Page:Roman Constitutional History, 753-44 B.C..djvu/196

182 140, and were afterward succeeded in the main by horsemen furnished by the subjects. Finally, the practice of having a personal escort of citizens, which was introduced by Aemilianus in the Numantine war, led to the formation of a bodyguard, a privileged corps (praetoriani).

These changes were no doubt necessary, and contributed largely to maintaining Roman military superiority. They were also of momentous political importance. It was a dangerous precedent that a general should, on the plea of the emergencies of war, completely change the ancient system. But this was not the greatest danger. While the republican constitution was based on the idea that the citizens were soldiers, and that the soldiers were above all patriotic citizens, the new system, with its gladiatorial drill and its democratic organization of the rank and file, tended to form standing armies, and to develop a class of professional soldiers, whose only home was the camp, whose art was war, and whose hope, fear, and affection centered in their general.

As under the constitution the consular and tribunician powers, so under this system the army and the bodyguard, might in the hand of a master become the pillars of a monarchy.

Combination of Marius, Glaucia, and Saturninus. — Marius probably did not think of overthrowing the government by force of arms, nor could he trust his devoted soldiers to that extent. The example of Gaius Gracchus and his own tenure of the consulship indicated an easier and safer way. In any case he must secure a reflection for the year 100, if he was to be able to provide for his soldiers, and have any prospect of reaching the climax of his hopes — a seventh consulship. As a candidate ,he was dependent on the democratic party and its leaders.

The chief men in the popular party were Gaius Glaucia, a base man, but a witty and effective street orator, who was