Gaius Gracchus

Gaius Gracchus revived his murdered brother's programme and died the same way. Born around 154 BC, he was nine years younger than Tiberius Gracchus, and was a member of the land commission when Tiberius and some three hundred supporters were beaten to death by senators in 133 BC. He served in Sardinia, returned without permission, was prosecuted and acquitted, and was elected tribune for 123 BC and again for 122 BC. He was a far more systematic politician than his brother, and the legislative programme is one of the most comprehensive of the republic. He revived the land distributions and added colonies, including one on the site of Carthage. He introduced a grain law selling wheat to citizens at a fixed subsidised price. He built roads with milestones and mounting blocks. He required the state to supply soldiers' clothing and barred conscription under seventeen. He transferred the extortion courts from senators to equestrians, so that provincial governors could be tried by the class they had been robbing, and put the collection of Asian taxes out to equestrian contract. He also proposed extending citizenship to Latins and Italians, which cost him popular support: the urban plebs did not want to share. He is said to have been the first speaker to turn away from the Senate house and address the people directly in the forum. He failed to win a third tribunate. His opponents provoked violence, the Senate passed its emergency decree, and in 121 BC he had a slave kill him on the Aventine. Three thousand supporters were executed.

• Lived: 154 BCE – 121 BCE
• Nationality: Roman
• Roles: ruler