The Social War

-Before the Italian peninsula were allowed to just do their own thing, they had to provide troops to Rome upon request.
   -However, plunder was not being fairly shared afterwards.
      -Marius had also eliminated the hierarchy between Roman and non-(city of) Roman legions.
-91 BC- The tribune Marcus Livius Drusus proposed that non-Roman Italians be made into full Roman citizens.
   -A group of patricians tried to put a stop to this legislation, but this didn't work, so they had Drusus assassinated.
      -The non-Roman Italians began to rebel, and established a rival government in Corfinium (modern-day Corfinio, 150 km east of Rome), and renamed the city Italica, and their new confederation against Rome was called Italia.
         -The Romans tried to put down the rebellion, but initially fucked it up and the consul Publius Rutilius Lupus was killed in battle.  As a result, Gaius Marius was brought back from retirement!
-Under Marius' leadership, the Romans were able to put down most of the rebel armies, but the Samnite troops (still badass fighters) were able to hold out.
   -Finally, Rome relented and gave in to their allies.
      -The Lex Julia was passed, a law granting citizenship to the citizens of cities that did not join the rebellion, and was offered to any rebelling city that surrendered.
-89 BC- The Samnites and some others still didn't give a fuck though, and held out.
   -Lucius Cornelius Sulla was assigned to fight them and put them down.
      -Marius didn't like this because Sulla was seen as the hero of this conflict (the Social War).
-Notable people who also fought for Rome in the Social War were Marcus Tullius Cicero and Gnaeus Pompeius (Pompey the Great).
-88 BC- Sulla was elected consul.
-During this time it looked like there might be trouble brewing in the east due to the rise of Pontus, a kingdom increasing in power in Asia Minor and ruled by the mighty Mithridates VI.
   -Marius was pissed, and wanted to be consul so he could be in charge of taking on Pontus, so he organized a coalition to oust Sulla.
      -As a result of this, Sulla fled to the safety of the legions.