The Brothers Gracchi - Enter Gaius - Extra History - Part 4

Summary

Gaius Gracchus, following in his brother Tiberius' reformist footsteps, emerges as a passionate and theatrical leader in ancient Rome. Despite initial setbacks and Senate opposition, Gaius secures the tribunate and swiftly implements reforms: legitimizing Tiberius's actions, protecting citizens from unjust banishment, and challenging Senate power. He addresses various societal classes' needs, from rural poor to urban dwellers, and意外地 secures a second term as tribune, setting the stage for a potential showdown with the Senate.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ Tiberius Gracchus was a reformer who died in 133 BC due to mob violence, not assassination, leading the Senate to attempt to restore traditional Roman order.
• 👥 The Senate's fear of another populist leader like Tiberius was realized with the rise of his brother, Gaius Gracchus, who was also a reformer but with a more histrionic and emotional style.
• 🗣️ Gaius was known for his powerful oratory skills, which he used to whip up the crowd's emotions, even employing a slave to help modulate his speeches.
• 🛳️ Gaius defied the Senate by returning to Rome from Sardinia, where he was serving as quaestor, despite the Senate's attempt to keep him away by extending his superior's term.
• 🏆 Gaius was elected as a Tribune despite the Senate's opposition, leveraging the memory of his brother and his own charismatic rhetoric to gain popular support.
• 💡 As Tribune, Gaius pursued a series of reforms aimed at different segments of Roman society, including the rural poor, the army, Italians, the middle class, and the urban poor.
• 🛡️ Gaius' reforms included agrarian reforms to break up large estates, providing for the army's needs, proposing citizenship for non-Roman Italians, and offering equestrians judicial roles.
• 🌾 He also addressed the urban poor by capping grain prices and setting up a state-subsidized grain dole, which would later become a key feature of the imperial period.
• 🏗️ Gaius was diligent in his role, overseeing various construction projects including roads and granaries, which further bolstered his popularity.
• 🔄 In an unexpected turn, Gaius secured a second term as Tribune without actively running for the position, due to a divided vote and a legal provision allowing the current tribunes to fill vacancies.

Q & A

How did Tiberius Gracchus die?

Tiberius Gracchus died in 133 BC not by assassination but by open mob violence.

What did the Senate do after Tiberius Gracchus' death?

After Tiberius' death, the Senate passed some of his reforms and tried to placate the people, hoping to return Rome to its traditional order.

Who was Gaius Gracchus and how was he related to Tiberius Gracchus?

Gaius Gracchus was the younger brother of Tiberius Gracchus. He grew up in the shadow of his elder brother and shared many of his traits, including a desire for reform.

How did Gaius Gracchus differ from his brother Tiberius in terms of public speaking?

While Tiberius was staid and sober, Gaius was histrionic and emotional. Gaius used dramatic gestures and high-pitched voices to move the crowd, unlike Tiberius who used calm words and a somber voice.

What was the role of the slave with a lyre during Gaius Gracchus' speeches?

Gaius had a specially trained slave who would sit behind him during speeches with a lyre. The slave would pluck a note on the lyre to remind Gaius to modulate his voice when he became too high-pitched or emotionally fervent.

Why did Gaius Gracchus withdraw from public life after his brother's death?

Initially, Gaius Gracchus tried to withdraw from public life to focus on honing his powers of oratory after his brother's death.

What event brought Gaius Gracchus back into the public eye?

Gaius Gracchus was brought back into the public eye when he defended a friend in a trial, whipping up the crowd to such a pitch that the court almost erupted in demonstration.

What was the significance of Gaius Gracchus' actions in Sardinia regarding the soldiers?

In Sardinia, Gaius appealed to the people to donate clothes to the soldiers suffering from the harsh winter, which showed his populist leanings similar to his brother and alarmed the senators.

How did the Senate attempt to keep Gaius Gracchus in Sardinia?

The Senate extended the term of Orestes, the proconsul under whom Gaius served, to keep him in Sardinia. However, Gaius defied tradition and returned to Rome.

What was the accusation against Gaius Gracchus by a faction of the Senate?

A faction of the Senate accused Gaius Gracchus of conspiring against Rome and encouraging the Italians to revolt.

How did Gaius Gracchus use his tribunate to avenge his brother's death?

Gaius used his tribunate to pass laws that were retroactive, which allowed him to target rivals like Popilius Laena who had banished or executed Tiberius's followers, forcing them to flee Italy.

What were the key reforms that Gaius Gracchus introduced to dismantle the power of the Senate?

Gaius Gracchus introduced agrarian reforms to break up voting blocks, mandated the Republic to pay for soldiers' clothes and equipment, proposed giving citizenship to non-Roman Italians, offered equestrians a seat as judges in courts, and capped the price of grain to help the urban poor.

Why did Gaius Gracchus not run for Consul in the next elections?

Instead of running for Consul, Gaius Gracchus supported a friend's bid and stepped out of politics for that year, running for no position.

How did Gaius Gracchus end up serving a second term as tribune?

Due to a highly divided vote where not enough candidates received the minimum votes required by Roman law, Gaius Gracchus was appointed to a second term as tribune by the remaining tribunes to fill a vacant position.