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.

Outlines

00:00

🏛️ The Rise of Gaius Gracchus

Gaius Gracchus, brother of the reformer Tiberius, emerges as a passionate and theatrical leader following his brother's death in 133 BC. Despite initial attempts to withdraw from public life, Gaius is drawn back into politics to defend a friend in court, revealing his power to influence the masses. His dramatic oratory style, complete with a slave to modulate his fervor, contrasts with Tiberius's calm demeanor. Elected as Quaestor and sent to Sardinia, Gaius demonstrates his populist tendencies by rallying the people to support suffering soldiers. The Senate, wary of his growing influence, extends the term of his superior, Orestes, to keep Gaius abroad. However, Gaius defies tradition and returns to Rome, where he successfully defends himself against accusations and begins his political ascent, aiming for the position of Tribune.

05:02

🗳️ Gaius Gracchus' Political Reforms and Popularity

As Tribune, Gaius Gracchus continues his brother's legacy by advocating for the poor and marginalized. He introduces a series of reforms targeting different segments of Roman society: breaking up large estates to redistribute land, providing financial support to the army, extending citizenship to non-Roman Italians, offering equestrians judicial roles, and capping grain prices to address food shortages. These measures, along with his commitment to infrastructure projects, bolster his popularity. Despite not running for Consul, Gaius is unexpectedly granted a second term as Tribune due to a voting anomaly, positioning him to further challenge the Senate's power and fulfill his brother's reformist vision.

Keywords

💡Tiberius Gracchus

Tiberius Gracchus was a Roman politician known for his reformist efforts in the 2nd century BC. His death in 133 BC marked a significant event in Roman history, as he was killed not by a secret assassination but by an act of mob violence, reflecting the tumultuous political climate of the time. His reforms and death are central to understanding the video's theme of political struggle and the rise of the Gracchi brothers.

💡Demagogue

A demagogue is a political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational argument. In the video, Tiberius Gracchus is referred to as a reformer and demagogue, indicating his ability to rally the masses behind his reformist agenda, which was a key aspect of his political strategy and contributed to the video's narrative of populist politics.

💡Senate

The Roman Senate was a political institution consisting of members of the aristocracy who advised magistrates and coordinated the government of the Republic. In the context of the video, the Senate's actions following Tiberius Gracchus's death illustrate the power struggles between the Roman elite and the populist movements led by the Gracchi brothers.

💡Gaius Gracchus

Gaius Gracchus, brother of Tiberius, is a central figure in the video. He is portrayed as a charismatic and passionate orator who, like his brother, sought to implement reforms but with a more histrionic and emotional style. His character and actions are crucial to the video's exploration of political leadership and the pursuit of change in ancient Rome.

💡Oratory

Oratory refers to the art of public speaking and is a key skill for politicians and leaders. In the video, Gaius Gracchus's mastery of oratory is highlighted as he uses it to sway crowds and gain support for his policies, demonstrating the importance of persuasive communication in ancient Roman politics.

💡Populist

A populist is a political leader who seeks to appeal to ordinary people who feel that their concerns are disregarded by established elite groups. The video describes Gaius Gracchus's actions, such as appealing to the rural poor and urban poor, as having populist leanings, which were instrumental in gaining widespread support for his reforms.

💡Agrarian Reforms

Agrarian reforms refer to changes in land ownership and use, often aimed at redistributing land from large estates to smaller farmers. In the video, Gaius Gracchus revives his brother's agrarian reforms, which were a significant part of their political agenda and a key element in the video's discussion of social and economic change in Rome.

💡Tribune

A tribune in ancient Rome was a magistrate elected by the plebeians to represent their interests and protect their rights. The video details Gaius Gracchus's election as a tribune, which allowed him to push through significant reforms and underscores the importance of this political office in the narrative of the Gracchi brothers' story.

💡Rhetoric

Rhetoric is the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing. The video emphasizes the use of rhetoric by Gaius Gracchus, particularly his 'explosive' and 'fervor' in speeches, which was a tool for mobilizing the masses and advancing his reformist agenda.

💡Equestrians

The equestrians were a social class in ancient Rome, ranking below the senatorial class but above the plebeians. In the video, Gaius Gracchus's appeal to the equestrians by offering them judicial roles is a strategic move to gain support and weaken the Senate's power, illustrating the complex social and political dynamics of the time.

