# Marius — The City of God character guide

> Marius in The City of God by Augustine of Hippo.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0002-part-i-book-i

## Who they are

Roman general and consul, known for his military reforms and rivalry with Sulla.

## In the story

### [Book II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-book-ii)

Cited as a wicked Roman citizen who prospered despite his evil, contrasting with the virtuous Regulus.

### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xxii)

Cited as one who broke divine laws by involving Rome in civil wars.

### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xxiii)

Lowborn Roman who became seven times consul, used as an example of a wicked man who prospered despite the gods.

### [Of the deeds of Sylla, in which the demons boasted that he had their help.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xxiv)

Mentioned as Sylla's adversary in the civil war.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-vii)

Marius is referenced as the leader of the faction whose lieutenant Fimbria destroyed Ilium.

### [Of the civil dissension occasioned by the sedition of the Gracchi](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xxiv)

Not mentioned in this chapter.

### [Of the civil war between Marius and Sylla](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xxvii)

Leader of one faction in the civil war; returned from exile and ordered mass executions.

### [Of the victory of Sylla, the avenger of the cruelties of Marius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xxviii)

The elder Marius whose earlier cruelties were avenged by Sylla; his party continued atrocities under the younger Marius and Carbo.

### [A Comparison of the Disasters of the Gothic and Gallic Invasions with Those of the Civil Wars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xxix)

Marius is cited as a leader in the civil wars whose faction committed brutal acts, including the murder of Mucius Scaevola at the altar.

### [Of the connection of the wars which with great severity and frequency followed one another before the advent of Christ](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xxx)

His wars with Sylla are cited as the beginning of a chain of civil wars.

### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xxi)

Cited as an example of one to whom God gave power.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/characters/marius
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/characters