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Senate for Reform Within Rome Austin Turner Senior Division Historical Paper Paper Length: 2,316 Words 1 With both of their bodies thrown in the Tiber River Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus were no more. During the late Roman Republic, the two brothers wished to reform the Republic to better serve the poor with the problems that afflicted them. Thus they became champions of the poor and enemies of the Senate. They may have failed in their mission, but they took an important stand against the Senate that would have fixed the prolific problems with Rome’s poor that would ultimately cause the decline of Rome. Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus, or Tiberius the Younger, was born thirteen years older than Gaius Gracchus to a wealthy Roman family known as the Gracchii (Plutarch, Life of Tiberius). His father Tiberius Gracchus the Elder was one of the most politically powerful men in Rome at the time. Tiberius the Elder was elected Consul, the highest office in the Roman Republic, two times and had three triumphs, which are a celebration of one man's military victory. Even to have one triumph is a great feat for any Roman. Tiberius the Elder promoted a policy that provided land to be given to the poor (Dewitt, Portnow, Jones Gracchus the Elder – Prequel). Although not on such a widespread scale as his sons would eventually suggest, the idea of giving the poor land would be passed down to his sons. Tiberius the Elder would die while Tiberius was a young man and while Gaius was a child. This lead to them both being parented by their mother Cornelia Africana, who was considered the perfect example of a Roman woman. Cornelia herself was the daughter of Scipio Africanus who had won the Battle of Zama for Rome against Carthage in the Second Punic War (DeWitt, Portnow, Jones The Brothers Gracchi - 1: How Republics Fall) Her education of Tiberius and Gaius was conducted with such care Plutarch described it as: 2 “These sons Cornelia reared with such scrupulous care that although confessedly no other Romans were so well endowed by nature, they were thought to owe their virtues more to education than to nature” (Plutarch, Life of Tiberius). This education provided the morality and thoughts of the brothers to put others worries and needs ahead of them for the betterment of Rome. The tutelage of mother and father together provided an unexpected upbringing as the family greatly cared for the poor of Rome. This is remarkable as the wealthy in Rome often felt threatened by the poor people whenever a reform was to be passed. The rich felt that the poor would take away their wealth and power. Wishing to hold onto what they felt they would be taken away, often made sure such reforms never passed. After his father's death, Tiberius became a soldier and then a politician. Tiberius the Younger was renowned in Rome for it is said he was the first over the walls of Carthage during the Third Punic War, and that he saved the Roman Army in Spain against the Numantines in Iberia, or modern day Spain (Plutarch, Life of Tiberius Gracchus). Tiberius himself was known as a gentle speaker who showed care for all Romans. In the year 133 BC, he was elected to the office of tribune. Tribunes were the representatives of the common folk of Rome. They could bring up ideas for laws and had one veto over the senate for any law that they felt would harm the people (TribuneLivius) Before and during Tiberius’ life. Many citizens of Rome had fled the country to get jobs. However, once they arrived in Rome they still couldn't find a job. With time just doing no 3 work they thought about their own situation and became angry. This is what would form the basis of support for reform in Rome (DeWitt, Portnow, Jones The Brothers Gracchi - 1: How Republics Fall). During his tenure as Tribune, Tiberius wished to pass a new agrarian reform to give land to veterans who had lost their farms while fighting in wars and to the poor landless people in Rome (Land Ownership in Rome). The main point of this law was to limit people from owning more than 500 jugera. One jugera is equal to 3000 square feet (Histories of Appian). Tiberius supported the new laws by saying that: The wild beasts that roam over Italy, have every one of them a cave or lair to lurk in; but the men who fight and die for Italy enjoy the common air and light, indeed, but nothing else; houseless and homeless they wander about with their wives and children. And it is with lying lips that their imperators exhort the soldiers in their battles to