Gaius Marius Essay

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During his second consulship (104 BC), Gaius Marius implemented a large reformation and reorganisation of Rome’s army. His reforms included the abolishment of the land requirements necessary for military service, the establishment of new training methods, the reorganisation of the composition of Rome’s army and innovations in equipment. Importantly, the reforms had a significant impact on Roman politics and the future of the Roman Republic. Marius’ reforms greatly improved Rome’s army as a military force. The reforms made to the training, organisation and equipment of Rome’s army were all decisive in victories against Rome’s immediate threats and led to a great expansion of Rome’s territory. In 104 BC, Gaius Marius permanently opened up military service to the capitecensi and proletariat classes. This reform brought about the rise of ambitious generals, who at the heads of armies loyal to them conducted a series of civil wars which lead to the fall of the Roman Republic. Gaius Marius, during his consulship of 104 BC, introduced significant reforms to Rome’s military. Included in these reforms were the dissolving of the property requirements necessary for military service, the implementation of new training practices, the reorganisation of the army and the innovation in equipment. Marius made significant changes to the recruitment of Rome’s soldiers. Previous to Marius’ reform, citizens were required to meet a certain property value in order to qualify for military service. Marius, in 107 BC, in order to raise troops for his campaign against the Numidian prince Jugurtha, abolished these land requirements and thus opened up military service to the capitecensi and proletariat classes. Plutarch, in his life of Marius, asserts “contrary to law and custom he enrolled in his army many poor men of low standing, a class of people who used to be not accepted by commanders in
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