To what extent did the military reforms of Marius contribute to the collapse of the Roman Republic?
by
gkjohn (student)
To what extent did the military reforms of Marius contribute to the collapse of the Roman Republic?
Following a series of foreign wars, the Roman army was depleted in numbers, strength and morale. The war with King Jugurtha of Numidia had dragged on for a number of years, resulting in military, political and economic discontent. In 107B.C, Gaius Marius, became consul of the Roman Republic, and promised to end the war that was draining the Roman treasury. During his consulship, Marius incorporated a number of military reforms. These affected the overall power and strength of the Roman Army, and undermined the Republican constitution. The military reforms of Gaius Marius had a significant contribution, both economically and politically, to the collapse of the Roman Republic by shifting the allegiance of the common soldier from the State to the generals. Further, the extraordinary nature of Marius’ political career undermined the Senate and weakened the fabric of the Roman Republic.
Marius’ reforms, although achieved through economical and political means, were military in nature. One of Marius’ key reforms was the eradication of the land requirement to enlist in the army, which in previous years had greatly restricted the number of men available to fight. In addition, it was this particular reform that was heavily emphasised by ancient historians, such as Aulus Gellius [Attic nights: 16.10.14], a Latin author and grammarian who often noted on Marius’ reforms, suggests, “Gaius Marius is said to have been the first man to have enrolled the capite censi”. In addition, Sallust [Jugurthine War; pg.100], a ‘Novus Homo’ (New Man), further supports the significance of this, observing, “not, in accordance with traditional custom, from the propertied classes, but accepting any man who volunteered”. In order to put this reform into practice, Marius decided to utilize his new army in the Jugurthine and Germanic Wars. It was now the treasury’s responsibility to provide the soldiers with pay (wages) and weaponry. They were also responsible for providing the soldiers with retirement benefits such as land and pensions, if land was conquered on their behalf (Lott, 2005:np). These responsibilities placed a substantial burden on the Roman treasury. Further, Marius redeveloped the cohorts, which resulted in the shifting of loyalty from the State to the generals of the armies. Eventually, it was this shift that can be seen as a necessary element to the disintegration of the Republic because it provided firm leadership to the ordinary soldier and resulted in the creation of personal armies (Sallust quote Bradley p.268). It also gave personal armies a chance to destroy the established order just as easily as it was to maintain it.
