Gracchus << GRAK uhs >> brothers, Tiberius Sempronius << ty BEER ee uhs sehm PROH nee uhs >> and Gaius << GAY uhs >> Sempronius, were senators from a distinguished family in ancient Rome . Their reform efforts destabilized Roman politics and society during the Roman Republic. They also are called the Gracchi, the plural of Gracchus.
Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus
(163-133 B.C.) was elected tribune of the people or tribune of the plebeians—that is, a protector of common citizens’ rights—for 133 B.C. As tribune , he proposed the strict enforcement of an existing law limiting how much public land Romans could possess. Lands in excess of the limit would be assigned to landless citizens. As landholders, the citizens would become eligible for the military draft, thus meeting the army’s pressing need for recruits. The proposal caused outrage among upper-class Romans whose landholdings would be reduced. Tiberius also provoked the Senate by failing to consult it regarding his proposal. Although he was not required to do so, it was expected of him.
Another tribune vetoed Tiberius’s proposal, and Tiberius had citizens vote to remove the tribune from office, a legally questionable procedure. After the land proposal then passed into law, the Senate denied funding to enact it. Tiberius further offended the Senate by securing revenue from a kingdom newly acquired by Rome, a task normally handled by the Senate. Tiberius sought reelection as tribune for 132 B.C., although tribunes customarily served for only one year. Some senators who considered Tiberius a threat to the Roman Republic then killed him. Nevertheless, his proposal was put into effect.
Gaius Sempronius Gracchus
(154-121 B.C.) was elected a tribune of the plebeians for 123 B.C., and again for 122. Gaius was eager to expand upon Tiberius’s reform, and he devised a broad legislative program with a focus on reducing corruption in public life. Like Tiberius, Gaius did not consult the Senate. He won citizens’ support by offering them land grants, and with state-funded programs such as subsidized grain rations. Gaius sought the support of the influential equites, upper-class Romans outside the Senate. He gave them a profitable contract to collect taxes, and entrusted them with judging certain charges against senators. By such means, he deliberately curbed the Senate.
In 122 B.C., Gaius proposed giving Rome’s most loyal Italian allies Roman citizenship. But his opponents argued successfully against the proposal. Gaius also failed to win reelection for a third year as tribune. After Gaius left office, his opponents provoked a violent clash. In a controversial act, the Senate then authorized the arrest and immediate elimination of Gaius and his associates, resulting in Gaius’s death.