💡Grain Dole

A grain dole refers to the distribution of food, typically grain, to the poor at a subsidized price or for free. The video discusses Gaius Gracchus's policy of capping grain prices and selling it at a loss to ensure its availability to the urban poor, which laid the groundwork for the grain dole system in the imperial period and was a significant aspect of his populist policies.

Highlights

Tiberius Gracchus died in 133 BC due to mob violence, not assassination.

The Senate attempted to restore traditional order by passing some of Tiberius' reforms.

Gaius Gracchus, Tiberius' brother, was influenced by his sibling's reforms and had similar ambitions.

Gaius was known for his histrionic and emotional public speaking style, in contrast to Tiberius' calm demeanor.

Gaius used a specially trained slave to modulate his speech during intense orations.

Gaius initially withdrew from public life to focus on his oratory skills after Tiberius' death.

Gaius defended a friend in court, demonstrating his ability to influence the crowd.

The Senate feared the rise of another Gracchi and began to plot against Gaius.

Gaius was elected as Quaestor and served in Sardinia, showing administrative prowess.

Gaius showed populist tendencies by asking the people of Sardinia to donate clothes to soldiers.

The Senate extended Orestes' term to keep Gaius in Sardinia, but he defied tradition and returned to Rome.

Gaius was acquitted of conspiracy charges and immediately began planning his run for Tribune.

Gaius leveraged his brother's legacy and the people's support to become Tribune, despite elite opposition.

As Tribune, Gaius passed laws to protect tribunes and prevent unjust banishment of citizens.

Gaius targeted his rivals by making laws retroactive, leading to the flight of Popilius Laena.

Gaius aimed to dismantle Senate power by appealing to various social classes with his reforms.

He proposed agrarian reforms to break up voting blocks associated with large landowners.

Gaius mandated the state to provide for soldiers' clothes and equipment, influencing the military's structure.

He considered granting citizenship to Italians outside Rome, a move with significant future implications.

Gaius offered equestrians judicial roles, previously reserved for senators, to widen their influence.

To aid the urban poor, Gaius capped grain prices and introduced a state-subsidized grain dole.

Gaius' effective governance and construction projects reinforced his popularity.

Unexpectedly, Gaius secured a second term as Tribune due to a divided vote and legal provision.

Transcripts

Tiberius Gracchus, reformer and demagogue, died in 133, not by assassination, but by open mob violence.

With his death the Senate thought to return Rome to its traditional order.

They passed some of his reforms and tried to placate the people.

But rule of the mob is a specter not so easely quelled.

and Cornelia, mother of Tiberius, that famous Roman matron, had another son.

Gaius had grown up in the shadow of his brother.

He was just a boy when their father died, so he always looked up to the brother ten years as elder.

In many ways they were the same. They were both bold and brave.

They were both eloquent and could move a crowd. And they were both desirous of reform.

But where Tiberius had been staid and sober, Gaius was histrionic and emotional.

Where Tiberius would move the people with his calm words and somber voice,

Gaius would rend his toga and shout,

he would rain insults down on his enemies and seem almost possessed by fervor.

He even had a specially trained slave who would sit behind him during speeches with a lyre

and, whenever he was getting to high pitched or whenever his voice was cracking

because he'd whipped himself up into such a frenzy,

the slave would pluck a note to remind him to bring it back town to that tone.

But when his brother died, Gaius was still young.

At first he tried to withdraw from public life, disappearing from the public eye

to focus instead on honing his powers of oratory.

But then one of his friends was forced to stand trial, and Gaius stood to defend him.

He whipped up the crowd to such a pitch, that the court almost erupted in demostration for his friend.

And when he saw this power, he began to get ideas.

And the senators began to whisper their fears to each other about the rise of another Gracchi.

So he ran for Quaestor and was elected.

He was sent to Sardinia, where he served as an able and active administrator.

But while he served, the island was beset by an unusually harsh winter.

The rank and files suffered terribly, not having clothes or gear for such a cold.

So Gaius went to the people of the island and implored them to donate clothes to the soldiers.

In this action the senators saw a hint of the populist leanings of his brother.

Perhaps it was paranoia, but it drove them to a plan.

