the Bosphorus, and marched into Northern Greece, which received him
with open arms.

Such was the condition in the East when Sulpicius Rufus carried the
bills mentioned in the last chapter. One of these bills was that
Marius have charge of the war against Mithradátes. This was not to
Sulla's liking. He was in Campania with the legions that had served in
the Social War. The soldiers were devoted to him, and ready to follow
him anywhere. Sulla, therefore, taking matters into his own hands,
marched into the city at the head of his troops. The people resisted;
Sulpicius was slain; Marius fled for his life, and retired to Africa,
where he lived for a time, watching the course of events.

Sulla could not remain long at the capital. The affairs of the East
called him away; and no sooner was he gone than the flames of civil
war burst out anew (87).

LUCIUS CORNELIUS CINNA, a friend of Marius, was Consul that year. He
tried to recall Marius, but was violently opposed and finally driven
from the city. The Senate declared him deposed from his office. He
invoked the aid of the soldiers in Campania, and found them ready to
follow him. The neighboring Italian towns sent him men and money, and
Marius, coming from Africa, joined him with six thousand troops. They
marched upon Rome. The city was captured. Cinna was acknowledged
Consul, and the sentence of outlawry which had been passed on Marius
was revoked.

The next year Marius was made Consul for the seventh time, and Cinna
for the second. Then followed the wildest cruelties. Marius had a
body-guard of slaves, which he sent out to murder whomever he wished.