Gaius Marius sitting among the ruins of Carthage

After a rapid rise to power through his military prowess, the Roman general and politician Gaius Marius (c. 157-86 B.C.) wed into the Julian clan. He held an unprecedented seven consulships and as leader of the Roman army, instituted important military reforms. Toward the end of his life, Marius fell into disgrace during his violent and bloody conflict with Sulla, in which his forces were defeated. The subject of the present work is recounted by Plutarch, who writes that sentenced to death by the Senate, Marius fled to Carthage. When the Roman governor of that region, Sextilius, sent an officer to bid Marius to leave the province or be executed, Marius grimly responded, 'Thou shalt tell Sextilius, that thou hast seen Gaius Marius banished out of his country, sitting amongst the ruins of the city of Carthage.'