15,697
edits
Changes
no edit summary
__NOTOC__
[[File: 673px-Roman Legionaries-MGR Lyon-IMG 1050.jpg |thumbnail|300px|left|Roman legionaries 1st century BCE]]
The Roman general and politician Marius was one of the most important figures in the Roman Republic. He was a controversial figure during his own lifetime and his contributions have been fiercely debated since then. Many historians have argued that he helped to save the Roman Republic and laid the foundation for an army that was almost invincible for centuries. Marius's reforms also had important social-political implications and he dramatically expanded citizenship in the Republic. Still, his reforms changed the nature of the Roman army which weakened the democratic nature of the republic. These reforms allowed generals to take control of Rome with their armies. Because of his reforms, the legions of Rome increasingly came under the control of ambitious leaders such as Pompey or Sulla. The Marian reforms that were initiated during a crisis, became an important factor in the decline and the fall of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Imperial system in Rome.
==Background==
Rome in 100 BC was a fast-growing power. Originally, Rome was only a small settlement on the Tiber. However, by force of arms, it was able to expand its power across much of Italy. The defeat of the Carthaginian Empire meant that Rome no longer had any serious enemy in the Mediterranean. The city-state’s armies were the most formidable in the region and they created a huge Empire. The Roman army was made up of citizens and they supplied their own arms and armor. Wealth and slaves flowed into Rome. However, the victory over the Carthaginians and the growing wealth of Rome created problems and eventually led to a crisis in the Roman Republic. The government of Rome was designed to govern a city-state and not an Empire. Increasingly, the Roman senate was unable to control the governors in the provinces who acted like independent sovereigns.<ref> Hildinger, Erik. <i>Swords Against the Senate: The Rise of the Roman Army and the Fall of the Republic</i> (NY, Da Capo Press 2002), p 14</ref>
The political system of Rome was unable to effectively govern an Empire. Rome’s wealth led to increased social divisions and the city was divided between the elite, the Optimates, and the popular party, Populares. The common people of Rome, including many citizens, were experiencing economic decline as slave labor in the cities and on landed estates resulted in many small farmers and traders going bankrupt. There was also tension between Rome and its Italian subjects who wanted a greater say in the Empire and citizenship. Rome had become the predominant power in the Mediterranean but it was a very unstable society with a political system on the verge of collapse.<ref>Holland, Tom. <i>Rubicon</i> (London, Faber, 2004), p. 34</ref>
