Tribunes Flashcards
By 146, what areas was Rome in control of?
Sicily (bc of Carthage), Sardinia/Corsica (to keep Carthage out), Nearer/Further Spain (after 2nd punic war), Macedonia, Africa (after 3rd Punic War, Carthage no longer exists)
What were the regions (that Rome held outside Italy) called?
pronvicia (province, meaning “sphere of action”
Who led the provinces? What were these men eventually called?
Office holders, particularly a praetor
For each new provinces, there were new praetorships created (2 already presided over law courts in Rome)
Proconsul - kept second year of term in command in army (if still in war), keep imperium
Propraetor - after 146, they didn’t create new praetorships and instead kept praetors in office as propraetors.
What are several developments in Italy from 200-130s?
- Distrust of allies
- ) Aren’t handing out land –> ager publics
- ) Angry at cult of Bacchus
- ) Increasing disparities of wealth - slaves, poor in military move to cities
- ) Change in political atmosphere - tribunes more proactive, oratory in more use
How did Rome show distrust to allis?
Demanded troops still –> strain for allies
Don’t give allies upgrade status
Exaggerate Bacchus cult
What is the bronze tablet that is the first senatorial decree
Senatus Consultum de Bacchanalibus - hostile to allies.
What is the first instance when a magistrate broke the laws?
Marcus Claudius Marcellus elected consul within 10 years of past consulship. Somehow, he was able to get away with it. Then, a law in 150 said that one could be consul only once.
What happened with Scipio Aemilianus
- ) BG - in need of commander in Carthage
- ) When senate doesn’t allow him to, tribune uses iustitium (no more business until election proceeds) and the Senate can’t wait any longer for a commander in Africa.
- ) Concilium Plebis votes for him to command Carthage (usually casting lots)
- ) After being consul once, people put forward Scipio again to fight the Celtibarians
- ) Senate denies funds for troops, so Scipio gets donations from friends/volunteers (many fight with him)
Why couldn’t Scipio Aemilianus become consul by law?
BG: family of Scipios, grandfather won battle at Zama; adopted by family with one who won at Pydna
- ) 5 or 6 years below minimum legal age (42)
- ) Had not been praetor
How else did tribunes gain more control?
Vetoed & instances of weakness
- ) In 151 and 138, tribunes imprisoned consuls who attempted to continue with their law even after tribunes vetoed it
- ) Appius Claudius Puncher denied triumph but still had one with daughter. Tribune tried to block him but because the daughter was sacrosanct, he couldn’t
- ) Tribune had to stand aside when Quintus Servilius Caepio took command in Spain - couldn’t get trampled over
- ) Tribunes pass a proposal through the Concilium Plebis introducing voting by secret ballot at trials in a citizen assembly
What was Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus’ family background?
- ) Came from noble family - father had at least one triumph
- ) Married Cornelia, the daughter of the Scipio who defeated Hannibal
- ) Only 3/11 parent’s children survived to adulthood (Tiberius, Gaius, daughter) .
- ) When his father died, his mother Cornelia became an univira (“one-manned lady”) and brought up the children, becoming a model woman.
What was Tiberius Gracchus’ proposal?
Proposes that the state enforces an old law limiting amount of ager publics used (land belonging to state); transferring extra land from the rich to the poor citizens to settle in the country side. –> rich landowners were unhappy
What was the proposal on land supposed to relieve?
Law/order in the city (high concentration of poor)
- Unemployment, theft, danger at night, no police force
- Might relieve pressure
How was Tiberius Gracchus’ law passed?
- Father-in-law Appius Claudius Puncher (triumph with daughter dancing) is Princeps Senates and approves is.
- Tiberius takes this to people before senate.
- Motivation: there with Mancinus who was humiliated; maybe paying back to the Senate.
- Macus Octavius (other tribune) veto the vote –> Tiberius uses Iustitium, proposes to con cilium plebes for Octavius to be removed (people are sovereign and should be able to overthrow elections)
- Octavius removes
- Uses money from King Attalus’ death/taxes to go to his needs. (overpassing Senate’s role with money)
What was Tiberius Gracchus’ land commission proposal?
Three members: Younger brother Gaius, Princeps Senates (father-in-law) Appiu Claudius Pulcher, himself.
Why does Gracchus die?
Scipio Nasica of Senate and others kill him on election day.
Who was even more dangers that Tiberius?
His brother, Gaius
Who is Scipio Aemilianus? What ws his reaction to Tiberius’ death?
He was the consul who was in north of Spain to go against Celtiberians. He says that Tiberius Gracchus deserved what was coming to him
What is the ironic thing about Scipio Aemilianus disapproving Tiberius? What were differences between Scipio and Tiberius?
Ironic thing: he too had broken rules by being consul twice.
Difference: Scipio was needed during a military crisis and could get the job done. Military victory excuses him. On the other hand, Tiberius had bypass the Senate, was too powerful, was on the verge of becoming king, and was showing how weak the Senate position was
What did the Senate do after Tiberius Gracchus’ death?
- Senate in 132 sets up court to review many of Tiberius’ supporters; some were executed
- Land commission was allowed to go ahead (lots of citizen support)
- Third member replaces Tiberius.
How did the Senate go about doing the ager publicus?
The Senate went to different districts, reviewed the ager publics, and distributed it among Roman citizens. They used surveyors.
