Glaucia were declared public enemies. They took refuge in the
Senate-House, the roof of which was torn off, and the wretches were
stoned to death.

The fall of Saturninus and Glaucia was followed in 99 by the recall
of Metellus from banishment. He died shortly afterwards, and it was
suspected that he was a victim of treachery.

Marius having now become generally unpopular on account of his
vacillating course in the recent troubles, went into voluntary exile,
travelling through Asia Minor, and visiting the court of Mithradates,
King of Pontus.

For the next eight years (99-91) Rome enjoyed a season of comparative
quiet.

CHAPTER XXIV. INTERNAL HISTORY.-THE SOCIAL WAR (90-88).

At this time there was a bitter rivalry between the Senate and the
equestrian order, or commercial class. From the former were chosen
the governors of the provinces, from the latter came the tax-gatherers
(_publicani_) and the money-brokers (_negotiatores_). It will help us to
understand better the condition of affairs, if we study the composition
of the Senate and the Equites.

The Senators, three hundred in number (later their number was increased
to six hundred), held their office for life. When vacancies occurred
from death, or occasionally from removal, they were filled by the
Censor, (Footnote: See the duties of Censor) who appointed a person that
had held one of the following offices: Dictator, Consul, Praetor, Curule
Aedile, or, after the time of Sulla, Quaestor. All persons who had held
these offices, or that of Tribune, were allowed to join in debate in the
Senate, but not to vote. No Senator could engage in business. Hence he
must be wealthy.

We saw in Chapter IV. that Roman citizens were divided into six classes
according to their property, and that these classes were subdivided into
one hundred and ninety-three other classes called centuries. About 225,
the number was increased to three hundred and seventy-three. Eighteen
of the centuries of the first class were called EQUITES, and must have
property worth twenty thousand dollars or more. This name was given to
them because at first they served in the army as horsemen, though in
later times the cavalry was composed only of allied troops. The Equites
were originally from the aristocracy alone, but, as the plebeians
increased in wealth, many of them became rich enough to be included in
this class.

There was no hostility between the Senate and the Equites until, in 123