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INTERNAL HISTORY.-THE SOCIAL WAR (90-88).
At this time there was a bitter rivalry between the Senate and the equestrian order, or commercial class.

From the former were chosen the governors of the provinces, from the latter came the tax-gatherers (_publicani_) and the money-brokers (_negotiatores_).

It will help us to understand better the condition of affairs, if we study the composition of the Senate and the Equites.
The Senators, three hundred in number (later their number was increased to six hundred), held their office for life.

When vacancies occurred from death, or occasionally from removal, they were filled by the Censor, (Footnote: See the duties of Censor) who appointed a person that had held one of the following offices: Dictator, Consul, Praetor, Curule Aedile, or, after the time of Sulla, Quaestor.