Gaius Gracchus

Gaius Sempronius Gracchus was born around 154 BC, son of a two-time consul, and followed his older brother Tiberius into reformist politics. Tiberius had been killed during his own tribunate in 133 BC; Gaius took office as plebeian tribune in 123 and again in 122, driving through a legislative blitz that included subsidised grain for Rome, new colonies beyond Italy, judicial overhaul, and further land redistribution. The year after his second tribunate, he and his allies occupied the Aventine Hill amid political unrest. His enemies invoked martial law and sent forces against them. Gaius died i…