The Emergence of a Warlord Politician: Gaius Marius

Abstract

Gaius Marius, the pioneer of warlord politicians in the Late Republic, reshaped Roman politics with his methods and was a model for Sulla, Pompeius, Caesar, Antonius, and Augustus, forming the last age of the Republic. The vicissitudes which consisted and transformed Marius’ political methods were also inspiring for populares. During the conflict between optimates, senatorial party, and populares, men of people in the Late Roman Republic, because of restriction populares’ political space by senatorial government and failures of senatorial oligarchy in domestic and foreign affairs caused to transform Marius’ career from typical popular politician to warlord politician. Marius' position in popular politics until the year his first consulate, 107 B.C., his separation from traditional politics, and the condition of senatorial oligarchy in this period, is evaluated in this study.