Once he was elected consul he arranged for a friendly tribune to propose that command of the African war be transferred to Marius by law. This was both legal and had precedent dating back to 131 BC and before then to the Second Punic War. Metellus was replaced and Marius got his army – furthermore, as will be seen, it gave Marius a technique for gaining control of an army he was to re-attempt to apply in 88 BC with disastrous consequences.
