Friday, January 13, 2006
This Day in Ancient History
On this day in 86 BC, the Roman dictator (this was before the period of Emperors) Caius Marius died at age 70. Born a plebeian, Marius became a great general, fighting under Scipio Africanus Minor at Numantia and then slowly, success after success, taking on command of the Roman Army, where he made many reforms. The result was a professional army with some political ties. Pompeii Magnus and Caesar would benefit from the army Marius created. Marius was made tribune and then praetor and was seven times consul before he became embroiled in civil war with Sulla, who at first beat him. However, as soon as Sulla left Rome to fight abroad, Marius returned, slaughtered all his enemies and took over as a tyrant.
# posted by Roger Fraley @ 5:47 AM 
