Final answer:
The rivalry between Marius and Sulla was a power struggle in ancient Rome. Both were military leaders who used their military power to gain control over the government.
Step-by-step explanation:
The rivalry between Marius and Sulla was a power struggle in ancient Rome.
Both Marius and Sulla were military leaders who had conflicting political ambitions. They both used their military power to gain control over the government and bypass traditional Roman hierarchies.
Marius and Sulla had several confrontations, with each taking turns seizing power and forcing the other to flee. They were supported by different factions in Rome, with Marius leading the populares (the popular party) and Sulla leading the optimates (the aristocratic party).