You see, Gaius served under a proconsul named Orestes.

A proconsul was an ex-consul who had been assigned to be the governor of one of the Roman provinces

and administer it for Rome. But there's a quirk in that system.

Usually proconsuls would be appointed for one year terms, but not infrequently the term would get extended

to allow the proconsul to finish dealing with a crisis or to simply not shake up the local administration too much.

Thing is, by Roman tradition, the proconsul's staff always stays on with him.

So the Senate extended Orestes's term. If Orestes was in Sardinia,

it would mean that his quaestor would have to stay in Sardinia.

But the Gracchi were never much ones for tradition.

With a resounding 'I see what you did there,' Gaius took the first boat back to Rome.

On his return, everybody was shocked.

Not only the senators, but the people couldn't believe that he would abandon his post,

that he would break with tradition.

But, when called before the censors, he defended himself and swayed the people against the unfairness of the Senate.

And as there was no law, only tradition, to say that he must stay, he was let free.

But the Senate wasn't done with him.

A faction of the Senate now accused him of conspiring against Rome and encouraging the Italians to revolt.

But here too Gaius was able to clear his name, and the instant he became free

he began to plan his run for Tribune, with a vengeance.

The great and powerful all aligned against him.

But so strong was the memory of his brother and so volatile and explosive his rhetoric,

that vast waves of people poured into the city to support him.

So many that there weren't houses enough in Rome to hold them,

and the Campus Martius was too small to contain them.

So people climbed atop the buildings surrounding the field to express their support for Gaius.

But for all that, the campaigns of the elite were effective.

He came not in first, but fourth in the voting. But, as there were ten men being elected to hold the tribunate,

Giaus did indeed take up the mantle of Tribune and realized the Senate's worst fear.

He immediately pressed the legacy of his brother, shaming the people for standing idle

while a tribune was killed before them.

At every chance he elevated the memory of Tiberius, and whipped up the people's simpathy and rage.

Then, when he had the support, he pushed through a bill that legitimized Tiberius's unheard-of deposition of another tribune,

and another one, that made it a crime for any magistrate to banish a citizen without trial.

But the key was: he made this laws retroactive.

They weren't there to protect against future offenses, but rather as a tool to get at one of his rivals.

For, after Tiberius had been slain, a man named Popilius Laena, who was a praetor at the time,

had tried and banished or executed many of Tiberius's followers.

Popilius didn't even wait for the trial; as soon as that law was passed he fled Italy ,

Phase one of settling scores: complete.

Now, piece by piece, Gaius plans to dismantle the power of the Senate,

as he whipps the populace up into a frenzy.

First: he appealed to the rural poor, bringing back his brother's agrarian reforms with an eye to

breaking up the voting blocks that, under Roman law, came with having vast landed estates.

Next: he appealed to the army, mandating the Republic pay for their clothes and some of their equipment,

inadvertently laying the groundwork for the move from Rome dependence on its citizen soldiers

to the fully paid professional military, which would doom the Republic.

Third: he began to float the idea of giving citizenship to those Italians that didn't live directly in Rome.

An idea whose specter we'll see later.

Fourth: he appealed to the middle class, the equestrians, by offering them a seat as judges in the courts of law,

a position which before had been reserved for senators.

Finally: he appealed to the urban poor.

A grain shortage had been going on, and the price of food was skyrocketing.

So he put a cap on the price of grain.

The State would buy grain at its own expense and then sell it to the people at a loss

to ensure that grain was readily available to those who needed it,

laying the groundwork for the grain dole that will be such an important part of the imperial period.

With great action and diligence he applied himself to all of these projects,

as well as the construction of roads and granaries. And his efficacy reinforced his popularity.

When it came time for the next elections, everybody expected him to run for Consul.

But instead he supported a friend's bid and actually stepped out of politics, running for nothing that year.

But fate stepped in, for that year so many people were running for Tribune that the vote was so divided

not enough candidates got the minimum number of votes required by Roman law to fill all ten slots.

And, by law, the remaining tribunes simply picked people to fill any vacant positions.

And so, without even running for it, Gaius won himself the unthinkable second term as tribune.

He had now achieved by accident what his brother had lost his life grasping for.

Join us next time, as we find out whether he can fulfill the legacy of his brother,

or if he'll be thwarted at every turn.