Reformers, Generals and the Bitter End

Note entry #26

The Gracchi

• Tiberius Gracchus– Grandson of a patrician who

joined the plebeians– Proposed a law limiting the

size of the latifundia• He wanted to give land to the

poor

– The law passed the Assembly of Tribes • His enemies organized a riot and he was killed

• Gaius Gracchus– Brother of Tiberius– Elected to office 10 years after his

brother– Convinced the plebeian assembly

to give more land to farmers– Helped urban poor get grain at a low price– Set up a new court to try provincial governors

• The Senate would not do it

– He was also killed in a riot

• Gaius Marius– Reformer who got the poor into the army

• He created Rome’s first professional army• He paid the poor to be in the army• He also promised the poor land when they got out

of the army

– His army was turned against him by Sulla

The First Triumvirate

• Triumvirate=any association of three in office or authority.

• 70 BC Pompey and Marcus Crassus were elected the consuls of Rome– They were supported by a young patrician

named Julius Caesar– The three of them formed the first triumvirate

to control the government

• Caesar led an army to conquer Gaul– Crassus was killed in the battle– Pompey was afraid that Caesar would take

over• He got the Senate to order Caesar back to Rome

• Caesar returned to Rome but refused to leave his troops at the border of Italy– He crossed over the Rubicon River with his

troops and this started a civil war “crossing the Rubicon”

• Caesar took over all of Italy in 45 BC– He declared himself dictator for life– His government

• Gave jobs to the poor• Gave land to the poor• Expanded citizenship• Adopted a 365 day calendarJulian calendar

– He was assassinated on March 15, 44 BC by a group of senators

• They were led by Brutus and Cassius• “Beware the Ides of March”

“Et tu Brutus?”

• After Caesar’s death his grandnephew, Octavian Caesar, joined with Marc Antony and Marcus Lepidus to form a second triumvirate– They defeated Julius Caesar’s assassins and divided

Rome into 3 parts• Octavian—Italy and the “west”• Marc Antony—Greece and the “east”• Marcus Lepidus—North Africa

– Octavian will eventually force the others out and become the only ruler—”Caesar Octavian”

• Octavian restored peace and order to Rome.– He made sure taxes were fair. – Built massive roads and bridges, government

buildings, and huge public baths. – The Roman people awarded Octavian with the

title Augustus, which means, “respected one.”

• Augustus ruled Rome for 41years.

• Augustus was very respectful to the senators, but the Senate knew he controlled the army.

Bibliography• www.arthistoryclub.com/art_history/

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• http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Aemilius_Lepidus_I

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