Comparing Cato The Elder And Gaius Marius

Cato the Elder and Gaius Marius stand as two of the most remarkable leaders of the Roman Republic. Each rose from humble beginnings and become new men (novus homo) of the Roman Republic, each rising to the political rank of consul. Both men advanced their way up the political order with an audacity that perplexed and impressed their rivals at a time when the Republic was under serious threat of internal destruction. Their success was achieved mainly due to their simplicity and hardiness, however they had two vastly different effects on the Roman Republic.
Marcus Porcius Cato who was better known as Cato the Elder began his career perfecting his oratory skills in the towns and villages near Rome. Acting as an advocate for anyone who needed him, Cato first earned a reputation of being a vigorous pleader and eventually an effective orator. Cato was …show more content…
He was considered as a good man (boni) and his beliefs were virtues and honorable. Being a new man to the Republic he also brought many new ideas, such as paying barbarians to fight with the Roman army to ensure victory even though his officers thought it intolerable to fight with barbarians. He introduced laws which were to benefit the Republic instead of favoring his friends in the senate. Although Cato was not always an honorable man and set to banish or destroy those who he had personnel hatred for. When running his own businesses as efficiently and always looking to make a profit without being uneconomical. This also included selling his slaves once they became too old for work which many thought an injustice. The destruction of Carthage was considered as Cato’s last political achievement even though he died three years before this was achieved. It was his relentless campaigning that Carthage must be destroyed that eventually led to Rome destroying the Carthaginian