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.
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