Seeking troops to bolster the forces in Numidia and win his promised quick victory, Marius found it difficult to recruit from Rome's traditional source of manpower, property-holding men. Except in emergencies, normal practice in the middle republic was only to allow property-owning citizens to enlist in the legions; this may have been related to Tiberius Gracchus's reforms which would have, by giving more people more land, made more men eligible to serve in the legions. While the senate allowed Marius to conscript men normally, he preferred instead to request volunteers, especially among discharged veterans (), with promises of victory and plunder. He also recruited volunteers from men without property, the . With more troops mustering in southern Italy, Marius sailed for Africa, leaving his cavalry in the hands of his newly elected quaestor, Lucius Cornelius Sulla.
seeking troops to bolster the forces in numidia and win his promised quick victory marius found it difficult to recruit from rome's traditional source of manpower property-holding men except in emergencies normal practice in the middle republic was only to allow property-owning citizens to enlist in the legions; this may have been related to tiberius gracchus's reforms which would have by giving more people more land made more men eligible to serve in the legions while the senate allowed marius to conscript men normally he preferred instead to request volunteers especially among discharged veterans () with promises of victory and plunder he also recruited volunteers from men without property the  with more troops mustering in southern italy marius sailed for africa leaving his cavalry in the hands of his newly elected quaestor lucius cornelius sulla