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{{Rome}}A  Roman General and seven-time [[consul]] who lived from 157 to 86 BC.  Full name Caius Marius, Marius was born as a plebian, making his rise to the consulship all the more remarkable: he was, in essence, the first [[novus homo]], or "new man," meaning plebian that rose the patrician ranks of his own skill.

{{Rome}}A  Roman General and seven-time [[consul]] who lived from 157 to 86 BC.  Full name Caius Marius, Marius was born as a [[plebian]], making his rise to the consulship all the more remarkable: he was, in essence, the first [[novus homo]], or "new man," meaning plebian that rose the patrician ranks of his own skill.

He established a professional army, including instituting for the first time the use of the weapon known as the [[pilum]] - a thrown spear designed to shatter upon impact so that the enemy could not re-use it after thrown by a Roman legionnaire.

He established a professional army, including instituting for the first time the use of the weapon known as the [[pilum]] - a thrown spear designed to shatter upon impact so that the enemy could not re-use it after thrown by a Roman legionnaire.

== References ==

== References ==

Plutarch, ''Parallel Lives'', "Life of Caius Marius."

Plutarch, ''Parallel Lives'', "Life of Caius Marius."