Marius

by Federico Santangelo

Overview

Gaius Marius (158/157-86 BC) has a major transformational impact on the history of the late Roman Republic. Although none of his ancestors had been a member of the Senate, he managed to reach the consulship on seven occasions, and was responsible for a series of major military victories, notably against King Jugurtha in North Africa and the Teutons and the Cimbrians in Southern Gaul and Northern Italy. Much of his internal political agenda, however, was highly controversial. His reform of the army recruitment system was regarded by some (perhaps with undue emphasis) as a crucial factor in the downfall of the Roman Republic. The final years of his life witnessed his exile, his return to Rome at the head of an armed force, and his comeback to power, shortly followed by his sudden death.
This volume provides an account of the life and career of Gaius Marius, sets his achievements and failures within the wider context of the decline of the Roman Republic, and discusses his political legacy in the following decades. It also provides an assessment of the main modern interpretations of the man and his policies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781474214728
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	12/17/2015
Series:	Ancients in Action
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	176
File size:	526 KB

About the Author

Federico Santangelo is Senior Lecturer in Ancient History, Newcastle University, UK. He has taught and published on various aspects of Roman history, mostly Republican, and is the author of Sulla, the Elites and Empire. A Study of Roman Policies in Italy and the Greek East (2007) and Divination, Prediction and the End of the Roman Republic (2013).
Federico Santangelo is Professor of Ancient History at Newcastle University, UK. He works on the history of the Roman world, ancient historiography, and the history of classical scholarship. He is the author of Sulla, the Elites and Empire: A Study of Roman Policies in Italy and the Greek East (2007) and Divination, Prediction and the End of the Roman Republic (2013).

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements
Chronology

1 An Introduction to Marius
Why Marius matters
Marius' background
The context

2 Marius' Rise
Marius' early career
The Jugurthine War
The Germanic War

3 Marius' Fall
The wrong crowd
Elder statesman

4 Twists of Fate
The Social War
Disruption and tradition: the first march on Rome
Marius' flight
The final comeback

5 Marius' Legacy
The Mariani
Caesar and Cicero
Marius under the Principate

Further Reading
References to the Ancient Sources
Index

Editorial Reviews

Santangelo has written a concise and pertinent account of Marius’ life. His style is fluent with the ancient evidence sensibly analyzed. The sources are unreliable, biased, and written long after the events, but the author vigilantly pieces the life together. The book is also commendable in the way it covers challenging issues … This accessible little book, is a fine starting point for anyone wishing to read about Marius and the world in which he lived.” –Res Militares

“The aim is to be an accessible introduction to the essentials of the subject’s life and later significance, and Santangelo’s Marius certainly achieves this aim. Indeed it will be the starting point for any student or academic wanting something more in-depth than offered by standard text books and dictionary or encyclopedia entries.” - Bryn Mawr Classical Review

From the Publisher