An event in the life of the Republic: the Marian-Sullan Civil War

Rome did not have a police force. The Romans were champions of human rights and freedom of speech. There were no armed guards or armies allowed in the city for fear of infringing on people's rights.

The civil war between the two Roman generals Marius and Sulla saw Rome occupied by armies, innocent people executed and a hundred years of civil war begin. It was the first time in the Republican period that an army occupied the city and violated the free rights of the Roman citizens. Lists of condemned politicians and citizens were posted throughout the city and the heads of the executed sat on pikes in the Forum. The Marian-Sullan Civil War cast a shadow over Roman politics for the rest of the Republic. Refer animation

Gaius Marius and L. Cornelius Sulla

Gaius Marius was born in 155 BC at Arpinum. He was a successful soldier and leader, gaining glory and reputation in the Jugurthan wars against the Numidian king. He led the Roman army to victory over the Gallic tribes of the Teutones and Cimbri. He also defeated the Italian allies in the Social War. Refer Image1

Marius was a man of the people. He had entered the cursus honorum as a tribune of the plebeians. He was the leader of a political movement called populares. The populares believed in improving the rights of the plebeians rather than increasing the wealth and power of the patricians. Marius was elected consul seven times. His straightforward political style angered many patrician senators. During his time in power, Marius reformed the Roman army and made it an efficient and highly disciplined force.

L. Cornelius Sulla was much younger than Marius. He was born in 138 BC. He also came to prominence through war. He served under Marius' command in the Jugurthan wars and captured the rebel king Jugurtha, bringing the struggle to an end. He again served under Marius in the war against the Gallic tribes. He was a skilled politician and was sent to Cilicia in Asia Minor as a governor. He acted as an ambassador on a special mission to meet the Parthians in 91 BC.

In politics, Sulla and Marius had very different outlooks. Sulla was recognised as the leader of the optimates, a political movement that championed the rights of wealthy patricians. In 88 BC, Sulla was made consul. It was in that year that the differences of Marius and Sulla came to a head.

The Civil War

In 88 BC, the Romans declared war on Mithridates IV of Pontus. Mithridates had conquered Anatolia (modern Turkey) and had ordered the killing of all Romans living there. The Senate named the consul Sulla as commander of the war against Mithridates.

Although Marius was already 67 years old, he had a strong desire to lead the army against Mithridates. The ambitions of Sulla and Marius clashed when a rebel senator, Sulpicius Rufus, transferred the command of the Mithridatic War from Sulla to Marius.

Rome was divided and an angry mob drove Sulla and his followers from Rome. Enraged, Sulla rallied his loyal supporters and soldiers and marched on Rome. He became the first Roman to ever enter Rome at the head of a Roman army. Refer Image2

The Romans were terrified of Sulla as he took control of the city. Marius and his supporters were forced to flee from the city. Sulpicius Rufus was tracked down and killed.

Sulla used his powers as consul to re-establish order and prepare for his departure to Pontus. He strengthened the Senate's control over Roman citizens and elected his friends to powerful positions. Certain that these measures would maintain order in Rome, Sulla left for Pontus.

As soon as Sulla had left, Marian supporters began to rally under the consul Cinna. Marius returned to Rome at the head of his own army. Sullan supporters withdrew to the city and Marius laid siege. He starved Rome, marched in and took over.

Marius made lists of his enemies and the supporters of Sulla. These lists were called proscriptions. An order was made for anyone whose name appeared on a proscription list to be found and killed. The majority of people killed in the proscriptions were optimates (the political group that championed the rights of the wealthy patricians).

Cinna and Marius nominated themselves as consuls but Marius died in 86 BC only a few days after assuming the consulship.

Marius' followers were unsure of how to proceed and there was an uneasy peace in Rome as they awaited Sulla's return.

Sulla was victorious against Mithridates in 84 BC. Sulla started the long trek back to Rome. Marius' supporters braced themselves for a lengthy confrontation. They refused entry to Sulla.

The loyal followers of Marius fought Sulla's troops at the Battle of the Colline Gate and were defeated. Sulla marched back into Rome at the head of his army and assumed the role of dictator. Refer Image3

Sulla ruled Rome as dictator from 82 BC to 79 BC, changing the governmental structure and limiting the rights of the plebeians. He made his own proscription lists and massacred Samnites and Marian supporters. To be associated with Marius was certain death. No politician associated himself with Marius until Julius Caesar took the risk.

Sulla retired from power after 79 BC. Though he died peacefully in his bed, he left a lasting impression on Rome.

Consequences of the Civil War

Two armies had marched on Rome and violated the rights of the Roman citizens. Thousands of politicians and supporters of Sulla and Marius had been killed.

The political divisions of populares and optimates shaped Roman politics until the fall of the Republic. Sulla and Marius' civil war started a century of bloodshed and civil disorder, culminating in the establishment of the imperial system.

Sulla and Marius started a dangerous trend whereby ambitious generals could use their own loyal armies to seize power. Rome was no longer sacred ground. It had been violated by two armies and was destined to be violated by many more.