What was not within the power of such a leader of soldiers?
and what else but a leader of soldiers could prevail when Italy and Rome, but for such a General, had been at the mercy of barbaric hordes, and when they had been compelled to make that General six times Consul?
Marius seems to have been no politician.

He became a soldier and then a General; and because he was great as a soldier and General, the affairs of the State fell into his hands with very little effort.

In the old days of Rome military power had been needed for defence, and successful defence had of course produced aggressive masterhood and increased territory.

When Hannibal, while he was still lingering in Italy, had been circumvented by the appearance of Scipio in Africa and the Romans had tasted the increased magnificence of external conquest, the desire for foreign domination became stronger than that of native rule.

From that time arms were in the ascendant rather than policy.