Marius had escaped to Africa. There had been a close shave at Minturnae, where Marius had been captured, but no one was prepared to kill Rome’s former hero. Not sure what else to do with him, the Minturnians put Marius on a ship and (after another near-death experience in Sicily), Marius had ended up skulking near Carthage when news reached him of developments in Italy. When he heard that Cinna had found an army and was marching on Rome, Marius hastened to join in. It is questionable to what extent he was still sane.
