Lucius Apuleius Saturninus, aided by Marius,—the soldiers having killed
his competitor, Aulus Nonius,—having been forcibly elected prætor,
exercised his office with a violence equal to that by which he obtained
it. Having procured an Agrarian law, he summons Metellus Numidicus to
stand his trial before the people, for refusing to swear to the
observance of it. Metellus, notwithstanding he enjoyed the protection of
all the best men in the state, yet, being unwilling to furnish matter of
dispute, retires into voluntary exile, to Rhodes: there he passed his
time entirely in study, and in receiving the visits of men of eminent
character, [Y. R. 652. B. C. 100.] Caius Marius, the chief promoter of
the sedition, who had now purchased a fourth consulship, by openly
distributing money among the tribes, pronounced sentence of banishment
upon him after his departure. The same Appuleius Saturninus murders
Caius Memmius, who was a candidate for the consulship, fearing lest he
might have, in him, a strenuous opposer of his evil actions. By which
conduct the senate was aroused, and Caius Marius, when he could no
longer defend Saturninus, being a man of fickle and versatile
disposition, who always suited his plans to circumstances, joined it.
Saturninus, with Glaucias, and other participators of the same mad
conduct, having been overpowered by force of arms, was killed in what
may be considered a war. [Y. R. 653. B. C. 99.] Quintus Cæcilius
Metellus was recalled from banishment by the decided favour of the whole
state. Marcus Aquilius, the proconsul put an end to the servile war in
Sicily.