MARIUS, C., a Roman general, was born of an obscure family, at the village of Cereat, near Arpinum, 157 B.C. In the Numantine war (134 n.c.) he served with great distinction under the younger Scipio Africanus, who treated him with high con sideration, and even indicated that he thought him a fit successor to himself. In 119 n.c. he was elected tribune of the plebs, and signalized himself by his vigorous opposi tion to the nobles, by whom he was intensely hated. In 114 B.c. lie went to Spain as propraitor, and cleared the country of the robbers who infested it. He now married julia, the aunt of Julius Csesar. He aceoinpanied Q. Csecilius Metellus to Africa in 109 B.C., was elected consul 2 years after, and intrusted with the conduct of the Jugur. than war, which he brought to a successful close in the beginning of 106 B.C. FrC4111.
this period dates the jealousy between him and L. SuIla, then his qumstor, which was ultimately productive or so many horrors. Meanwhile, an immense horde of Cimbri, Teutones, and other northern barbarians, had burst into Gaul, and repeatedly defeated the Roman forces with great slaughter. :\ farius was again called to the consulate for the year 104 B.C., and for the third, fourth, and fifth time in the following years, 103– 101 B.C., for it was felt that he alone could save the republic. The war against the Teutones in Transalpine Gaul occupied him for more than 2 years; but he finally anni hilated them in a battle of 2 days' duration at Aqum Sextim, now Aix, in Provence, Where 200,000—according to others, 100,000—Teutones were slain. After this be
assumed the chief command in the n. of Italy against the Cimbri (q.v.), whom he also overthrow, near Veeellm to the w. of Milan, with a, like destruction (101 me.). The people of Rotue knew no bounds to their joy. Marius was declared tbe savior of the state, the third founder of Rome, and his name was mentioned along with those of the gods at banquets. He was made consul .for the sixth time in NO B.C. It has often been remarked that, had he died at this period, Ite would have left behind him one of the greatest reputations in Roman history. When Sulla, as consul, was intrusted with the conduct of the Mithridatic war, Marius, who had long manifested an insane jealousy of his patrician ri.val, attempted to deprive him of the command, and a civil war began (88 rt.c.). 3Iarius was soon forced to flee, and after enduring the most frightful hard ships, and making numerous hairbreadth escapes, he reached Africa, where he remained until a rising of his frieuds took place under Cinna. He then hurried back to Italy, and, along with Cinna, marched against Rome, which was obliged to yield. 3larius was delirious iu his revenge upon the aristocracy; a band of 4,000 slaves carried on the work of murder for 5 days and nights. .Marius and Cinna were elected cousuls together for the year 86 B.c., but the former died after he had held the office 17 days.