned in agreement? the original point of difference, and ______they offered to open the franchise to ______every Italian state south of the Po, ______which had not taken arms, or which ______returned immediately to its allegiance. ______The war had broken out for a definite ______cause. When the cause was removed

www.STUDENTHANDOUTS.com Page 12 Gaius Marius no reason remained for its the Italians more than all which the continuance. Senate was ready to concede to them. Together they could make an end of 23. Why did the Romans finally misrule, and place Marius once more relent, and open up the franchise to at their head. other Italians? ______24. Why did the Populares come to ______see the Italian provincials as their ______allies? ______The panting Senate was thus able to breathe again. The war Much of this was perhaps the continued, but under better auspices. scheming passion of revolution; much Sound material could now be collected of it was legitimate indignation, again for the army. Marius being in penitent for its errors and anxious to the background, the chosen knight of atone for them. Marius had his the aristocracy, Lucius Sulla, whose personal grievances. The aristocrats fame in the had been were stealing from him even his only second to that of his military reputation, and claiming for commander's, came at once to the Sulla the capture of Jugurtha. He was front. Too late the democratic leaders willing, perhaps anxious, to take the repented of their folly in encouraging Eastern command. Sulpicius Rufus, the Senate to refuse the franchise to once a champion of the Senate and the the Italians. The Italians, they began most brilliant orator in Rome, went to perceive, would be their surest over to the people in the excitement. political allies. Gaius Gracchus had Rufus was chosen tribune, and at once been right after all. The Roman proposed to enfranchise the remainder democracy must make haste to offer of Italy.

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Gaius Marius 25. Who were the aristocrats by assassins, with a price set upon his praising for the capture of head. Twelve of the prominent Jugurtha? popular leaders were immediately ______executed without trial. In hot haste, ______swift, decisive measures were taken, ______which permanently, as Sulla hoped, or ______if not permanently, at least for the ______moment, would lame the limbs of the democracy. But Sulla was not so easily got rid of. It was no time for nice 26. Describe Sulla’s march on Rome. considerations. He had formed an ______army in Campania out of the legions ______which had served against the Italians. ______He had made his soldiers devoted to ______him. They were ready to go anywhere ______and do anything which Sulla bade ______them. After so many murders, and so ______many commotions, the constitution ______had lost its sacred character. A ______popular assembly was, of all ______conceivable bodies, the least fit to ______govern an empire. In Sulla's eyes, the ______Senate, whatever its deficiencies, was ______the only possible sovereign of Rome. ______The people were a rabble, and their ______voices the clamor of fools, who must be taught to know their masters. Marius was no sooner out of Sulla’s reply to Sulpicius and to Italy than the democratic party rose, the vote for his recall, was to march on with Cinna at their head, to demand the city of Rome. He led his troops the restoration of the old constitution. within the circle which no in Cinna had been sworn to maintain arms was allowed to enter, and he Sulla's reforms, but no oath could be lighted his watch-fires in the Forum held binding which was extorted at itself. The people resisted. Sulpicius the sword's point. A fresh Sulpicius was killed. Marius, the savior of his was found in Carbo, a popular tribune. country, had to fly for his life, pursued A more valuable supporter was found

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Gaius Marius in Quintus Sertorius, a soldier of There was a bloody score to be fortune, but a man of real gifts, and wiped out. Marius bears the chief even of genius. Disregarding the new blame for the scenes which followed. obligation to obtain the previous Undoubtedly he was in no pleasant consent of the Senate, Cinna called humor. A price had been set on his the assembly together to repeal the head, his house had been destroyed, acts which Sulla had forced on them. his property had been confiscated, he The wounds of the himself had been chased like a wild were scarcely cicatrized, and the peace beast, and he had not deserved such had left the allies imperfectly treatment. He had saved Italy when satisfied. Their dispersed armies but for him it would have been wasted gathered again about Cinna and by the swords of the Germanic Sertorius. Old Marius, who had been barbarians. His power had afterward hunted through marsh and forest, and been absolute, but he had not abused had been hiding with difficulty in it for party purposes. The Senate had Africa, came back at the news that no reason to complain of him. He had Italy had risen again. Six thousand of touched none of their privileges, his veterans flocked to him at the incapable and dishonest as he knew sound of his name. The Senate issued them to be. His crime in their eyes had proclamations. The limitations on the been his eminence. They had now Italian franchise left by Sulla were shown themselves as cruel as they abandoned. Every privilege which had were worthless. If public justice was been asked for was conceded. It was disposed to make an end of them, he too late. Concessions made in fear saw no cause for interference. might be withdrawn on the return of safety. Marius and Cinna joined their 28. Why was Marius prepared to forces. The few troops in the pay of the use harsh measures against the Senate deserted to them. They Senate? appeared together at the gates of the ______city, and Rome capitulated. ______27. Where had Marius been hiding? ______

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Gaius Marius Thus the familiar story repeated So ended the year 87, the itself: wrong was punished by wrong, darkest and bloodiest which the guilty and another item was entered on the city had yet experienced. Marius and bloody account which was being scored Cinna were chosen consuls for the up year after year. The noble lords year ensuing, and a witches' prophecy and their friends had killed the people was fulfilled, that Marius should have in the Forum. They were killed in turn a seventh consulate. But the glory had by the soldiers of Marius. Fifty departed from him. His sun was senators perished, not those who were already setting, redly, among crimson especially guilty, but those who were clouds. He lived but a fortnight after most politically marked as patrician his inauguration, and he died in his leaders. With them fell a thousand bed on the 13th of January, at the age , commoners of fortune, who of seventy-one. had thrown in their lot with the "The mother of the Gracchi," aristocracy. From retaliatory political said Mirabeau, "cast the dust of her revenge the transition was easy to murdered sons into the air, and out of pillage and wholesale murder; and for it sprang Gaius Marius." many days the wretched city was made a prey to robbers and cut- 30. How many times was Marius throats. elected consul? ______29. How many senators perished? ______

31. Of Marius’ many achievements, what would you most like to emulate? Of the pitfalls Marius encountered, what would you most like to avoid? ______

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Gaius Marius ______

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Gaius Marius Word Search Puzzle

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M V E B S T D H P G R S S B Z V I P A R

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Terms assassin barbarians capitulate Celtic Cimbri consul consulship demands equites gentry Germanic intimation measures patrician peasants popular party preposterous privileges prophecy provincial reformation reforms retaliatory Senate soldiers tribune triumph unconditional Valhalla weaponry

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Gaius Marius

Marius in exile.

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