defend sepulchers and shrines from the enemy; for not a man of them has an hereditary altar, not one of all these many Romans an ancestral tomb, but they fight and die to support others in wealth and luxury, and though they are styled masters of the world, they have not a single clod of earth that is their own (Plutarch, Life of Tiberius Gracchus). With this speech, Tiberius produced emotions so powerful that it increased support for the new law. This speech was so powerful because it showed the unfairness of it all. The veterans had put their lives on the line for Rome, yet they came back with nothing as only the wealthy had gained from the wars. The wealthy landowners in Rome saw this as a strike against their power, so they did whatever they could to stop the passage of Tiberius’ land reform. This included 4 bribing and calling the laws “non Roman”. However, there was popular support, so the commoners in Rome still supported Tiberius (Extra History Part 3). However, another tribune, Marcus Octavius, started to block any laws Tiberius attempted to send through the Senate. They would debate long and hard to convince the other to change their minds. At this moment there were two things said to have happened. Firstly, Plutarch states of the situation that: “Although both strove together with the utmost earnestness and rivalry, neither abused the other or let fall a single word about the other which anger made unseemly. For not only "in Bacchic revelries," as it appears, but also in the exercise of rivalry and wrath, a noble nature and a sound training restrain and regulate the mind” (Plutarch, Life of Tiberius). With Cassius Dio, he considers them as terrible people who were ruining the Republic. He stated that: “Thereafter there was no semblance of moderation; but zealously vying, as they did, each to prevail over the other rather than to benefit the state, they committed many acts of violence more appropriate in a despotism than in a democracy, and suffered many unusual calamities appropriate to war rather than to peace” (Cassius Dio, Roman History). With such different thoughts on the subject there must be an idea for why there is two differing viewpoints. It is by looking at them we find that Cassius Dio despises what Tiberius stands for. He finds that Tiberius was on a noble path until lead astray by power. With a hatred of this very man, Cassius Dio might be not writing the truth, but a construct to support the notion of Tiberius being villainous. 5 Voting for land reforms began without issue until the voting urns were stolen away by the people who would lose the most from the vote. Since the rich had taken the voting urns, the issue was sent to the Senate. Due to the Senate largely being noble the law became bogged down. Upon realizing that it would never pass through the Senate, Tiberius begged for Octavius to resign. Four times Tiberius beseeched him to resign, four times he refused. When the vote came down Octavius was removed from office. (Plutarch, Life of Tiberius) The reforms would eventually pass through with the support of the people. With Octavius’ removal from office, the Senate did little to oppose Tiberius. Tiberius with support from the people or they would be like Octavius (Plutarch, Life of Tiberius). Soon afterward the law passed. Tiberius did whatever he could to raise the power of the poor. This included adding judges who were not senators and reducing the time for military service. Tiberius did this to further improve the Roman system to better suit the poor. No doubt these laws also increased his own political power, but in his mind it was most likely to allow him to offer aid as he was known as a humble man. With his term as tribune over, he wished to run yet again. During the voting the people crowded around their champion. While they crowded around him Tiberius gestured to his head to signify that the Senators were coming to kill him. Previously there had been threats to his life that made him dread re-election. Fearing a fight slaves, and other friends of Tiberius made makeshift clubs to defend themselves. Upon the day of re-election, the Senate organized a group that were warned by people on the edge of the crowd that were unable to hear what Tiberius had said (Extra History Part 3). The Senate was said to have misunderstood the message as Tiberius putting a 6 crown over his head. However, the Senate saw an opportunity to slay their biggest adversary. To think that they wouldn’t strike with such favorable circumstances was just preposterous. Most of the Senate wished to deal with Tiberius, but one consul had