No sooner was Rome delivered from this swarm of barbarians, than she began to suffer from her own domestic commotions. Marius, embracing the cause of the Plebeian faction, associated himself with Apu leius and Glaucia: An open rebellion took place, and tranquillity was not restored till Apuleius and Glaucia, with a number of their adherents, were massacred.
The privileges of a Roman citizen having been used by many of the Italians in Rome, and a considerable preponderance thus given to the popular faction, a law was passed which compelled all those pretended citi zens to quit Rome. The Italian states resented this hasty step, and the Marsi, Samnites, Campanians, and Lucanians, Sze. revolted from Rome, and formed them selves into a republic.
In this manner arose the Social war, in which the Romans were defeated in almost every engagement. In order to divide their enemies, a law was enacted by which all the Italian states, whose alliance with Rome was unquestionable, should be entitled to the privileges of Roman citizens. Several of the allied powers were thus detached from the general cause; and the command of the Roman armies having been intrusted to Syila, the Social war was speedily brought to a conclusion.
That union of parties which one common danger generally effects, never fails to be dissolved on the restoration of tranquillity. Marius and Sylla, who had fought bravely in the same ranks, were now opposed to each other as political rivals, the former supported by the plebeian, and the latter by the patrician in terest. In conjunction with the tribune Sulpitius, Marius excited such disturbances, that Sylla was forced to retire from Rome. Marius was now ap pointed general against Mithridates king of Pontus; but the soldiers refused to march under any other leader than Sylla, and a civil war immediately took place. Sylla entered Rome sword in hand, Marius was forced to retire; and a reward was offered for his head and that of Sulpitius, and several of their adhe rents. Sulpitius was seized, and put to death. Ma rius made his escape; and such was the cruelty with which Sylla exercised the power which he now ob tained, that he made himself odious to the senate as well as to the people. Cinna, a violent abettor of the
interests of Marius, being chosen consul, summoned Sylla to answer for his cruelties. Sylla, however, thought it prudent to march for Asia, and left his country enveloped in the flames of discord which he had contributed to raise.
Marius was now recalled from Africa, and having landed in Italy, he was joined by numbers of slaves, and men of ruined fortunes, who soon composed a for midable army. Cinna, whom the senate had expelled from Rome, raised another army among the Italian states. Sertorius headed a third army, and, as their adherents daily increased, a fourth army was put under the command of Papirius Carbo. The senate, after making an idle attempt at resistance, was obliged to open the gates to the combined troops. A guard of slaves, organized by Marius for the purposes of re venge, received orders to assassinate all whose salutes he did not return; and these bloody commands were executed to a great extent. Thus privileged to mur der, these wretches abandoned themselves to every kind of vice, and China and Sertorius found it neces sary to put them all to the sword. The four chiefs, with the exception of Sertorius, entered into a resolu tion to butcher all the senators who were obnoxious to the popular faction. A general slaughter now com menced. The heads of the murdered senators were stuck upon poles, and their bodies, dragged into the forum, were left a prey to the dogs. Sylla was de clared an enemy to his country, and his house demo lished.
After desolating Rome, the soldiers of Marius dis persed themselves over the neighbouring towns and villages, and committed acts of cruelty and murder which have not been exceeded in the blackest periods of history.
1Vhile Rome was suffering under these cruelties, Sylla was waging a successful war against Mithridates. After landing in Attica with only five legions and a few cohorts, he speedily made himself master of the capital. The united armies of Archelaus and Tax iles, amounting to 120,000, encountered Sylla near Cheronea with only 15,000 foot and 1500 horse; but such was the bravery of the Romans, that they totally defeated the Asiatic army, and left 110,000 dead on the field.