Gaius Gracchus
Many historians have written on the life of Gaius Gracchus, his motives, and his accomplishments. Here, a biography of Gauis by the Greek historian, biographer and essayist, Plutarch, will be used to explore the legendary.
Gaius Gracchus was born in Rome in 154BCE into an influential family. His mother was the daughter of Scipio Africanus, a successful military leader, and his father was a powerful Politian. His older brother, Tiberus, also pursued a political career as a roman tribune; however, when Gaius was 21, Tiberus was viciously slain by the republics senate. At this Gaius seemed to aspire to a quiet life, wanting nothing to do with those responsible for his brother’s death (Plutarch 75ACE: 1). Although his quiet attitude would soon change, it is clear that his family lineage and brother’s murder would come to play a large part in Gaius’s life.
Gaius’ family background did play a part in his accomplishments and rise to power, although his motivations were not purely family based. When Gaius was 28 he was elected quaestor and was sent to Sardina to attend Orestes (Plutarch 75ACE: 1), this was his first step into power as it would lead him into his position as tribune. Although the gaining of this position was partly due to his rising popularity amongst the people and enemies who didn’t want him in Rome, it would not have been possible without his family lineage and political connections. After becoming quaestor it was really his brother’s death that pushed him to move upward in the political system, for he came to Gaius in a dream saying, “Why do you tarry, Gaius? There is no escape; one life and one death is appointed for us both, to spend the one and to meet the other in the service of the people” (Plut...
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... senate to propose peace, however on his way there a battle broke out and Gaius was convinced to flee (Plutarch 75ACE: 8). Again this shows Gaius good character and honesty.
In the end however Gaius is killed as are most of his men, who are all treated to the same fate as Tiberus’ men. After Gaius’ death some of his laws are removed and some stay intact, but his actions had a great impact on the Roman people as it showed them they did hold power and were capable of making change. It also impacted the senate and other office holders as Gaius pointed out the importance of the peoples support.
Gaius’ life and death also shows the corrupting on the senate and their need for control and power over the people as well as there complete lack of care for the well being of the state. Overall though Gaius did rouse the people and the senate his goal was to social reform Rome.
... he was killed, all hope for the Roman Republic to be cured and survive was lost. By killing him, the senators ensured that the Roman Republic would either fall or continue to be corrupted. Had Julius Caesar not been killed, the Roman Republic could have been revived and cured of corruption and the Roman Empire might never have existed.
Strangely for a man who himself ignored the Senate's wishes and who killed an unprecedented number of its members, Sulla did a considerable amount to temporarily restore the power of the Senate, however the quality of power is questionable (Cavazzi, F. 2014). His reforms had no lasting impact on Rome, as soon as he retired and died, Rome was back into its existing state of political violence and chaos. All his work was for nothing, he was unable to have a lasting impact on Rome besides a deadly precedent to follow.
Gaius Julius Caesar was born on the 12th of July 100BCE to his father, a Praetor who governed the province of Asia, and his mother Aurelia Cotta, who was of noble birth. The family held Populare ideologies which favoured democracy and extended rights for the lower classes. As opposed to the Optimates whose sole focus was on superiority and nobility (Vroma.org, 2011).
...r political status and power, to finally breakdown the Roman Republic. By Marius using war and corruption to his advantage to gain and hold on to his consulship for many years, he gave the impression that the senate was losing their power and hold over the people. By abolishing the Servian laws and allowing the landless and the poor to serve in the army, he threw out the Roman tradition that money and wealth showed loyalty and commitment to Rome. Also, he provided the generals, and himself, the pressure to continue to win the wars in order to gain loot, and land to give to their armies to keep them happy. However, mostly Marius military reform was the most influential ways that Marius had on the future Romans, that gave them the power to achieve their political success over the senate and eventually bring forth the breakdown of the Republic.
At an early age, Tiberius was given military command and in his first campaign he won great renown with his troops and the Senate. He followed this up with another victory in Pannonia and for his efforts he received a triumph in Rome, the single greatest honor any general could receive. Augustus granted him the powers of a Tribune. Tiberius cared greatly for the welfare of his soldiers and they responded with respect and deep ...
