Treat Yourself to Ancient Warfare Magazine Vol. V-1 - The Man Who Saved Rome: Gaius Marius at War

Ancient warfare v.1, 2011

Released February 20th

Theme: the 'new man' who saved rome - gaius marius at war

Introduction: alberto pérez, 'introduction to the theme'. illustrated by carlos de la rocha

Marius' life spans an era in which the ancient republic struggles to adapt to the new realities brought about by its dominion over the oikumene, a time that inaugurates a long century of anguish that would finally give birth painfully to the principate under one octavius: augustus.

The source: tom hendrickson & michael j. taylor, 'memoirs, monuments and biography - the memory of gaius marius'

Gaius marius narrated his autobiography with bones. he left the killing fields of aquae sextiae filled with thousands of unburied bones of germanic men, women, and children, but he left no memoir written with pen and ink. it was not necessary.

Theme: christopher matthew, 'marius' mules: rome's new mobile infantry'. illustrated by sebastian schulz.

The reforms made to the roman army by the general gaius marius in the final years of the 2nd century bc drastically changed the way rome's legions were recruited, equipped, organized, and operated. the greatest logistical transformation of the roman army resulting from marius' reforms was in the size of the baggage train that accompanied a legion on the march and in the amount of equipment carried by each legionary.

Recreating marius' milites theme: jean-luc féraud, 'recreating marius' 'milites''

Archaeological evidence from the first half of the 1st century bc is scarce, especially when compared to the relative wealth of material from the early imperial era. using a combination of unique finds, evidence from earlier periods like numantia (153-133 bc), and pictorial evidence, we can arrive at the best possible reconstruction in accordance with the current academic status quo.

Theme: sean hussmann, 'the rise of a 'new man'. noble rivalry and the career of gaius marius'

Politics is -almost by definition- a vicious business. while this is true in the times we live in, it is even more so in the conditions of late republican rome, where aspiring politicians advanced their own careers relentlessly while attacking their opponents at every opportunity.

Theme: p. lindsay powell, 'the final showdown of the cimbri and the romans'. illustrated by carlos de la rocha and igor dzis

Having established at the battle of aquae sextiae in 102 bc that the feared germano-celtic teutones and ambrones could be defeated, the roman consul gaius marius prepared the following year for a final showdown with their alliance partners, the cimbri.

Theme: paul mcdonnell-staff, 'the peg that would break - marius and the pilum: a roman myth'

Plutarch's anecdote about marius' conversion of the pilum, written two centuries later, along with several others in roman literature, is often cited in support of the proposition that the pilum was designed to bend upon impact. this disabled the enemy's shield and also ensured the enemy could not return the weapon. however, the evidence does not support this hypothesis.

Theme: duncan b. campbell, 'a succession of victories: marius and the war with jugurtha'. illustrated by angel garcía pinto climbing the mountain fortress - artwork by angel garcía pinto

Marius' rise to prominence in rome was based on his victories in africa during the jugurthine war. in total, marius held the consulship seven times, an unprecedented feat. but the foundations for his success had been laid in africa, during a war of victories.

Features

Special tigris hellenistic helmet: michael schmitz, 'skill with weapons - professionalism in the army of alexander the great'. illustrated by johnny shumate

No tool will turn a man into a skilled worker or a master of defense, nor will it be of use to one who has not learned to handle them and has never paid attention to them. how, then, shall one who wields a shield or other tool of war become a good fighter in a day, whether with heavy troops or any other type? the forces of alexander the great were a good example of the aforementioned ideal.

The debate: murray dahm, 'tank, terror weapon or battle taxi: the role of the chariot on the battlefield'.

Probably everyone has read or heard some version of the urban myth about how modern railway gauge specifications relate to the distance between the wheels of ancient chariots. for most people, the myth is entirely plausible, such is the power and fascination the chariot exerts. whether through films like ben-hur, the ten commandments, or even gladiator, most people believe they know what chariots are about; how they were used and how effective they were. the truth is, they don't.
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