assassination in Rome itself of a rival claimant
to the Numidian throne (110 B. C.). His friends in the Senate dared
protect him no longer and he had to leave Italy.

*A Roman defeat, 109 B. C.* The war reopened but the first operations
ended in the early part of 109 B. C. with the defeat and capitulation of a
Roman army, which was forced to pass under the yoke, to be released when
its commander consented to a recognition of Jugurtha's position and an
alliance between him and Rome. In this shameful episode bribery and
treachery had played their part. The terms were rejected at Rome, and a
tribunician proposal to try those guilty of misconduct with Jugurtha was
ratified by the Assembly. In the same year the consul Metellus took
command in Africa. One of his officers was Caius Marius. Marius was born
of an equestrian family at Arpinum; he served in the cavalry under Scipio
Aemilianus in the Numantine War; engaged with success in the handling of
state contracts; became tribune in 119, praetor in 116, and propraetor in
Spain in 115 B. C. He was able and ambitious and chafed under the disdain
with which he as a "new man" was treated by the senatorial aristocrats.

*Marius, consul: 107 B. C.* Metellus, in contrast to the former commanders
against Jugurtha, was both energetic and honorable. He began a methodical
devastation of Numidia, and forced Jugurtha to abandon the field and
resort to guerilla warfare. He also tried to stir up disloyalty among the
king's followers. But he failed to kill or capture the latter, which alone
would terminate the war. Hence when he scornfully refused the request of
Marius to be allowed to return and stand for the consulship in 108, Marius
intrigued to get the command transferred to himself, alleging that
Metellus was purposely prolonging the campaign. Finally, Metellus saw fit
to let him go and he was elected consul for the following year. However,
the Senate, wishing to keep Metellus in command, had not designated
Numidia as a consular province. And so the popular party passed a law in
the Assembly of the Tribes which conferred the command against Jugurtha
upon Marius. The Senate yielded to this encroachment upon its prerogatives
and Marius superseded Metellus in 107. His quaestor was Lucius Cornelius
Sulla, scion of a decayed patrician family, who was destined to become the
bitter rival of his chief.

*The end of the war: 107-105 B. C.* Marius continued the methodical
subjugation of Numidia,