Tiberius and Caius Gracchus Summary and Analysis

Tiberius Gracchus was a man of noble birth who rose within Roman politics to be elected tribune. Rome at this time was overrun by homeless soldiers who had returned from battle but who had lost their property in their absence. Tiberius proposed a reform to the land laws to redistribute the public lands among these soldiers. This reform was opposed by the wealthy landowners in the senate, who convinced Octavius, one of the other tribunes, to exercise his veto power to stop it. Tiberius prevented Octavius from voting by force and the new laws were passed.

This illegal suppression of Octavius was construed by the senate as a direct challenge to its authority. Tiberius was accused of wanting to make himself a king and was beaten to death in the senate by senators who tore...