Marius' military reforms

Gaius Marius' military reforms, enacted around 107 BC, transformed the Roman army by allowing non-landowning citizens to enlist, creating a professional standing force. Soldiers were trained more thoroughly and provided with standardized equipment, which increased discipline and effectiveness. Marius also restructured the army into standardized units called legions and established retirement benefits, fostering loyalty. These changes shifted military allegiance from the Roman Senate to individual generals, as soldiers now owed their livelihoods to their commanders rather than the state, fundamentally altering Roman military and political dynamics.