Split the kingdom in two for both princes' to rule.
Marius was born near the Italian town of Arpinum. His family was wealthy and influential in Arpinum, but particularly unknown in Rome.
Jugurthine War
When Marius travelled to Rome to seek a life in politics, he was referred to as a 'new man' as his family had no political heritage in the family. However, in 119 BCE Marius became a Plebeian Tribune and unsuccessfully ran for aedile before becoming a praetor in 115 BCE.
Conflict with Cimbri
Numidian Prince Adherbal came to the senate in Rome to seek aid in fighting his brother, Jugurtha in a civil war. The senate ordered for the kingdom to be split in two for both princes' to rule only for Jugurtha to attack and kill Adherbal.
Alliance with Saturninus and Glaucia
The Senate became enraged at Jugurtha's refusal to cooperate and declared war on Numibian. Marius was placed in Metellus' forces to defeat Jugurtha but ran away back to Rome to pursue politics and become a consul.
The Plebeian Council called for Marius to be re-elected as consul and lead an army against Cimbri and Teutones. After 3 years in 101 BCE, Marius successfully defeated the Germanic tribes and was re-elected as consul 4 more times with a total of 6 consulships.
In 100 BCE Marius formed an alliance with Saturninus and Glaucia in order to seek out his sixth consulship.