Western History 42: How did the Roman Republic decline?

Land Reform was a key issue in Rome that was brought to a head by the rise and fall of the Plebian Gracchus brothers. Although the brothers achieved partial success in redistributing land to the peasants their reforms would eventually be rolled back following the assassination of each brother.

The Northern Germanic Tribes would continue to harass and threaten the integrity of Rome. Two of these tribes: Cimbri and the Teutones were the most menacing and between 113-101 BCE battled Rome. A corrupt Roman oligarchy failed initially to deal with the threat with the Romans suffering a disastrous defeat at Arausio. However the rise of Gaius Marius (a man who would hold the office of consul a record seven times) signalled a change in strategy. The Roman Army was reorganized, with Marius (a hero of the Jugurthan Wars in North Africa) building up a standing force comprised largely of landless fighting fit volunteers. The concept of the Standard was introduced (the Aquila or eagle) and the cohort consisting of approximately 480 men would serve as the principal unit

Marius’ much-needed military turning point came in 102 BC. He defeated the Teutones (and their allies the Ambrones) at Aquae Sextiae but had to wait a full year before vanquishing the Cambri at Vercellae.

However the rise of Marius would be challenged by Lucius Cornelius Sulla, an ambitious general who had distinguished himself during the Social War of 90-88 BCE. This was largely a conflict in the Italian Peninsula that saw Rome emerge victorious over its Marsic and Samnite local rivals.  Sulla was a shrewd military figure who has the notable accolade of being the only person in history to successfully enter and occupy both Rome and Athens. He would emerge as a powerful dictator in Rome in 81 BC after the death of Marius and would implement draconian measures to clamp down on enemies of the state. In a sense he was an early precursor of the modern autocrat. While there is much controversy about his methods and his Machiavellian approach there is no doubt about his brilliance as a general as evident in Sulla’s victories in both Civil Wars and the Mithridatic War. He died in 78 BC following a short retirement. It is often argued that Sulla’s marches on Rome (two altogether) set the stage for Julius Caesar’s march on Rome several decades later.