In 97, Sertorius served as military tribune in Spain. He gained public recognition when he recaptured the city of Castulo the same night as it was taken from a negligent Roman garrison, and then went on to capture the neighbouring city of Oritana, which had helped in the initial defeat of the Roman garrison.
When Sertorius returned to Rome he was elected quaestor and served in Cisalpine Gaul (i.e., Northern Italy). Matters were coming to a head over the Romans' refusal to extend citizenship rights to their Italian allies, and it was during the war over this (90-88) that Sertorius received the wound which cost him one of his eyes.
Sertorius stood for election as tribune but failed to win, and he blamed Sulla for this, so he naturally allied himself with the Marians in the dispute over whether Sulla or Marius should be sent out to fight against Mithridates in the East. After Sulla had successfully gained the command and Marius had gone into exile, the two consuls, Octavius, who was pro-Sulla, and Cinna, who was pro-Marius, fell out. Sertorius followed Cinna when he was driven out of Rome by Octavius, who had Merula appointed as consul to replace Cinna (87).
Marius came back from exile in Africa to join the forces Cinna was raising in Italy. They divided their army into three parts commanded by Marius, Cinna, and Sertorius, and laid siege to Rome. In the reign of terror Marius and Cinna instigated after they won their way into the city, Sertorius is said to have done his best to moderate their lust for vengeance. Marius had enrolled slaves among his forces, and they were particularly known for their brutality, which no-one dared do anything to counter until Sertorius defeated and killed them in their camp (86).
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