Maria gens
Roman gens
The gens Maria was a plebeian family of Rome. Its most celebrated member was Gaius Marius, one of the greatest generals of antiquity, and seven times consul.
Origin
As a nomen, Marius is probably derived from the Oscan praenomen Marius, in which case the family may be of Sabine or Sabellic background, although in this form the name is Latinized, and the family cannot be proven to have originated anywhere other than Rome.
Praenomina
The Marii of the Republic used the praenomina Marcus, Gaius, Lucius, Quintus, and Sextus. Publius and Titus are found in imperial times.
Branches and cognomina
The Marii of the Republic were never divided into any families, though in course of time, more especially under the emperors, several of the Marii assumed surnames. The only cognomen found on coins is Capito.
Members
This list includes abbreviated praenomina. For an explanation of this practice, see filiation.
Quintus Marius, triumvir monetalis between 189 and 180 BC.
Marcus Marius, a native of Sidicinum, and a contemporary of Gaius Gracchus, about whom Aulus Gellius relates a story, showing the gross indignity with which Roman magistrates sometimes treated the most distinguished men among the allies.
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