Page 71 - History of War - Issue 01-14

GAIUS LUCIUS

MARIUS CORNELIUS

GENERAL AND CONSUL SULLA
OF THE REPUBLIC GENERAL AND CONSUL
LIVED 157-86BC OF THE REPUBLIC, AND
Marius is attributed DICTATOR OF ROME
with a number of LIVED 138-78BC
actions that had
signifi cant infl uence on the Despite being born
into poverty, Sulla
transformation of the Roman achieved rank within
civilisation from Republic the Roman army and became
to Empire. He allowed non- an essential cog in the winning
landed Romans to join of the Jugurthine War. Jugurtha,
the army (previously, they’d head of the Numidians, had defi ed Mary Evans
been required to own Roman decree by dividing up Numidia
property). At the same time, among his royal family. Rome retaliated,
he changed the law so that defeating the leader and driving him into
Mary Evans soldiers had to carry their exile in Mauretania. Sulla struck a deal with
own equipment (such men
Bocchus, King of Mauretania, that had Jugurtha
became known as “Marius’
Mules”). He also held handed to the Romans, bringing a bloodless end to the
war. Sulla was lauded in the Senate. He subsequently fought alongside
the elected offi ce of Consul an unprecedented seven times from Marius against the invading Cimbri and Teutone invaders, before taking
107BC – though the position became increasingly autocratic, with up political positions – including that of Consul following his efforts as
his “election” more to do with the granting of emergency powers to General during the Social War of 91-88BC.
fi ght off invading hordes than with the application of the constitution. Sulla became the fi rst General to march on Rome, in response
Marius also made a name for himself as a General of considerable to Marius effectively stripping him of
acumen in several campaigns, especially his command. Despite several of his
in Africa and against German tribes. DID YOU KNOW? Commanders refusing to go with him, DID YOU KNOW?
Notoriously, he defeated the Teutones Gaius Marius devised the he managed to force Marius from the Sulla was one of only a few
as they advanced into Italy (the tribe had pilum – a deadly throwing city, though Marius would later return and people granted the Grass
agreed a two-pronged attack on the country spear that sheared its assume power whilst Sulla was mounting a Crown, the highest Roman
with a fellow Germanic tribe, the Cimbri, blade upon impact – campaign in Asia. In 82BC, Sulla marched military honour, awarded
from their positions in Gaul), ambushing and also introduced on Rome a second time, his success only to those who had saved
an entire army in battle.
the hordes on the edge of the Alps and the famous silver-eagle resulting in the Senate appointing him The crown was made from
killing a reputed 100,000 invaders. emblem as a standard Dictator, bringing with it near-limitless power. grasses and flowers from

for Rome’s legions.
the battlefield in question.

150BC 100BC 50BC 1AD
130BC 120BC 110BC 100BC 90BC 80BC 70BC 60BC 50BC 40BC 30BC 20BC 10BC 1AD

GNAEUS POMPEIUS MAGNUS

POLITICAL AND MILITARY LEADER OF THE
ROMAN REPUBLIC
LIVED 106-48BC
Hailing from a wealthy provincial background, Magnus – or
“Pompey The Great” – was one of the main leaders during
the fi nal decades of the Roman Republic, and Rome’s most
famous General during its closing. He fi rst entered the political scene
by raising troops to help Sulla liberate Rome from the Marians in
83BC. Helping to defeat them, he earned the nickname “teenage
butcher”. When pirates later began threatening Rome’s corn supply
in 67BC, Pompey was given command of
120,000 soldiers and 500 ships. Dividing the DID YOU KNOW?
Mediterranean into 12 zones, he solved the
problem within three months. When Pompey was
killed on arrival
Pompey later formed the fi rst triumvirate in Egypt, he was
along with Julius Caesar and Crassus, decapitated and his
marrying Caesar’s daughter, Julia, to cement head returned to Julius
the alliance. However, when Julia died in Caesar as proof of his
54BC, a chasm was formed between Pompey death. However, Caesar
was angry at Pompey’s
Getty Images Caesar triumphed and Pompey ultimately fl ed killers, as he believed
and Caesar, who found themselves at war.
it an insult to the
to Egypt, where he was killed on his arrival.
greatness of his rival.
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