How did Gaius Marius campaign against Quintus Metellus while serving under him?

While serving as a legatus under Quintus Metellus during the Jugurthine War, Gaius Marius did not campaign against him militarily; rather, he engaged in political intrigue to undermine his commander’s reputation.12

Although Metellus had initially brought Marius to Africa due to his recognized military talents, the relationship soured as Marius sought to advance his own political career. When Metellus faced difficulties managing the guerrilla warfare tactics employed by Jugurtha, Marius exploited these setbacks. Upon returning to Rome at the end of 108 BCE, Marius publicly exaggerated Metellus’s failures to bolster his own bid for the consulship.213

This strategy proved successful; Marius was elected consul for 107 BCE and secured a popular mandate to replace Metellus in the African command. This maneuver caused significant resentment, as it allowed Marius to take over the war effort that Metellus had been leading.13