Mario and Silla

After the death of the two reformers, the power passed into the hands of two war kings Mario and Silla.
Mario was a new man (i.e. he was not of illustrious lineage). Between 102 and 101 b.C he defeated two German populations the Cimbrians and the Teutons, who were threatening the Republic and became the leader of the democratic party.
The leader of the Senate party was Silla, another great general. His army marched on Rome to threw Mario and his followers out of the town. It was the first time that a Roman army marched on the Republic.
The civil war beetwen Mario and Silla was very harsh and at the end Rome and Italy fell into the hands of Silla who eliminated his opposition with the famous proscription lists on which it was written all the names of those who had to die and whose wealth was to be confiscated. About 5000 people, even innocent ones, died in this way.
Silla anticipated what was to be the Empire regime. In 79 b.C. he retired to private life and died a year later.