Names Midterm 2 Flashcards
put a few key pieces of info per person - better to know a little about each than nothing
Marcus Octavius
another tribune & main opponent of Tiberius Grachus and the “ager publicus” law; vetoed Tiberius’ proposal; was ousted from office after Tiberius appealed to the Plebeian assembly; this ousting was unprecedented
Tiberius Gracchus
tribune; ager publicus; gained power in unprecedented ways, which upset the conservative senate
Examples of TG’s unconventional actions:
- had his colleague Marcus Octavius ousted from his position as tribune
- announced his run for reelection as tribune, without precedent.
Beaten to death by a colleague. His opponents & the senate thought he was trying to become a tyrant and so they killed him and his followers (133 BCE)
Gaius Gracchus
Tiberius’ younger brother; tribune in both 123 and 122 BCE (unlike his brother, Gaius was not killed for seeking reelection); wished to curb the excess of the senate’s rule; was a very strong public speaker; like his brother, he surpassed the senate when proposing laws
Renewed his brother’s land law (ager publicus)
secure the laws for creating Roman colonies in Italy & one in Northern Africa (where Carthage was) called Junonia
guaranteed a fixed price for a set amount of grain for citizens to purchase each month – the state had to ensure regular grain supply
Gaius’ jury law – instead of senator’s making up corruption courts, the jury would be made up of the “equites”
unsuccessful proposal: citizenship to all Latins, and Latin rights to Italians — unpopular to Romans, decline of GG’s popularity
Committed suicide in 121
What do the Gracchi brothers represent?
- 1st large-scale attempt at social-economic reform
- appropriation of Italian land
- contravention of mos maiorum – they both surpassed the senate when proposing laws (the senate does not make laws but giving their opinion is customary)
- introduction of violence in politics
Marcus Livius Drusus the Elder
main opponent of Gaius Gracchus; tribune in 122; proposed colonies in which land would be given to more people
Lucius Opimius
in 121, after GG unsuccessfully ran for tribune reelection, LO & other tribunes began to revoke GG’s laws. Ordered an attack on GG & Flavius
Jugurtha
King of Numidia; charactrerized by his greed; defeated by Sulla ultimately (who tricked him before Marius could claim victory over Jugurtha)
Gaius Marius
consul an unprecedented 6 times, first in 104 BCE after Jugurtha’s capture; restored the Roman army’s strength w/ recruitment, training, new equipment; successfully won several battles
From an equestrian family. Was backed by the noble Metelli family as he began his political career; Tribune in 119. Married Julia of the Julii Caesares, ancient patrician family; his governorship in Spain revealed his talent for guerilla warfare.
Described by Plutarch as ambitious, harsh, virile, fond of war. He was better at the military life than the civil life, not a very strong politician. “he had reached his eminence by arms.” Wanted to incite war w/ Mithridates (king of Pontus) for his own gains bc he would be elected by Rome to lead the army.
Cornelius Sulla
consul in 88 BCE, right before end of Social War; was dictator 82-79; notorious for his proscriptions
Plutarch’s description of Sulla: Marius and Sulla had a contentious relationship. Sulla made “his quarrels with Marius the basis of his political activity.”
Mithridates
King of Pontus; his legacy was a 30 year long struggle against Rome.
88 BCE: War waged by Sulla. in 85, Mithridates accepts Sulla’s terms, mainly to reestablish the Roman province in Asia.
75 BCE, 10 years after agreement. Lucullus, consul of 74 & Mithridates’ opponent.
- 69 BCE, Lucullus invades Armenia, a long-time ally of Mithridates.
Mithridates & Tigranes (king of Armenia) elude capture
66 BCE, Pompey is called in to fix the situation.
Mithridates dies in 63 BCE.
Cinna
Alongside Marius, he took control of Rome in 87 BCE after Sulla departed for the East. Sulla was outlawed in his absence. Marius & Cinna made themselves consuls for 86. Marius died soon after.
Crassus
Won Colline Gate for Sulla in 82, was praetor in 73. Was assigned by senate to defeat Spartacus in 73-71. He almost did, but Pompey took the credit.
His main asset was his WEALTH. That was what he brought to his role in the First Triumvirate (60/59).
Was very jealous of Pompey, but still solicited Pompey’s support when he ran for consulship in 71. Both he and Pompey were consuls in 70. At the end of 70, they staged a public reconciliation.
Pompey
Defeated Sertorius, alongside Metellus. Took credit for defeating Spartacus, even though it was Crassus who basically did it.
Was co-consul with Crassus in 70. Together they repealed Sulla’s legislation, and restored the power of the tribune of the plebs.
Was part of the First Triumvirate with Crassus and Caesar.
Marcus Livius Drusus the Younger
Son of Livius Drusus. Tribune in 91. Acted in the interests of the Optimates.
Proposals:
- that all members of the jury courts (the questio) be senators, but that 300 equites be made senators.
- foundation of colonies & the donation of “public” land to poor citizens
- a grant of citizenship to all Latins and Italians
Some of the proposals seem to have been passed by the Plebeian assembly, but each group affected by these proposals found issues. Eventually all the proposals were declared invalid & soon after Drusus was assassinated anonymously.
Marcus Aemilius Lepidus (78-77) (the Elder)
consul for 78 – Sulla disapproved of his candidacy.
Proposed sweeping measures – repeal of Sulla’s acts, return of confiscated land, reintroduction of grain distributions, restoration of the tribunes’ powers, and 2nd consulship for himself
This led to Etruscan former land owners to attack the settlers on their land placed there by Sulla. Senate sent both consuls to restore order. Lepidus joined the attackers. Senate tried to placate him to avoid civil strife.
Lepidus marched on Rome in 77 BCE. He was ill-prepared, many died. He soon died in Sardinia.
Lepidus’ actions exposed the senate’s vulnerability, as well as open discontent with Sulla’s acts.
Quintus Sertorius
associate of Cinna; took up governorship in Nearer Spain in 83, but was proscribed in 81 & expelled from there. Fled to Africa, but in 80 was invited back by anti-Sullan Roman exiles to lead the rising & they defeated the gov. of Further Spain. By 77 most of Roman Spain was under Lepidus’ control.
Pompey was sent to reinforce Metellus, on Sulla’s side. Pompey almost met his match in Lepidus.
Sertorius persuaded Mithridates to send him reinforcements. But Metellus & Pompey had gained the upper hand, and Lepidus was assassinated by his own officers.
Spartacus
Slave revolt (73-71)
74 slaves at a gladiatorial training school escaped, like by a Thracian named Spartacus.
Created a stronghold on Mt. Vesuvius. 70,000 + men. Roman forces were sent to destroy them but failed.
The senate decided to put Crassus in charge of defeating Spartacus, as Crassus was the one who won the Colline Gate battle for Sulla in 82 and was praetor in 73.
Crassus was also VERY RICH. His main asset was his wealth, meaning he was able to sustain a legion from his own pocket.
Crassus almost defeated Spartacus alone, but the senate had summoned Pompey back from Spain, and caught & slaughtered 5,000 slaves. He was able to claim that HE ended the war, not Crassus.
Marcus Aemilius Lepidus (the younger)
Part of the Second Triumvirate, alongside Octavian and Mark Antony. Son of Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, who marched on Rome in 77.
Least influential of the triumvirate.
