The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1894-07-19
@Rad{adqda:
CAIUS MARIUS.
By MEMBER OF CLASS F.


Caius Marius was, for a time, to Rome what
Grant was to us.
He was born on farm at Arpnium in 157 B. C.
Outdoor work hardened his constitution, which
helped him TO bear the strain to which his later
life was subjected. He joined the army and
served at Numntia with credit, but without dis
tnction. He was forty-eight years old when he
became second in command of Metellus' army.
The great interest which he took in his soldiers
was no doubt the reason for his being placed
second in command. For two years the Romans
accomplished very little. but at the end of those
two years Marius conceived the idea of applying
for the consulship and the chief command. But
Metelus, his superior officer, laughed at him
when he heard about it. and told Marius not to
fool away his time by going to Rome as his elect
ion was an impossibility. Nevertheless he went
and won, unknown as he was, for up to this time
he had not done anything great for Rome.
He at once discharged Metellus and reOrgan-
lied the army, enlisted soldiers and drilled them
into perfection of discipline. With these soldiers
he took Jugurtha prisoner, the man who had
slain Roman citizens. and the tribune Memmius
| in the citizen assembly at Rome. Jugurtha was
brought to Rome, where he died in prison.
During the African campaigns two Roman
| armies were destroyed by the German, or Teu-
| tonic tribes as they we're called, on the lower
| Rhone. The citizens of Rome we're panic-strick-
| en-, their armies seemed useless and their gen.
erals unable to gain a victory. The war with
Jugurtha having just come to a close on account
of Marius' able generaship, the people gave the
command against the Germans to him. But
sudden change taking place in the movements
| of the Germans gave Marius time for prepare
| ton.
| CaiuS MariuS was made consul five times in
succession during the years 1O4-1OO B. c.
While he was consul he made quite change in
his army, inspiring his men with confidence of
success. He at their head as commander in
chief, led them into Trans Alpine Gallia, and
there. in 1902 B. c., routed the Germans.
The Cimbri had in the meantime passed
around the Alps and entered the valley of the
Pc. driving before them the army of CatuluS
the patrcian consul Marius met them at Yer
cellas, broke their lines, and with the aid of Cat
illus dealt them terrible blow, and from thai
time forth they abandoned their schemes of 1tal
ian conquest.
From this time on nothing was too good fol
Marus. He who before this had been the here
of the people was now their idol. He was nov
the third Romulus.' the second Camillus.
The arstOcratS, who before this had despiSet
him on account of the boorishness of his man
ners now commended him to the democracy a
an oltl-fashiOned Roman.
The veteran army was no longer nationa
guard which would be called from shop an
farm and return at the end of the campaign
The state was obliged to support regular army
: men whose only business was war.
But Marius' political career was not to las
forever for it came to close 100 B. Glowing
d the fact that he had been requested by the ser
r ate to protect the state and Obeying the reques
n marched against and killed quite d number {
l., his own political friends. From this time fort
n the ungratefu senate had no further use for hin
and the people hOOted at him when he was see
in the streets. After his sixth consulship he lei
the city, hating the citizens and aristOcrats, bl
!. bearing in mind the words an old witch had sal
r. of him: Seven times consul"
r. He went to Africa and after being there thi
s teen years, he returned to Rome. 81 B. c., an oil
man, but still hoping to gain his seventh Consu
ship, and which he did gain during the SAN
IS year, entering upon his seventh cOnsulship tt
1t the 1st of January, sc B. G..
ID Julius Caesar being a nephew of his, and WI
re- was at that time intelligent youth siXtee
ia years of age, received one of the offices whic
If he had at his disposal. 1t is doubtful wheth'
Julius Caesar would have become as well know
to the world as he is had not Caius Marius p
ID him in office and started him on the road of su
at cess But Caius Marius did not live long enoue
tv to see what change was to come upon Rom
Il. for after having been consul two weeks he die
nc in terrible delirum
w Thus ended the career of Caius Marcus. II
a. seven times consul, the once great command
of the Roman army and the man who startt
Julius Caesar on the road which brought him
n an untmely end.
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