Marius and Sulla

Conflict

Background to Apollo in Roman Political Propaganda—Marians vs. Sullans

Marius’ sixth consulship in 100 BCE appears to have stemmed from a universal desire to acknowledge what was owed to Marius for his courage and skill in organisation [1]. But it was disastrous politically for Marius.

The tribune, Saturninus, brought forward some bills, including one to provide allotments for the veterans on land in southern France which the natives were deemed to have forfeited by not defending it against the Cimbri and another to authorise the foundation of colonies in Sicily, Achaea and Macedonia. In anticipation of a senatorial objection, Saturninus added to his agrarian bill an oath of obedience that the senators would abide by whatsoever the people might vote and make no opposition to its terms to which every senator was obliged to swear on pain of exile [2]. Marius, in his capacity as consul, asked the Senate if they considered concerning taking the oath [3] and said that he would never willingly take this oath himself. His ex-superior, Metellus Numidicus, agreed with him. Marius eventually did, however, take the oath but Metellus would not and hence was banished from Rome, much to the outrage of the Senate [4] and later historians [5].

• Introduction
• Conflict
• Age of Cinna
• Civil War

What Saturninus perhaps did not expect was the objection of the urban proletariat. In the colonial law, Saturninus had made provision for allotments to Latins and Italians, who had contributed their full share to Marius' victories, and for the conferment of full Roman franchise upon a number of them. The urban proletariat was against these clauses and “sedition broke out in the comitia” [6]. from http://janusquirinus.org/

Worse, at the election of the consuls for the subsequent year, Saturninus, who was afraid that his associate was going to lose, enlisted thugs to attack the rival candidate [7]. The comitia broke up in terror and a riot broke out [8]. The Senate declared an emergency and passed the senatus consultum ultimum (the senatorial decree for the defence of the Republic). While the act carried no legal weight, it called upon the consuls to defend the state. As a result, Marius led his soldiers into the forum, forced Saturninus and his associates, once his allies, to take refuge on the Capitol, and cut off their water-supply, forcing them to surrender. Apparently, Marius did all he could to save Saturninus and his associates and housed them in the senate-house, but before the Senate could decide on their fates, an angry mob broke into the senate-house and stoned them to death [9]. from http://janusquirinus.org/

“This affair made Marius obnoxious alike to the nobles and to the people” [10]. In using Marius and his soldiers to rid them of Saturninus, the Senate destroyed Marius politically [11]—after that, he was nobody’s friend. The Senate declared Saturninus' legislation null in whole or part, on the valid ground of its having been carried by violence, and recalled Metellus Numidicus from exile [12]. from http://janusquirinus.org/

Shortly after, Marius left Italy for the East (98 BCE) and there, he met with Mithridates VI of Pontus. Marius told Mithridates not to harass Rome's territories further: "either strive to be stronger than Rome, or do her bidding without a word" [13]. For the tough line he took with Mithridates, Marius was elected an augur [14] and he returned to Rome in 96 [15]. from http://janusquirinus.org/

In the following few years, the rivalry between the factions of the Optimates (self-styled “best men”, i.e. pro-aristocracy) and Populares (disparagingly, “mob panderers”, i.e. pro-plebeians) erupted anew, fuelled by the deep personal rivalry between Marius, supposedly a popularis, and Sulla, an optimate [16]. Sulla was charged for extortion by C. Marcius Censorinus, one of Marius’ partisans [17]. Sulla was also furious that Marius was preparing to tear down a new statue of Jugurtha's surrender to Sulla [18]. The two factions were on the verge of civil conflict when the Social War (~90) with the Italian allies broke out. from http://janusquirinus.org/

In the Social War, Marius was reduced to serving under lesser men as a legate [19]. After severe defeats suffered by Roman armies, Marius rectified the situation and routed the Italians. However, since he received no official command [20] or only a low command [21], he retired from the war. On the other hand, Sulla rose to increased prominence as a victorious general. As a result, he was rewarded with a consulship in 88 BCE and a command against Mithridates, who was sweeping through the province of Asia slaughtering all Romans in his path. from http://janusquirinus.org/

On another front in 88 BCE, the Italians were finally enfranchised as a result of the Social War [22]. A tribune, Sulpicius, introduced a programme of legislation which included a bill to distribute the Italians evenly in the pre-existing thirty-five tribes (voting units in the Comitia Tributa). He also introduced a measure to unseat all senators owing sums above a moderate amount [23] and proposed to transfer the command against Mithridates from Sulla to Marius. When the consuls tried to check the tribune's work by proclaiming an iustitium (suspension of public business), Sulpicius declared this to be illegal. An armed clash took place in the Forum and Sulla was forced to seek refuge in Marius’ house. Sulla called off the iustitium [24]. He then joined the army which was supposed to serve with him against Mithridates. Though Sulla had been legally deprived of it, this army was composed of the legions had fought under him in the Social War and he held them by the bond of his personal authority [25]. He appealed to the soldiers, “spoke of the indignity put upon him by Sulpicius and Marius, and while he did not openly allude to anything else (for he did not dare as yet to mention this kind of a war), he urged them to be ready to obey his orders” [26]. They understood. Had the troops refused, Sulla would have been liable to summary punishment as a rebel in arms but they did not [27]. from http://janusquirinus.org/

So for the first time, a Roman army marched on Rome.from http://janusquirinus.org/

continue to Marius and Sulla: Age of Cinna

Text first published in Suite 101.com. Ling Ouyang