GAIUS MARIUS 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 Rome. 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 Populares). While Gaius Marius was born at in office he gave offense in some way Arpinum, a Latin 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 Jugurtha was there, and made close the public granaries before the himself especially useful to Scipio. practice had passed into a system. He www.STUDENTHANDOUTS.com Page 2 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 www.STUDENTHANDOUTS.com Page 3 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 Roman army, citizens young patrician, called Lucius Sulla, 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 _________________________________ www.STUDENTHANDOUTS.com Page 5 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
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