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Alec Cano
Mrs. Bergen/Mrs. Downer
English 10/Latin II
10 November 2011
Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus
When Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus became an authority, Rome was no longer a
Republic, being controlled by the nobles throughout the empire. A reformation was
desperately needed. But who would lead it? Tiberius Gracchus would, a man of noble
blood. Also, being the Great Nephew of the remarkable general, Scipio Africanus, and the
son of a noble Censor, he would have an influence and great effect upon the people of
Rome and the world. Throughout the lives of Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus, the Gracchi
brothers brought in many ideas that changed Rome and future generations.
At the time, Rome had been corrupt; enough that it would even affect the military
itself. Rome was at constant war and the people of Italy were being drafted into the armies
of the Roman Empire. To have war, one must have men. The drafting of men was quite
common at the time considering that a large mass of men was needed to convey the
actions of Rome. If one was to serve in the army, one must have owned land. When the
men had left to war, which would watch over their land or run their farms? The Nobles took
this Law to their advantage by acquiring the land of the soldiers enlisted in the armies of
Rome. When soldiers returned home, they had nothing. A man of great influence was
needed, one with a background of great authority and noble blood; to lead the reformation
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of a corrupt and unbalanced Roman Society. But to lead the revolution, one must take
authority while not being seen as a king; which the Romans absolutely despised. Land being
acquired by noble men was making many homeless and shifted the Roman economy. A
boundary was clearly made between the upper class and the lower classes; the power was
no longer in the hands of the people but in the hands of the nobles. As the country
continued its downfall “thoughtful Romans began to realize the need to attempt some
alleviation of the economic situation”(Richardson). Those in high positions saw the
corruption throughout the empire that would eventually drive Rome into the ground. The
illegal actions throughout the empire did not go unseen; though few realized the situation,
which included the leader of the Revolution, Tiberius Sempronus Gracchus.
The goal of the revolution was to reform the land laws of Rome, creating a once
again stable society and economy. Tiberius Gracchus “a noble tribune in an influential
position” (Plutarch) had a task of reorganizing and stabilizing the Roman economy.
Everything was continuing to be affected because of the loss of land experienced by the
Roman peoples; and something needed to be done. A bill by Tiberius Gracchus would be
the first step into the reformation. It was called the Lex Agraari, a bill that put a limit on the
acres that one could own. Which helped soldiers gain their land back and to provide homes
for returning war veterans. This bill was absolutely necessary and if shut down; Rome would
continue to downfall. Many said “if only because it affected Rome’s Military
strength”(Richardson). The armies were having shortages of men; because almost none
owned land due to the noble theft of property. To have an army, men must be a well-
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supplied resource. If an army is absent then Rome would be in a submissive position, and an
easy territory to conquer. Therefore, by creating stable economy, Rome would not only
strengthen its military, but alleviate its struggling economy. After taking veto after veto by
the tribune, Marcus Octavius, the senate was sidestepped and defeated by a popular vote.
His reformations were carried out and funded by the government of Rome; his influences
upon many were broad. “According to Plutarch, Octavius himself was a possessor of a large
amount of public land and was thus liable to the provisions of the Lex Agraari” (Richardson).
Many of the senators were bound to this law and were affected by it, and hatred for
Tiberius was brewing in the hearts of many. His reformations would have to be passed on to
his younger sibling after the physical outrage of the Senate and the death of Tiberius
Sempronius Gracchus himself. His reformations were broadly welcomed by those of the
middle and lower classes but hated by those of noble families, land was distributed and
Rome was slowly returning to a stable economic situation.
In the Event of the death of the political leader, Tiberius Gracchus, of the
reformation, Gaius Gracchus took over the cause of the once living Tiberius Gracchus.
Having a partial failure, Tiberius Gracchus’ currently unsuccessful operation due to the
political biases against him and his reformation, “failure is in itself no sign of lack of spirit
and ability” (Riddle). The idea of equality and reformation was in the air, and the
reformation had been far from over. Gaius Gracchus; being the younger brother of Tiberius
Gracchus had been a strong supporter of him and had a good political background making
him the best fit to take charge in the reformation. Continuing in the reformation “Gaius
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then turned to further economic reform. He re-enacted his brother’s Agrarian Bill (Scullard,
32).” He had the bill of his brother enforced throughout Italy and “much of the land
available had no doubt been distributed by this time, Gaius supplemented this bill with a
plan to establish some colonies in Italy, some were to come from the lower and middle
classes in order to provide some capital for the promotion of industries in the colonies”
(Scullard 33).” Gaius had a plan to raise the status by establishing a system that would uplift
the Republic and create an idea of fairness and equality in Rome.
Using the Bill of his brother Tiberius, Gaius was able to bring ideas into Rome that
would change it for the better. Taking position of Tribune in the Senate (like Tiberius before
him) Gaius was considerably more successful than his brother Tiberius by gaining the
support of the equestrian class and many high political leaders. Gaius had brought forward
the ideas of citizenship for all Italians, economic competition, continuation of land
reformations, an age limit for those to be drafted in the army, stopping judicial bribery,
expanding francise to the Latins, and slowly began to give power back to the people. But
many of these ideas were vulnerable from the attack of senators, which opposed the
Gracchi. “During Gaius’ second tribunate the senate at last moved to the attack but at first
by an indirect method (Scullard, 35). Another Tribune sent by the Senate had the
assignment of winning over the supporters of Gaius through attractive proposals. “Gaius’
position simply was to be undermined by others and his ideas shut down” (Scullard, 35).
Gaius went through the same trials and fire that his brother had to endure. Through the
deaths of other consuls and threats of Gaius’ life his ideas still remained and were
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recognized by the people of Rome. Up until the death of Gaius Gracchus did his ideas and
reformations begin to decrease in popularity and support.
“The Gracchi was in true sense martyrs: they had witnessed to their belief in the
need for reform and they had suffered for their faith” (Scullard, 37).” The two men; Tiberius
and Gaius Gracchus had brought in ideas that had not only shaped the Republic, but took
the dominant power out of the hands of the Senate and put it back in the hands of the
people. At least this was a realization of what Rome truly was and why reformations were
necessary and essential to the Roman Empire. Though problems were still within the armies
and economy, the Gracchi created a realization and example for the people of Rome to
follow. The reality of the Gracchi reformations were that they were short lived, for many of
these laws and reformations only lasted for a short period of time and not throughout all of
the Roman Empire. “The Gracchi received some direct results, though many of the
economic difficulties remained, they at least helped to relieve, those main problems in
Rome” (Scullard, 38).
The corrupt Roman Empire, suffering by economic and social decay, had alleviation
by two Tribunes of the time, who was Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus. Their reformations and
ideas helped the people of Rome realize the corruption of Rome. The ideas and events of
the time had been the sign of a great awakening. Though their relief of the economic and
social conditions was short-lived, the dominant power no longer rested in the hands of the
Senate as it once did, but now, in the hands of the people.
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Works cited
Richardson, Keith. Daggers in the Forum: The Revolutionary Lives and Violent Deaths of the
Gracchus Brothers. London: Cassell and Company Limited, 1976.
Scullard, H.H. From the Gracchi to Nero: A history of Rom 133 B.C. to A.D. 68. London and New
York: Methuen and Co. Ltd, 1959.
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Riddle, John. Tiberius Gracchus: Destroyer or Reformer of the Republic. Massachusetts: D.C.
Health and Company,1970.
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