The war with Jugurtha ended none too soon, for Marius was needed in a
struggle requiring all his talents.
The CIMBRI and TEUTONES, barbarous nations from Northern Europe, were
threatening the frontiers of Italy. Already the Roman armies had met
with five successive defeats at their hands on the banks of the Rhone.
Eighty thousand Romans and forty thousand camp followers are said to
have fallen in these battles. Had the barbarians at this moment chosen
to enter Italy, the destruction of Rome would have been a certain
result. Fortunately, they turned to the Pyrenees, and, sweeping over the
mountains, overran for a season the province of Spain.
Marius, appointed Consul a second time, devoted his energies to forming
and training the army. He selected the plains on the banks of the Rhone
in Southern Gaul as best adapted for his purpose. Here he drilled
his troops, accustoming them to the greatest possible exertions. Many
perished under the strain, but the survivors became hardened soldiers.
Corps of engineers were attached to each legion, and the soldiers were
taught the use of tools, as well as of arms. At length, in his fourth
consulship (102), he felt prepared to meet the enemy.
The barbarians, on their return from Spain, separated their forces, the
Cimbri marching around the northern foot of the Alps towards Noricum,
with the intention of invading Italy from that quarter, while the
Teutones remained in Gaul.
As the latter advanced, Marius took up his position in a fortified camp
near AQUAE SEXTIAE (Aix). He allowed the enemy to march past him, and
then followed cautiously, waiting for a favorable opportunity to fall
upon them. In the battle that followed, the barbarians were no match for
the drilled legionaries, who were irresistible. The contest lasted two
days, and the vast host of the Teutones was cut to pieces (20 July,
102). At the close of this battle word was brought to Marius that he had
been elected Consul for the fifth time.
Meanwhile, the Cimbri had crossed the Alps and were ravaging the fertile
fields of Lombardy, meeting with but slight opposition from Catulus, the
other Consul.
The next year Marius came to his rescue. Near VERCELLAE the Cimbri met
the same fate as their brethren, and Italy was saved (101).
No sooner was the danger from the invasion over than political quarrels
broke out at Rome with great fury. Marius was elected Consul for the
sixth time. The popular heroes of the hour were two demagogues, the
Tribune SATURNINUS and the Praetor GLAUCIA. They carried corn laws and
land laws,(Footnote: These were the APPULEIAN LAWS (100):--I. Any Roman
citizen could buy corn of the state at a nominal price. II. The land
in Cisalpine Gaul, which the Cimbrians had occupied, should be divided
among the Italian and Roman citizens. III. Colonies from the veterans
of Marius were to be founded in Sicily, Achaia, and Macedonia.) and
compelled the Senators to take an oath to execute their laws. Metellus
Numidicus refusing to comply with their wishes, Saturninus sent a guard
to the Senate-House, dragged him out, and expelled him from the city.
During this troublesome time, Marius showed that he was no politician.
He lacked judgment and firmness, and by endeavoring to please all
parties he pleased none.
On the popular side there were two parties, the moderate one, led by
MEMMIUS, who had exposed the Senate in its dealings with Jugurtha, and
the radical one, led by Saturninus and Glaucia. Memmius and Glaucia
both ran for the consulship, and as the former seemed likely to be
successful, he was murdered. A reaction then set in, and Saturninus
and Glaucia were declared public enemies. They took refuge in the
Senate-House, the roof of which was torn off, and the wretches were
stoned to death.
The fall of Saturninus and Glaucia was followed in 99 by the recall
of Metellus from banishment. He died shortly afterwards, and it was
suspected that he was a victim of treachery.
Marius having now become generally unpopular on account of his
vacillating course in the recent troubles, went into voluntary exile,
travelling through Asia Minor, and visiting the court of Mithradates,
King of Pontus.
For the next eight years (99-91) Rome enjoyed a season of comparative
quiet.