Finally his sudden death was the result of various personal factors that insulted the senators and created hate between Caesar and them, believing his death was expected. His death then led to a domino effect, which ends in the eventual collapse of the Roman Empire. Caesar was assassinated by his own Senate. Julius Caesar had many men conspiring against him with a plot to assassinate him. Among the 60 men plotting to murder him, many were senators, which included Marcus Junius Brutus, Decimus Brutus Albinus and Gaius Cassius Longinus. Brutus believed the death of Caesar would bring the return of the old Roman spirit unfortunately, the city was in shock, and people became increasingly more aggressive, because Caesar was popular with the people of Rome. Unfortunately, peace was impossible and the conspirators fled to
Julius Caesar is a moral, ethical man. He is a selfless man who puts others before himself. When Artemidorus gets word of the conspirator’s plans, he writes a letter to Caesar to warn him of his impending fate and rushes to the Capitol to give him word. Upon telling Caesar the letter is concerning him, Caesar simply brushes it off and responds, “What touches oneself shall be served last”(III,I, 8). Caesar altruistically puts aside an urgent manner concerning him to accept the offer of becoming King of Rome, which is the reason he went to the Capitol in the first place, which shows he is a benevolent, thoughtful person. In
Sulla’s earlier career had not been that of an orthodox Optimate. Though he belonged to an old patrician family, it had long slid into obscurity and poverty. Plutarch suggests that a legacy from his step-mother and another from a mistress helped him, somewhat late, to a public career (Plutarch, p. 327). Plutarch was a Greek historian who wrote more than a century after Sulla’s death. Some of his pieces are polemical, that is, his writings possibly arise from scurrilous tracts, written by political adversaries of his subjects. As Marius’ quaestor, he had captured Jugurtha and won the loyalty of his fellow soldiers, sparking a later brutal animosity between the pair. This talent for winning the loyalty of soldiers never deserted Sulla, and that fact would have terrible consequences for Rome (Williams, p.139).
The Roman Republic (Res Pvblica Romana) was a form of republican government that was established in 509 BCE to replace the monarchy government that had reigned over Rome since the founding in 753BCE (Steele, 2012). The Failure of the Roman Republic was inevitable as it was an unjust system of government and it was left vulnerable after the attempted changes instigated by the Gracchi, as the Gracchi exposed the weaknesses in the political structure allowing future politicians to manipulate the system. The sources used throughout the essay, which include Plutarch, Appian, Florus and Velleius, will need to be examined closely as each source will demonstrate different views on the Gracchi, as the authors purpose of writing will differ. The Gracchi had set out to change Rome for the better, however in the process; they exposed the internal flaws of the government which resulted in the beginning of the decline of the Roman Republic.
Gaius Julius Caesar was born in Rome in July 100 BC. Rome was a Republic at this time. He was a statesman, Roman general, Consul, and notable author of Latin prose. He played a significant role in the events that led to the collapse of the Roman Republic and rise of the Roman Empire. He was a leader in a nation where the people were not involved in the government decision-making process. Thus, he had majority of the power in the Republic and was able to form a huge army. He was able to triumph, conquer new lands with the army at his grasp and command. As Caesar acquired more power over the years, som...
Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus Augustus was born in Rome, Italy in 100 BC. Although he is a known descendant of Roman Aristocrats, his family itself was not very rich. When Julius Caesar was just 16 his father, Gaius Caesar died. Soon after his father’s death, Julius Caesar would go on to betroth the daughter of a noble, Cornelia. Furthermore his betrothal drew the attention of the Roman dictator Sulla, who commanded Caesar to divorce his wife or lose his life/the property. Refusing, Caesar found an escape within the military where in 84 BC he started his career first serving in the province of Asia then later Cilicia ("Biography Channel website").
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Julius Caesar was a strong leader of the Romans who changed the course of the history for the Roman world decisively and irreversibly. With his courage and strength, he created a strong empire and guided the empire for almost 20 years. His life was short, but had many adventures. I will tell of some of this man’s remarkable life. He did many things, therefore, I will only discuss a few. His name, part of his reign, one of his greatest battles, and his death will be told.
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