no will to slay Tiberius without a trial as it would be unlawful. The other Consul Scipio Nasica rose up and spoke: "Since, then, the chief magistrate betrays the state, do ye who wish to succour the laws follow me" (Plutarch, Life of Tiberius). With the Senate rallied against Tiberius, they went into the crowd and fought Tiberius’ supporters. Once the fighting ended Tiberius was clubbed to death. Subsequently, his body was tossed in the Tiber River which meant he didn’t deserve a proper burial. This event is one of the first acts of political violence in the Roman Republic. Consequently, many other acts of political discord would occur. It would take nine years until another Gracchus would rise and fall just as hard as the one before him. His name was Gaius, the younger brother of Tiberius. Gaius Gracchus supported the same reforms as his brother, but he was none the less another man. His oratory was fiery so much that he would have a person play a harp if his voice became too loud and booming (Extra History Part 4 Enter Gaius). Before his brother’s death, Gaius didn’t want to take part in the politics of Rome. Gaius was forced into the position of governor of Sardinia to quell an uprising on the island in order to help a friend (Plutarch, Life of Gaius). Previously, Cornelia sent a letter after Tiberius’ death to Gaius saying: 7 You will say that it is a beautiful thing to take vengeance on enemies. To no one does this seem either greater or more beautiful than it does to me, but only if it is possible to pursue these aims without harming our country. But seeing as that cannot be done, our enemies will not perish for a long time and for many reasons, and they will be as they are now rather than have our country be destroyed and perish (Cornelia Africana, Letter). The letter had importance as it shows the Gracchii put the people of Rome ahead of themselves. In turn, this furthers the idea of their education providing an important role to create the two brother’s ideas for helping the people in Rome to live a better life. . Soon afterward Gaius’ term as Governor ended, he ascended to the same position as his brother, tribune, due to his actions as governor in Sardinia. Gaius as tribune passed many laws including distribution of wheat by state granaries in order to sell wheat cheaply to those in need (Background to the Grain Law), soldiers not having to personally pay for uniforms, and largest of all was to allow the middle class in Rome to be judges (Extra History Part 4). All of these laws would soon pass due to the Senate waiting to strike at Gaius (Appian, The Civil Wars). Gaius had achieved a second term as tribune due to the laws passing through the government. Afterwards Gaius took a stand to enfranchise the Italian allies outside of Rome and establish Roman colonies throughout the Mediterranean by enfranchising all of Italy, It would improve relations between different parts of Italy. With better relations it would create a more unified republic. Many, including poor in Rome, scorned this new law. The other Tribune, Drsus, convinced by the Senate vetoed the law. In turn Drsus took a lighter version of the law to gain Gaius’ supporters. Once 8 Gaius realized what had happened was too late. The poor had found a new champion for a short time, and the Senate had found a way to pass laws that Tiberius proposed to attract Tiberius’ supporters. Soon after Tiberius death, the laws passed in order to strike at Tiberius would later be repealed (Extra History Part 5). Having lost many of his supporters they took to the streets of Rome(Tiberius Gaius Gracchus). The problem for them is that it soon became an armed revolt. At the time the Senate had passed a new law that the Senate could declare anyone an enemy of the state and execute them without a trial (Appian, The Civil Wars). This would only set up more civil strife for the Roman Republic later on as they could murder anyone that they felt threaten by. The consul at the time was severely unpopular, he declared martial law and gathered up 3,000 armed troops and led them to where Gaius was positioned with his supporters. Gaius himself was unarmed with nothing but the clothes on his body, before he left home his wife begged him not to leave saying: Not to the rostra, O Caius, do I now send thee forth, as formerly, to served as tribune and law-giver, nor yet to a glorious war, where, shouldst thou die (and all men must die), thou wouldst at all events leave me an honoured sorrow; but thou art exposing thyself to the murderers of Tiberius, and thou doest well to go unarmed, that thou mayest suffer rather than inflict wrong; but thy death will do the state no good. The worst has at last prevailed; by violence and the sword men's controversies are now decided. If thy brother had only fallen at Numantia, his dead body would have been given back to us by terms of truce; but as it is, perhaps I too shall have to supplicate some river or sea to reveal to me at last thy body in its keeping. Why, pray, should men longer put faith in laws or gods, after the murder of Tiberius? 