Cassandra Casares
2-11-14
Paper #1
Marius paved the road that inspired many to follow in his footsteps, as Caesar and Octavian, which led to the breakdown of the Republic. Marius held consulship for a record breaking seven years, completely disregarding the Lex Annalis, and leaving the senate looking slightly powerless in the eyes of its people. Also, Marius used war and corruption on his side in order to hold his political power in Rome, knowing full well he was needed to fend off invasions especially from the north. By abolishing the Servian laws, he also allowed the landless and the poor to join in the army, which created status problems for the Romans, and encouraged others to follow right along with his creation of a professional, private army through the Marian Laws and reforms. Gaius Marius put into affect army reforms that changed the military, political and social aspects of Roman society. These reforms brought about private professional armies, enlarged aristocratic values by increasing wealth, and eventually led to the exploitation of legal and political faults to boost personal power that all together helped to disestablish the republic.
One important aspect of Roman life is that of tradition. By Marius consecutively holding seven consulships in a row and doing so whilst not present for some strayed away from political tradition and enabling actions of later romans. Because of a foreign threat up north of Rome, the people knew they needed him in office, which helped him hold his consulship for so long. Marius was elected consul again each year until his sixth consulship in 100; the people disregarded the lex Annalis didn’t allow the senate to prolong his consulship (Scullard 1982 52).
Marius saw an opportunity...
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...r political status and power, to finally breakdown the Roman Republic. By Marius using war and corruption to his advantage to gain and hold on to his consulship for many years, he gave the impression that the senate was losing their power and hold over the people. By abolishing the Servian laws and allowing the landless and the poor to serve in the army, he threw out the Roman tradition that money and wealth showed loyalty and commitment to Rome. Also, he provided the generals, and himself, the pressure to continue to win the wars in order to gain loot, and land to give to their armies to keep them happy. However, mostly Marius military reform was the most influential ways that Marius had on the future Romans, that gave them the power to achieve their political success over the senate and eventually bring forth the breakdown of the Republic.
Word count: 990
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