The Gracchi

 

Late Republic, Fall of the Republic, Roman Revolution, 133-27 BC

 

The Gracchi demonstrated the potential power of the office of Plebeian Tribune; Cornelia, daughter of Scipio Africanus; found brilliant tutors for her sons: Blosius of Cumae

 

Ti. Sempronius Gracchus tr. pl. 133, agrarian legislation, ager publicus, trampled on senatorial prerogatives – foreign affairs and finance.

 

Agrarian legislation – land grants of 10 acres to poor roman citizens (viritane); publicans, contractors, wealthy citizens had expropriated public land; commission – to adjudicate all disputes. The commission was to survey all roman public land; redistribute land to Roman citizens in 10 acre allotments;

 

In the event that someone was squatting on public land,

 

500 acres + 250 per son (2) = 1000

 

500 plus 250/son x 2 sons. in excess =

P. Cornelius Scipio Nasica Pontifex Maximus; L. Octavius tr pl., both owned large tracks of public land; both opposed Ti. Gracchus’ agrarian legislation. M. Octavius was voted out of office; Gracchus' freedman elected in his place.

 

The death of King Attalus III of Pergamum – left his realm to the Roman People; Ti. Gracchus proposed to use this gift to fund his agrarian legislation (prerogative of the Senate).

 

P. Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus, cos. 148, 136, commander of the Numantine War during Ti. Gracchus’ political crisis. His officer staff included Prince Jugurtha of Numidia, C. Marius, P. Rutilius Rufus, C. Sempronius Gracchus

 

Senatus consultum ultimum – let the magistrates take whatever measures necessary to preserve the republic

 

Dictatorship  = 6 months

 

The Gracchi devised a new political avenue: “Going popularis”

 

C. Sempronius Gracchus, tr.pl. 123, 121 BC

 

Malcovati, Oratorum Romanorum Fragmenta

 

C. Gracchus devises PORK BARREL LEGISLATION, EXPOSING RIFT BETWEEN EQUITES AND SENATORS

 

Asian tax contracts; equestrian juries; colonies, Carthage; law of consular provinces; offered Roman citizenship to Italian Allies

 

M. Livius Drusus, tr. Pl. 122; L. Opimius cos. 121

 

New political strategies foreshadowed the decline of traditional Republican family patron/client relationships; increasingly political partnerships became based on one-time exchange of favors.

 

Results of Gracchan land reform, a significant number of Roman citizens were restored to the land, and thus became eligible for the draft.

 

Late Republican Census figures show the effect of the Gracchan agrarian legislation but more importantly the impact of Italian demand for Roman enfranchisement:

Year of Census                                      Enrolled Male Citizens

164 BC

337,022

134 BC

317,933

124 BC

394,736

119 BC (post Gracchi)

394,336

84 BC (post Social War)

900,000

27 BC (Augustan census)

5,000,000