What pattern was the ager publicus divided into?
Centuriation - divided into a checkerboard pattern
What problem arose from the ager publicus?
Disconnect of many allies (weren’t getting upgraded status, strained for giving troops, discontent for not being recognized)
Land taken away from allies but only redistributed to Romans
Questions whether some allies should improve status
What was Scipio Aemilianus’ response to the allies being upset from ager publicus?
He passes a proposal, saying that complaints should refer to consul. But, this slowed down the process, and Scipio A. died in 129.
What were the three statuses?
Roman citizens
Allies with Latin rights (can’t take part of public life but treated like Romans
Allies with special privileges
When did Fulvius Flaccus stand for consulship? What did he propose?
Elections of 126
Upgrade allies in status. Everyone moves up one step.
surprisingly, he was elected, but he had many opponents who did not trust the allies. Senate then arranged for a good commander to be sent south of Gaul/France. Flacks was assigned command in Gaul for his year as consul and was not able to put forward the upgrade proposal
What is Fregellae?
South of Latium, raised a rebellion and hoped that others would join, but they were unable to.
Did Rome make a concession concerning allies’ status?
They said that in every Latin community, two people in office at that year would be given Roman citizenship. Made the two people loyalists.
Background info on Gaius Gracchus
Has been quaestor (sent to Sardinia)
Loyal to brother’s principals
Land commissioner (though can’t function in Sardinia)
Known to be responsible - no bribes, honest behavior, open, responsible to allies
Compelling Orator
Many were apprehensive of his progress. Senator had arranged for him to be quaestor in Sardinia for 3 years. But he eventually comes back and stands for tribune. No difficulty being elected.
How was Gaius Gracchus more dangerous than Tiberius?
- Probably deliberately bypassed the Senate
- Knew what happened to Tiberius and acted on it
- Arrived with a program. Gets elected for consulship years 123 and 122 without being killed.
What were Gaius Gracchus’ proposals?
- Proposes to Concilium Plebis that it be illegal for any magistrate who has been removed by the Roman people to hold further office (about Octavius; eventually, he withdraws this proposal)
- Any law court with the power of capital punishment must be set up by the Roman people. Only Roman people in an assembly can set up law court of capital punishment (about Tiberius’ supporters killed)
- If drafted into the army, the state will pay for arms
Public work schemes: repair roads, public works, public services, aqueducts (gives poor men jobs)
What happened when Rome annexed the old kingdom of Pergamum
got rich; accepted the bequest and collected revenue for the land commission. They called this “Asia”
Provincials had to pay taxes (Asia was wealthy), but allies did not have to pay taxes (had to provide men for the army)
What did Gaius Gracchus do for the land commission?
He revived it, giving them bigger areas to establish colonies outside Italy. Expanded their scope.
What was the Grain Ration Scheme
Under Gaius Gracchus
State offers every citizen to come and collect a fixed ration of grain once a month for a fixed price. Price won’t fluctuate.
1.) Grain is not grown easily in Italy
2.) Grain is expensive to import
3.) Grain must come to Rome from overseas (Sicily/Sardinia)
4.) Price fluctuates according to harvest, market, and season, so in order to make it up for that, it prices would be a little higher (not unreasonable though).
5.) Many times, poor starved in the winter and got a loaf from a patron
* State has to get into the business of buying, importing, and storing grain; negotiate with growers and shippers; build enough places to store grain –> LOTS OF OPPOSITION
What does Gaius Gracchus say senate must do before consulship takes place?
Must decide the two spheres of actions (ex. Fulvous Flacchus who has to go to Gaul instead of giving proposal)
What does Gaius do concerning equites in order to get powerful support?
- Equites: wealthiest Roman citizens outside the senate
1. ) In the future, the tax contract for collecting taxes in the province of Asia will happen in Rome, not in Pergamum. This made it convenient for the equites in Rome; gave them business - Gaius wants them to be grateful to him.
2.) In 149, Senate agrees to set up a special court with a jury to deal with complains about the senators. Called the Repetundae court, but jury were senators. So, Gaius makes them equites. This makes Senators concerned that equites would be hostile towards them.
What was the biggest proposal about citizenship?
- Follows Fulvous Flacchus’ desires for an upgrade proposal.
- In 122, Flaccus was a tribune (ex-consul), and they served together.
- Mixed feelings among Romans - either appreciated allies or distrusted them.
- Marcus Livius Drusus leads the opposition in 122 (tribune). He doesn’t veto but he proposes that he would give everyone bigger land grant through foundation of 12 colonies. He attacks he grain ration measure (too crowded to collect grain).
- When Gaius goes to help a land commission’s colony in Carthage called Junonia, they spread rumors that the gods do not approve of this because of Gaius.
What happens to Gaius Gracchus at the end?
- Citizenship measure fails.
- Tries to stand for tribunate in 121, but fails to be elected.
- When tribune proposes to the Concilium Plebis for Junonia be terminated, Gaius forms a body guard.
- Lucius Opimius makes an excuse for trouble. Kills him
What was Lucius Opimius’ excuse to kill Gaius?
- ) Enemy of Rome - acted against Roman state by having body guards
- ) Senatus Consultum Ultimum - law suspended by the Senate; Opimius uses this to kill Gaius and supporters.
