| Historians from the time of the Roman Empire up | | | | had land and wealth, who were able to purchase |
| to modern times have held strong opinions on the | | | | their own armour and supplies. It was thought |
| life and character of Gaius Marius. Best known for | | | | that men of means would make good soldiers as |
| being the uncle of the famed Julius Caesar, he has | | | | they had something to lose in battle. These |
| also been regarded as barbaric, displaying unbridled | | | | requirements meant that many men were |
| ambition and by some accounts as having an evil | | | | ineligible to serve giving fewer options to the poor |
| influence on the Roman Empire. At the same time | | | | masses that filled the streets of Rome and other |
| however, he also achieved high ranks in both | | | | cities in the Empire. |
| politics and the military in ancient Rome, despite | | | | These were not peaceful times; the Roman |
| being an outsider and hailing from a family with no | | | | Empire had been at war for the entire second |
| political ties. He is also credited with revolutionizing | | | | century and Marius saw the potential in the |
| Rome's army, with the changes he instituted | | | | Roman mob. Going for pure manpower he |
| being widely regarded as the greatest contribution | | | | enlisted these men, in effect giving them full time |
| to the organisation of Roman legions. | | | | employment, purpose in their lives and the |
| Born to an equestrian family in the Italian | | | | promise of land upon retirement. These changes |
| countryside, his family is known to have been | | | | produced a different type of soldier; a soldier loyal |
| locally influential, but had no ties to anyone in high | | | | to his general and driven by his potential status |
| ranks in Rome - neither in the military or in the | | | | and wealth should he be successful. Their military |
| political arena. Despite this start in life, Marius was | | | | became their lives and their lifelong careers of |
| determined from the beginning to break into the | | | | choice. |
| high ranks of the republic. From his beginnings in | | | | Marius also made changes in the way his soldiers |
| the Roman army, he quickly moved up through | | | | fought and moved, and to the weapons they |
| the ranks; due most likely to having caught the | | | | used. The throwing spears soldiers used were |
| attention of those in power with his drive and | | | | altered so that the tip of the spear broke on |
| ruthlessness. Using his successes in the military he | | | | impact making it useless to enemies once loosed. |
| sought power in politics which has been widely | | | | He also had the soldiers carry all of their own |
| regarded as having been attained unlawfully. | | | | provisions on their backs, making the need for |
| Through a special election which was deemed | | | | long baggage trains unnecessary. |
| underhanded by the Roman senate, Marius | | | | Marius also began promoting officers who showed |
| attained commander-in-chief of Rome's African | | | | potential within the ranks rather than relying on |
| legions, and from this position he made the | | | | political connections as had been done in the past, |
| changes to the army for which he is known. In | | | | making for more experienced and superior |
| the past, Rome had only accepted soldiers who | | | | officers, further strengthening the army. |