BC130-111 Gaius Sempronius Gracchus and Mob Violence
The twenty years from 130-111 BC BC were dominated by the efforts of Gaius Sempronius Gracchus (pictured) to continue the reforms of his brother Tiberius Gracchus.
Nearly ten years after his brother Tiberius Gracchus was killed, Gaius Sempronius Gracchus attempted to continue his political reforms using similar tactics.
The Roman Repubic received an unforeseen windfall in the will of the dying King Attalus III of Pergamon, but before Rome could claim the kingdom of Pergamon a relative of Attalus III was proclaimed king of Pergamon with the title of Eumenes III and was not defeated by Rome until 129 BC.
Pergamon was reorganized into the foundation of the province of Asia, and became one of the most wealthy provinces the Romans ever controlled attracting corrupt and greedy Senators and Governors. This sort of land distribution really upset the soldiers who had fought for Rome and those who spoke on their behalf. To this end, Gaius Sempronius Gracchus spoke up.
Gaius was more of a demagogue than Tiberius and attempted to pass laws to gain popular support rather than to make political reforms with a specific agenda like his brother.
He was not as successful or as popular as his elder brother, but he still managed to create many enemies in high places.
Finally, escalating political tensions exploded on the Capitoline Hill where Gaius Gracchus and 3,000 of his followers were killed in 121 BC.
The political careers of the Gracchi brothers had broken many political traditions in Rome and introduced mob violence as a political tool. The plebs loved the Gracchi brothers as they stood to uphold their rights, but the ruling Patrician class hated what the Gracchi brothers had achieved and now feared the mob more than they ever did in the past.
Nearly ten years after his brother Tiberius Gracchus was killed, Gaius Sempronius Gracchus attempted to continue his political reforms using similar tactics.
The Roman Repubic received an unforeseen windfall in the will of the dying King Attalus III of Pergamon, but before Rome could claim the kingdom of Pergamon a relative of Attalus III was proclaimed king of Pergamon with the title of Eumenes III and was not defeated by Rome until 129 BC.
Pergamon was reorganized into the foundation of the province of Asia, and became one of the most wealthy provinces the Romans ever controlled attracting corrupt and greedy Senators and Governors. This sort of land distribution really upset the soldiers who had fought for Rome and those who spoke on their behalf. To this end, Gaius Sempronius Gracchus spoke up.
Gaius was more of a demagogue than Tiberius and attempted to pass laws to gain popular support rather than to make political reforms with a specific agenda like his brother.
He was not as successful or as popular as his elder brother, but he still managed to create many enemies in high places.
Finally, escalating political tensions exploded on the Capitoline Hill where Gaius Gracchus and 3,000 of his followers were killed in 121 BC.
The political careers of the Gracchi brothers had broken many political traditions in Rome and introduced mob violence as a political tool. The plebs loved the Gracchi brothers as they stood to uphold their rights, but the ruling Patrician class hated what the Gracchi brothers had achieved and now feared the mob more than they ever did in the past.
Labels: bc130, gaius sempronius gracchus, pergamon, tiberius gracchus
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