While under the Gracchi, the populares had already showed what they were capable of, their idealism had kept them from being really succesfull. This changed under Gaius Marius, an charismatic general and politician, who relied on the support of the people. It was this Marius who saved the republic by the marian reforms, and in that made it certain the republic could never stay. However, the struggle between this populistic politician and the established politicians would make him just as famous as his reforms. Where he relied on the plebeiers, optimates like Lucius Cornelius Sulla based their power in the senate, in the old politics.
And it wasn't that Sulla and Marius had been enemies since they were born. Sulla had served under marius in several wars, and they gained successes together. Where Marius was the general in fight against numidians and teutones, Sulla served in his staff. It was not until later that these great men in the history of Rome came to stand on opposite sides. When sulla was given the command for the first Mithridatic War, Marius tried to get via clever machinations in the senate to get control himself, and succeeded in this.
The result was that Sulla marched on Rome to revert this decision. It wouldn't be the last time he turned his army to Rome...
Marius and Sulla mafia
is a 7p themed game. No previous knowledge of the theme is necessary, and in case you do get in trouble, wikipedia and translated works of Plutarchus should give you your answers quickly enough.
I have one pre-in, which is Ellibereth.
Surrender, imagine and of course wear something nice.