As much as Marius was responsible for the end of The Roman Republic. I give him credit where credit was due. He turned the Legions from landed aristocracy that had slaves carry their equipment into battle creating a logistics nightmare into a conscript army that carried their own equipment and were trained as much in fortification as they were in how to use the gladius. Marius’ Mules they were mockingly referred to as.
As a a brilliant general once said; “Novices discuss tactics, Veterans discuss logistics”.
Spent a decent amount of time in Italy, 2000+ year old structures still standing. Indoor plumbing. Heated floors. Heated baths (baths were a big big part of Roman life across the social strata). Fresh water from the alps. Truly masters of engineering. The Pantheon.
Then it all fell into disrepair. Take a 60 minute train ride north to Firenze (Florence) and see The Duomo. You can’t help but ask yourself how folks from 1500 years earlier built more impressive structures and engineering feats.
“As much as Marius was responsible for the end of The Roman Republic”
I hold a contrary view.
I believe the source of republican collapse was ochlocracy.
The democratic elements of the republican government devolved into corrupt panderers. Then they made their great error, which was to provoke the greatest general in history and allowed him to hang that corruption around their necks when he was made dictator for life.
The Roman senate of 100BC looks just like the US senate of 2000AD.
The only question is who will be Julius?