9 " While Licinia was thus lamenting, Plutarch then said “Gaius gently freed himself from her embrace and went away without a word, accompanied by his friend’s” (Plutarch, Life of Gaius). By not saying a word as he left it showed that he understood what he was giving his life for and that he was willing to still proceed and go anyway into the perilous situation that he foresaw in his future. He was determined to fight for the cause even though his very life was at stake. During the fighting Gaius was led back away to a wooden bridge that crossed the Tiber. It was there that the Roman soldiers caught Gaius and his servant. Two varying accounts are given first that Gaius ordered his servant to kill him or second, the servant fell on top of Gaius to deflect any blows upon his master until he himself was dispatched (Plutarch, Life of Gaius). Gaius’ head would be cut off and his body and thrown in the Tiber River just as his brother was(Extra History Part 5 The Final Fall). During the tenure of the Gracchus Brothers, the economic condition of the Roman Republic was dire. Rome had been struggling for a while with the increasing wealth gap between the aristocrats and the commoners (Don Nardo, Fall of the Roman Empire). The main reason for this is that the citizen soldiers gained little plunder in war and returned to their farms and shops to find them rundown or taken away(How Inequality, Diversity And Empire Brought Down The Roman Republic).Thus the rich were able to gain vast swaths of land from the average citizens. The Roman economy itself was stagnant for a while with most just barely getting basic needs such as food, water, and shelter (Poverty in the Roman World). The Gracchus brothers saw this and attempted to correct the issue by issuing land to the 10 poor. If the poor received the land and kept it, then the citizen’s life needs would be met with living standards going up. This would include less squalor in the cities due to more money in the hands of common Romans. Once their life needs would be met, the friction between the social classes within Rome would lessen for a time. Not only did the Gracchii brothers attempt to fix Rome's economic problems, but they wished to fix what they saw as a corrupt government sitting idly by as there was an abuse of power (Outlines of Roman History). One of these reforms was to not allow only senate members to be judges. The reason behind the law being that many senate members would rule in cases for their own prosperity. Had reforms been passed, many more would follow to fix the dilemma. The issues within the government help weaken the foundation of Rome by bad administration, heighten the ensuing power struggles, and an increased tension between the social classes. Even though the Gracchi brothers didn’t accomplish their goal, they took a stand for the poor and weak of Rome. Their stand was an important one that would have fixed many of the issues leading to the collapse of Rome. 11 Annotated Bibliography Primary Sources Africana, Cornelia. Letter to Gaius Gracchus. 122 bce. MS. Italy, Rome. This source provided a “first-hand” letter to Gaius from his mother soon after Tiberius death. It provided that the two brother were raised to better their country, and to not be petty against others for revenge if it harmed the country as a whole Secondary Sources Appian. The Histories of Appian. Comp. Bill Thayer. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Penelope University of Chicago. Web. 3 Nov. 2016.” With this source, it provided me with more information on Tiberius’ land reforms such as limiting land ownership to 500 jugera. It also talked about the general social strife within Rome at the time. Cavanaugh, Jeffrey. "How Inequality, Diversity And Empire Brought Down The Roman Republic." MintPress News. MintPress, 09 Apr. 2014. Web. 30 Sept. 2016. This source was helpful as it talked about how the downfall of Rome came from the separation between social classes in Rome, which let me further connect the fight for social reform to the fall of Rome. Garnsey, Peter, and Dominic Rathbone. "The Background to the Grain Law of