One of the features of Marius career that astounds is his six consulships, the last coming to him but briefly during his life-ending illness, and possibly when he gone quite mad.

It would be interesting to consider Marius' six elections as a problem similar to that of the dictatorships of Sulla and Caesar. For repeated consulships, especially Marius', amounted essentially to a dictatorship. And it reveals a weakness in the Republic -- the dearth of men who could circulate into annual consulships, thereby spreading the power around somewhat equitably within the ruling circle.

So perhaps it was Marius who fired the ambitions of those who came after him to seek numerous consulships ... and ultimately to assume power as dictator. Sulla, afer all, resigned as dictator and died in his bed. That's a death not many dictators enjoy!