Read Online From the Gracchi to Nero: A History of Rome from 133 B.C. to A.D. 68 by H. H. Scullard - Free Book Online Page B

Spain he extricated a Roman army from disaster. When Mancinus’ troops were cut off by the enemy near Numantia, the Spaniards allowed them to depart under terms for the fulfilment of which Tiberius made himself responsible since they trusted him for his father’s sake. The Senate, however, later shamefully repudiated the treaty and made a scapegoat of Mancinus who was handed over to the Spaniards. His officers, including Tiberius, nearly suffered the same fate; though Tiberius escaped by the skin of his teeth, he may well have been embittered by this treatment. Even if the tradition that he turned demagogue because of the odium arising from this episode derives from the propaganda of his political opponents, at very least he will not have been encouraged to expect honourable conduct from the Senate in the future, while the fact that he had saved a Roman army in Spain will have enhanced his popularity.
    It is difficult to be sure which were the dominant motives that turned him into a reformer. Knowledge of Greek political thought and practice, the effect of the Spanish episode, the contemporary slave-rising in Sicily, concern at the changing economic conditions with their impact on peasant husbandry and army recruiting, the consequent growth of unemployment at Rome, all these factors may have combined to urge a generous-hearted man to risk his own political future in an attempt to re-establish the peasants on small-holdings once again. 7 But he did not stand alone at first: his was not a voice crying in the wilderness, but one backed by a powerful group in the Senate. Hisfather-in-law Appius Claudius Pulcher, who had been consul (143 B.C.) and censor (probably 136) was Princeps Senatus (i.e. his name now headed the senatorial roll). With them were linked by marriage two other influential men: P. Licinius Crassus Mucianus, a wealthy jurist and scholar (later to be consul in 131 and Pontifex Maximus), had married Pulcher’s sister, Clodia, and their daughter Licinia married Gaius Gracchus. Crassus’ brother P. Mucius Scaevola, one of the greatest jurists of the day, was holding the consulship in 133, the year of Tiberius’ tribunate. Other outstanding supporters included M. Fulvius Flaccus (later consul in 125), C. Papirius Carbo (consul in 120) and C. Porcius Cato (consul, 114). With relations and friends of this weight behind him, Tiberius might at least hope for a fair hearing for his proposals, while even the Scipionic group, though politically hostile, could scarcely be expected to show unreserved opposition in view of Laelius’ earlier attempt at land reform. 8
    3.  THE LAND-BILL OF TIBERIUS GRACCHUS
    Early in his tribunate Tiberius proposed a
lex agraria
to make land available for distribution in allotments. Everyone holding more
ager publicus
than the legal limit of 500
iugera
(
c.
300 acres) must give up the surplus, but should retain the 500
iugera
(and possibly also 250
iugera
for each son, up to a maximum of 1000
iugera
) which should become the possessor’s in perpetuity and should not be subject to rent (
vectigal
); probably no further compensation was offered. The fertile
ager Campanus
was not included in the scheme. The land so reclaimed by the State was to be distributed to Roman citizens in small allotments, with perhaps a maximum size of 30
iugera
; the new holders were not allowed to alienate them and were to pay a small rent. 9
    As a short-term scheme the bill had great advantages. There could be no objection on the legal score to this resumption of land settlement: Tiberius’ friend, the jurist Scaevola, would have seen to that. It would alleviate much distress, though if the terms of army-recruitment remained unaltered and overseas wars continued, it would scarcely prove a permanent solution to the problem as a whole. The existing occupiers of the public land had cause for both satisfaction and annoyance. Those who occupied a small amount could henceforth enjoy security of tenure, but those who