Marius

Marius was born into an equestrian family, and entered politics successfully but soon stalled out, lacking both the thick wallets and support of the nobility to continue his rise.

He married Julia, the aunt of Julius Caesar, a patrician woman from a very old family. He then campaigned very successfully in both Africa (against Jugurtha ) and in Gaul (Cimbrian War ), and was catapulted to enormous popularity. He was made consul several times.

He was careful to insist on his virtus being his own doing; he wasn't depending on the successes of his ancestors (for he had none of repute worth talking about) which showed how he set his back agaisnt the contemporary practice of the nobility at the time, who very much depended on their family name for running for office.

Innovations in Army
 * adops the aquila
 * "bending" javelin
 * changes in battle formations
 * soldiers become more specialized
 * Reliance on volunteers rather than conscripts, attracted men from poorest levels of society offering them wealth and success (important general characteristic through civil wars until Augustus)