Who military reforms were instrumental in the rise of powerful generals?

The military reforms of the late Roman Republic, particularly those implemented by Gaius Marius, were instrumental in the rise of powerful generals. Marius restructured the Roman legions, allowing the recruitment of landless citizens and providing them with equipment, which fostered loyalty to their generals rather than to the state. This shift in allegiance enabled generals like Julius Caesar and Pompey to amass personal power and influence, ultimately contributing to the downfall of the Republic and the rise of autocratic rule.