Lucius Cornelius Cinna having, by force of arms, procured the enactment
of several injurious laws, was driven out of the city by his colleague,
Cneius Octavius, together with six plebeian tribunes. Thus deposed from
the authority, he procured the command of his army under Appius
Claudius, by bribery, and made war upon the city, having called to his
assistance Caius Marius, and other exiles, from Africa. In this war, two
brothers, (one of Pompeius’s army, the other of Cinna’s,) encountered
each other without knowing it; and when the conqueror despoiling the
enemy recognised his brother, he vented his grief in uncontrolled
lamentation, and having prepared a funeral pile for him, he stabbed
himself on it, and was consumed with him. Although this war might have
been suppressed at first, yet owing to the treachery of Pompeius, who,
by encouraging either party, gave power to Cinna, whilst he only
succoured the patriotic party when their energies were exhausted; and
also to the neglect of the consul; Cinna and Marius, with four armies,
two of which were commanded by Sertorius and Carbo, gained strength and
laid siege to the city. Marius took Ostia, which he plundered in the
most cruel manner.