THE GRACCHITIBERIUS GRACCHUS (c.163-133 BC)

GAIUS GRACCHUS (c.153-121 BC)

Conditions in the Late Republic

Military problems: Fewer men eligible for army, military levy based on land ownership. Decline in birth rate impacted army numbers. Lower quality of troops = undisciplined. Poor training and lack of quality leadership.Social problems: Urbanisation – ex-soldiers, slaves and foreigners, flocked to Rome. Drift of peasant farmers and labourers to Rome = unemployment. Pop. increase, overcrowding, poor housing = unemployment. Slave uprisings from poor treatment.Economic problems: Great influx of wealth from provinces, included booty. Most wealth went into hands of upper class. Peasants returning from wars unable to compete with wealthier

farmers – forced off their land. Boom period in building and increased private spending in the 140s,

reduction in public spending. Economic depression, misery, unrest. Shortage of grain and grain imported = high price of bread.

Tiberius Gracchus – Tribune

In 133, Tiberius Gracchus was elected as one of ten tribunes

Within 10 months of being elected he had presented a highly controversial bill for land reform to the people’s assembly without consulting the senate. It was called lex agraria

The aim of Lex Agraria: Redistribute land equally Address acute urbanisation Easing the crisis of recruitment in the

legions

Tiberius Gracchus and Land Reform

Tiberius Gracchus told the people: “You fight and die to give luxury to other men…but you have not a foot of

ground to call your own.”Wanted to limit the amount of

land each person could own

Wanted to rebuild the

farming class by redistributing

land

The patricians were not pleased

with Tiberius Gracchus

Tiberius Gracchus and

hundreds of his followers were

murdered

The lower classes (plebeians) were suffering.

133 BCE – Tiberius Gracchus was elected as tribune of the plebeians He promised land reform

Tiberius Gracchus – the decade after

132 – Supporters and Gracchans killed or stripped of titles and public office. However, Gaius Gracchus (brother) headed the Agrarian Commission.

131-130 – Attempt to introduce a measure to extend the secret ballot to assemblies to legalise re-election to the tribunate – supported by Gaius Gracchus, however failed to pass.

129 – Boundary disputes between Rome and her Italian and Latin allies

127 – Gaius Gracchus elected quaestor

126 – Law passed to prevent non-citizens from living in Rome

125 – Proposition by consul Fulvius Flaccus to extend Roman citizenship to allies. Opposition was widespread in Senate, failed to pass.

123 – Gaius Gracchus elected tribune of the plebs

Gaius Gracchus – Tribune

Effects of the Gaius tribunate

Equites – third political force

People realised they could gain some benefits of

empire

Encouraged future leaders to establish colonies to gain political

power

Problem of Italian citizenship became

acute

Senate used decree to save state – excuse to crush

opposition

Worsened the conditions for people in the

provinces

Senate power weakened The tribune could be

used as a weapon against the senate

Gaius Gracchus and Reform

Gaius was elected tribune in 123 BCE, about ten years after his brother was murdered.

He also wanted land reform.

Gaius wanted even more than

land reform.

Gaius wanted the government to sell grain to the poor at reduced

prices.

Gaius proposed that landless Romans be

settled in the provinces.

Gaius wanted a public works program to

employ the poor.

Gaius wanted to reform the way that taxes were

collected by publicans in the

provinces.

Gaius wanted to decrease the

Senate’s power.

Riots erupted. In 121 BCE, he was killed along with thousands of his

supporters.