The Century of the Civil Wars (133-30 BC): Serious Problems and Discontent, The Gracchi, Marius' Military Reforms Flashcards
serious problems and discontent
Rome was led into an unstable political climate. one issue was the declining free landed peasantry which led to a shortage of recruits. poorer farmers desperately wanted for a redivision of private land. grain prices rose and the patron charity was most likely no longer very useful. equites were also discontent as they wished for more influence in administration and jurisdiction. Rome’s Italian allies begun to resent Rome more and more. the notables had noticed that they had contributed much to Rome’s success but reaped way less benefits.
Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus
a nobilis from one of the most distinguished families. his aim was to solve the shortage of recruits and improve the material position of the unpropertied citizens. he was a tribute of the plebs in 133 BC and he set up an old law limiting the amount of public law that any one individual could own or use. small peasants and rural proletariat supported him in this but senators not so much.
the bill was submitted to the popular assembly and it was passed against the Senate’s will. the vetoing tribune was deposed by him to make sure it passed.
stood for re-election as a tribune. he could not realize his further plans as a group of senators murdered him,
redistribution of public land was completed after 129 BC.
Gaius Sempronius Gracchus
younger brother of Tiberius. elected the tribune of the plebs ten years after his brother’s murder. he was a tribune twice in succession (123-122 BC). he aimed to continue the redistribution of public land, solve the Italian problem, improve the existence of the proletariat in Rome and settle landless citizens in a colony. he wanted to break the power of the nobiles.
Gaius tried to gain support from different groups by granting favours. his laws included granting the equites to compose the juries of extortion, a fixed low wheat price.
He and a group of his followers were murdered in 121 BC.
political consequences of the Gracchan reforms
it affected the elite’s internal cohesion and undermined the old political code of conduct. violence had become a means to achieve political goals. In 129 senators and equites became two separate groups.
political distinction rose also within the senate (populares vs. optimates).
Gaius Marius
a competent general (157-86 BC). he was a ‘new man’ from the equestrian order who was elected consul six times between 107-100 BC. reformed the army and brought the new wars in Numidia, against Germans to a successful end.
Marius’ reforms
recruits had to go through gladiator training and they were equipped with better and more varied arms. more efficient training tactics were introduced. the army gained more so a standard arms and equipment.
he also combined legions of 6000 and organized each into ten cohorts. he also admitted proletarian volunteers armed by the state into the army.
the soldiers became semi-professional.
pressures on the state and its treasury
Gracchan and Marian reforms proved to be a burden for the treasury and thus the state was prompted to engage in further imperialistic campaigns. these tendencies became increasingly more materialistic and a matter of material benefits. additionally, this tendency was boosted by the desire for prestige.
problems with discharged soldiers
no pensions were arranged to them and the proletariat soldiers who had nothing to fall back on after being released from service became an increasing political threat. they did get a regular award after every successful campaign but no land was granted in fears of a military colony emerging.
army’s rise as a politically important body
between 103-101 BC serious conflicts over founding colonies for Marius’ veterans broke out. Marius himself did not oppose the senate but many populares did use violence and made the senate grant land and colonization bills. this instance widened the gap between optimates and populares.
