MA'RIUS, GAttrs (c.156-86 me.). A Roman general, born of an obscure family, at the village of Cereatx, near Arpinum, about B.C. 156. In the Numantine War (a.c. 134-133) he served with great distinction under the younger Scipio Afri canus. In B.C. he was elected tribune of the plebs, and vigorously opposed the nobles, by whom he was intensely hated. He acquired political influence by his marriage with Julia, aunt of Julius Caesar. In B.C. 114 he went to Spain as proprietor, and cleared the country of the robbers who infested it. Be accompanied Q. CaTilins Metelhis to Africa in n.c. 109, was elected consul two years after, and intrusted with the conduct of the .Jugurthine War, which he brought to a successful close in the beginning of B.C. 106. Marius sent Sulfa, then his qmestor, to receive Jugurtha, and this laid the foundation of future personal enmity. The military success of Marius had now• made him the most conspicuous officer in the Roman army, while he had aroused enthu siastic admiration among his soldiers. Meanwhile an immense horde of Cimbri, Teutones, and other northern barbarians had burst into Gaul, and re peatedly defeated the Roman forces with great slaughter. Marius was again called to the con sulate for the year B.C. 104, and for the third, fourth, and fifth times in B.C. 103-101, for it was felt that he alone could save the Republic. The w•ar against the Teutones in Transalpine Gaul occupied him for more than two years; but he finally annihilated them in a battle of two days' duration at Aqua. Sexthr, now Aix, in Provence, where 200,000—according to others, 100,000 Teutones were slain. After this lie assumed the chief command in the north of Italy against the Cimbri (q.v.), whom he also overthrew on the Raudian Fields with a like destruction (n.c. 101). The people of Rome knew no bounds to their joy. Marius was declared the savior of the State, the third founder of Rome, and his name was men tioned along with those of the gods at banquets.
lie was made consul for the sixth time in n.c. 100. When Sulfa, as consul, was intrusted with the conduct of the Mithridatie War. Marin, who had long manifested an insane jealousy of his patrician rival, and was himself an aspirant for the command of the war, attempted to deprive him of the command, and a civil war began (n.c. 88). By procuring a new organization of the Roman tribes, through passage of a law to distribute the Italian allies among all the tribes, Atrius se cured an election to the command of the war. Sulfa tied to his army at Nola, refused to resign the command, and marched on Rotor. Alarius stns so?in forced to flee, and after enduring the greatest hardships, and making numerous hair breadth escapes, he reached Africa, where he remained until a rising of his friends took place under Cinna. lie then hurried back to Italy, in the absence of Sella, and. along with China, marched against Ilome, which was obliged to yield. Marius was delirious in his revenge upon the aristocracy; a band of 41100 slaves is said to have carried on the work of murder for tive days :Ind nights. Mario. and Omni were elected consuls together for the year 1:.(*. 86. Marius was. however, already in his seventy first year. and died after he had held the office seventeen days.
Cnl•ttered. arrogant, and rude of manner. Marius did not possess the qualifications requisite for maintaining influence in times of peace. The effect of his personal presence is illustrated by the scene when, during his Hight to Southern Italy, a barbarian entered his room with drawn sword to assassinate him. When Marius vaned out in the darkness, "Man, durst thou murder C. Marius?" the intruder droppcd his sword in terror and fled. See liee•Aly, Ili,f/u Mkt Slina (New York, 1878).