Biography
Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus’ remarkable life began in the year of 163 BCE, when he was born to Cornelia and Sempronius Gracchus. He was to be one of twelve children, yet tragically only three, including himself, survived long enough to reach adulthood, which placed a great strain on their mother. The family had a noble history of high standing in the political sphere (Stockton 23). His brother, Gaius Gracchus, who also became interested in land policies, was born in 154 BCE. Sempronius sadly passed that same year, leaving the boys to navigate growing up without a father.
Cornelia, a remarkable woman, did not remarry after Sempronius’s death; she was not even swayed by the courting efforts of a king! Instead, she devoted all her time and attention to the cultivation of her sons, and eventually hired tutors for them on Greek Philosophy and Rhetoric. It is written that “Tiberius was faced with the responsibility of upholding his father's name as well as the prestige of his mother's family. Cornelia encouraged Tiberius and Gaius to demonstrate self-discipline and courage” (AHE). Indeed, she raised a pair of fearless, free-thinking young men who would carve out their piece of Roman history no matter the personal cost.
The family after Sempronius' death: Cornelia, Gaius (left) and Tiberius (right) in the marketplace. Source: https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-the-roman-patrician-cornelia-walks-with-her-sons-tiberius-and-caius
This fact is especially true for Tiberius, who followed in his father’s footsteps and began a career in the military once he came of age. He proved a valuable and well-liked asset to his brothers in arms when he fought at Carthage in 146 BCE during the Third Punic War. Stockton writes, “He quickly won a reputation for sound sense and courage, on one occasion sharing a high award for bravery… for being first over the wall” (27). Indeed, Carthage fell that day to our army, rallied together with renewed vigor by the determination of our hero, Tiberius. There can be little doubt that the victory at Carthage was largely due to Gracchus’s invaluable contributions.
Tragically, fate would take a turn for the worse several years later in 137 BCE, when he, now a quaestor, participated in an unlucky campaign against the Numantines in Spain. This time, our brave soldiers “were forced to surrender and agree to a treaty, which Tiberius helped to negotiate.” (AHA). Indeed, despite Tiberius’ most valiant efforts, and that of our army, Rome was beaten down that day, much to our displeasure. In the end, however, Gracchus still continued to serve Rome’s best interests, and skillfully maneuvered the treaty negotiations. It was there in Spain that the seeds of the lex agraria were sown in good Tiberius’ mind. For as he was heading home by way of the countryside, “he noticed that most of the work in the field was done by slaves. The small family farm had all but disappeared” (AHE). Now Tiberius thought this to be an awful shame, and within the inner workings of that ingenious mind, a connection was formed between slave agriculture and the problem of Rome’s dwindling army. He formulated a careful plan for redistribution of people and resources, and he set out to bring this plan to fruition.
In the fateful year of 133 BCE, Gracchus earned election as a tribune of the plebs for one year, and he quickly proposed a land bill demanding that the conquered land of the Empire be distributed fairly to all citizens and banned owning more than 500 iugera (AHE). Our hero wanted to do this firstly, for the good of the people, for many of Rome’s poor had no land to cultivate and were left unemployed, and secondly for the good of Rome, for if poverty could be eased, more citizens could afford or qualify to fight (Henderson 62). He cleverly dodged customs to have his bill read and succeeded after much persistence and maneuvering but was left wondering how to fund such an endeavor. But the gods smiled on Tiberius, and The King of Pergamon, Attalus III, soon died and left all his money to be used by Rome, thus enabling him to bring his plan to fruition, much to the displeasure of the nobles. Boren writes on the subject, “Tiberius' plan not only threatened one of the major powers of the Senate; it also introduced what was for Rome a novel idea for the expenditure of public money, direct spending on a large scale for the benefit of lower-class citizens” (362-363). This impudence vexed many officials and shook up the whole of the political sphere. This anger greatly contributed to his unfortunate death, of which there were warnings, but brave Tiberius paid them no heed, determined to do what he knew was right, even if it cost him his life.
Towards the end of his term, Tiberius stood for reelection at the Temple of Jupiter, but the Senate did not approve of his policies and believed the rumors circulating that he was determined to become a tyrant (Bernstein 224). His most vocal and malicious adversary, Publicus Cornelius Scipio Nasica (his cousin), and several senators armed themselves with make-shift weapons to stop the voting, and the fights quickly became a deadly situation, and people began to flee. It is recorded that, “As Tiberius himself tried to escape, someone caught hold of his toga, which he was forced to abandon. Clad only in his tunic… he stumbled and fell over the bodies… When he tried to scramble to his feet, the tribune P. Satureius struck him on the head with a bench leg” (Bernstein 225). The barbaric mob savagely beat Tiberius and at least 200 (possibly 300) of his followers to death in the hallowed temple, then threw their corpses in the Tiber River. Little did Cornelia and Sempronious know upon naming their son, just a babe in the cradle, after the mighty Tiber, that it would serve as his watery grave.
A moving depiction of Tiberius facing his death, a courageous expression upon his countenance. Source: https://www.alamy.com/the-death-of-tiberius-gracchus-bartolomeo-pinelli-1818
And thus, Rome's brightest star was violently snuffed out, but his influence survives. The lex agraria continued for several years after Tiberius' death, and his brother Gaius went on to encourage similar policies. Indeed, Tiberius lives on in the hearts of the people and remains one of our most noble predecessors!
THE END