Gaius Gracchus." Journal of Roman Studies 75 (1985): 20-25. Cambridge Core. Web. 2 Nov. 2016. This source provided me with that some reforms that Gaius passed were the construction of state granaries and the price of grain for the regular sale to citizens. Gracchus the Elder - Prequel: In His Footsteps - Extra History. By Scott DeWitt, James Portnow, and Dan Jones. Perf. Floyd. Www.youtube.com. Google, 10 Sept. 2016. Web. 14 Oct. 2016. This source was important to my project as it talked about the past of Tiberius and Gaius’ father. It gave me Tiberius Gracchus’ success in politics and militarily and his support for some land reform that would be 12 passed down to his sons. Lendering, Jona. "Tribune." Livius. Livius, 2002. Web. 19 Oct. 2016. This source was important as it talked about the office of the tribune and the powers that it held. "L3H • Roman History Part I — Ch.9 The Gracchi Brothers." L3H • Roman History Part I — Ch.9 The Gracchi Brothers. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Oct. 2016. This source talked about the two brothers seeing how important the poor were to the development of Rome that they wished to help them. Nardo, Don. The Fall of the Roman Empire. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven, 1998. Print. This book was important as it talked about the economic condition of the Roman Empire and the issues that lead to the fall of Rome. It also talks about how the civil strife within Rome weakened it for the subsequent fall. Osborne, Robin, and Margaret Atkins. "Poverty in the Roman World." EHnet. Economic History Services, July 2008. Web. 04 Oct. 2016. This source helped me with my project as it talked about the stagnation of the the Roman economy and how it hindered Rome. Plutarch. "Life of Caius." Comp. Bill Thayer. Parallel Lives. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. Penelope. Web. 6 Oct. 2016. In this source there was a description of Caius’’ life. It gave his personality with his fiery oratory, his career before Tribune, how he was elected to tribune twice, and his death. It also provided many stories about Gaius that may or may not be true.Lastly it gave first hand sayings of Gaius and his Plutarch. “Life of Tiberius.”. Comp. Bill Thayer. Parallel Lives N.p.: n.p., n.d. Penelope. Web. 6 Oct. 2016. In this source there was a description of Tiberius’ life. It had his care under his mother, his rise to tribune, and ultimately his death to the hands of the ultimately his death to the hands of the senators. It also provided many speeches from both parties between Tiberius and the Senators. 13 Richardson, J. S. "The Ownership of Roman Land: Tiberius Gracchus and the Italians." The Journal of Roman Studies 70 (1980): 1-11. JSTOR. Web. 19 Oct. 2016. This source was important as it talks about the importance of the gain law from Tiberius for citizens. The Brothers Gracchi - 4: Enter Gaius. By James Portnow, Scott DeWitt, and Dan Jones. Perf. Daniel Floyd. Www.youtube.com. Google, 27 Aug. 2016. Web. 5 Oct. 2016. This video was helpful as it talked about how Gaius had gained the support to the middle class by allowing them to be judges. The Brothers Gracchi - 1: How Republics Fall. By James Portnow, Scott DeWitt, and Dan Jones. Perf. Daniel Floyd. Www.youtube.com. Google, 6 Aug. 2016. Web. 5 Oct. 2016 This video was helpful as it talked about the many citizens of Rome went about the many citizens of Rome went to Rome in order to get jobs. However once there, they were unable to get a job. Consequently they became angry. It also talked about the past of Cornelia Who was the mother of the brothers The Brothers Gracchi - 2: Populares. By James Portnow, Scott DeWitt, and Dan Jones. Perf. Daniel Floyd. Www.youtube.com. Google, 13 Aug. 2016. Web. 5 Oct. 2016. This video was helpful as it talked about how the Senators and rich landowners used bribes and many arguments in order to try to halt the l laws being passed by Tiberius. The Brothers Gracchi - 3: Ochlocracy. By James Portnow, Scott DeWitt, and Dan Jones. Perf. Daniel Floyd. Www.youtube.com. Google, 20 Aug. 2016. Web. 5 Oct. 2016 This video was helpful as it talked about the time before the second election of Tiberius dealing with false reports and misinterpreted what had happened. The Brothers Gracchi - 5: The Final Fall - Extra History. By James Portnow, Dan Jones, and Scott DeWitt. Perf. Daniel Floyd. Www.youtube.com. Google, 3 Sept. 2106. Web. 6 Oct. 2016. This video was helpful as it talked about how the senate had proposed Gaius’ laws as their own laws in order to gain the common people's support. Copy & paste citation 14 15