The Late Republic I: From The Gracchi To Spartacus
The Late Republic I: From The Gracchi To Spartacus
The Late Republic I: From The Gracchi To Spartacus
I. INTRODUCTION
Optimates and Populares
B. Optimates
United front against change Control of government Enormous wealth and prestige
C. Populares
D. Significance
Constant clashes between Optimates and Populares Destabilization of Roman government Conflict among great men and within Senate, esp. the Gracchi (Tiberius Gracchus, Gaius Gracchus), Gaius Marius, Lucius Cornelius Sulla, Gnaeus Pompeius (Pompey), M. Licinius Crassus Collapse of Roman Republic; establishment of Principate (Empire)
1. Background
3. Senatorial Reaction
Tiberius proposes to use the money from a kingdom Tiberius is afraid of senate; runs for Tribune a second time
Italian allies: unhappy with land reform bill 125 B.C.: Proposal of M. Fulvius Flaccus (consul and commissioner) to give citizenship to all allies
Senate sends in Roman army to crush it First time Allies appeal Become a tool for senate
2. Legislative Program
Gaius lost support of Comitia Tributa Factional strife Senate: Senatus Consultum Ultimum
Final decree of the senate Gives all power to consul to suppress Goes after Gracchus
Death of C. Gracchus
weakening of power and prestige of Senate strengthening of political power of equestrians further oppression of provincials and allies growing acceptance of violence as solution to political problems
Western Mediterranean
Northern Italy
1. Background
118 B.C.: death of Micipsa, son of Masinissa, and current king of Numidia in N. Africa
Will: kingdom to be divided equally among two sons, Adherbal and Hiempsal, and adopted son (and nephew) Jugurtha Jugurtha had Hiempsal assassinated and expelled Adherbal Adherbal appealed to Rome
116 B.C.: Roman senatorial commission initially decided to divide kingdom between Adherbal and Jugurtha 113 B.C.: Jugurtha attacked Adherbal at Cirta
Bribery by Jugurtha of Roman magistrates and military commanders: Jugurtha: A city for sale and doomed to speedy destruction if it finds a purchaser! (Mellor 73)
107 B. C.: Gaius Marius (equestrian) became consul and obtained Numidia as his command
Marius
113 B.C.: Cimbri and Teutones move into Gaul Allied towns in S. Gaul revolted 105 B.C.: Roman army wiped out at Arausio (Orange) Marius re-elected consul to face invaders
Map (B=Arausio)
provided employment for urban mob enabled creation of standing professional army in provinces encouraged soldiers to consider themselves as clients of their patron general
Combined maniples into larger units (cohorts) Century = 100 (80) men, led by 1 centurion Cohort = 6 centuries Legion = 10 cohorts
Legionary Organization
3. Defeat of Barbarians
Marius mules
102 B.C.: defeated Teutones in Battle of Aquae Sextiae 101 B.C., defeated Cimbri at Vercellae
Marius Mule
Senatus Consultum Ultimum to Marius Death of Saturninus and Glaucia Decline in prestige of Marius
Latin and Italian allies unhappy about inability to gain Roman citizenship 91 B.C.: M. Livius Drusus (tribune) proposed enfranchising Latin and Italian allies Revolt by allies: Social War, War of Socii, War of the Allies.
Confederacy of Italia
*Coinage of Socii
New Italian citizens were enrolled in 10 out of 35 tribes Towns of Italy became municipia
Sulla
1. Mithridates
Mithridates = king of Pontus (Asia Minor) 91 B.C.: occupation and withdrawl from Bithynia 89 B.C.: Mithridates declaration of war vs. Rome
Mithridates
Sulla initially allotted Roman command against Mithridates; transferred to Marius Events in Rome
Redistribution of allies into all tribes Sullas march on Rome Marius flight
3. Outcome of War
87 B.C.: Sulla set off for Greece with Roman army 85 B.C: Mithridates sued for peace under these terms:
Give up most conquests in Asia Minor Disband fleet Pay indemnity BUT retained kingdom of Pontus
Sulla wintered in Asia Lieutenant: start war with Mithridates Sulla appealed to by Mithridates Reinstatement of previous peace terms
1. Reaction of Marius
Marian faction (Populares) had won upper hand in Italy while Sulla was in East (Cinna) Optimates attempt to seize control (Gn. Octavius) Marius retook city and massacred Optimates Laws of Sulla repealed 86 B.C.: Marius entered into 7th consulship, but died soon after
2. Return of Sulla
Published proscription list of opponents Declared dictator by Senate: as long as he wished Redraft constitution
2. Sulla's Legislation
severely restricted tribunate increased membership in Senate gave Senators alone eligiblity for serving on any juries circumscribed power of provinicial governors
Pompey crushed remaining Marians in Sicily and Africa 79 B.C.: Pompey returned to Rome to celebrate a triumph: Pompeius Magnus
Pompey
81-79 B.C.: Sulla gradually abdicated dictatorial powers 78 B.C.: retired to Campania and died
5. Legacy of Sulla
Left Senate in full control of Roman government Provided example of use of Roman army to gain political prominence, even at expense of civil war
77 B.C.: Pompey received command against Sertorius in Spain from Senate 71 B.C.: victory of Pompey
Sertorius
82 B.C.: Tigranes, king of Armenia and sonin-law of Mithridates annexed Greater Cappadocia and Syria 75 B.C.: Nicomedes III, king of Bithynia, died and bequeathed his kingdom to Romans Opposed by Mithridates and sons of Nicomedes Alliances with Cilician pirates and Sertorius
Tigranes
74 B.C.: Mithridates invaded Bithynia: Lucius Lucullus (Optimate) sent by Senate 74-71 B.C.: Lucullus recovered Bithynia and forced Mithridates to flee to Armenia 70-69 B.C.: revolt of troops of Lucullus 68 B.C.: Mithridates reappeared in Pontus 66 B.C.: Lucullus deprived of all authority in Asia by enemies in Rome; command to go to Pompey
73 B.C.: Slave rebellion began with revolt of gladiators in Capua led by Thracian Spartacus Great generals busy Command against slave revolt: Marcus Licinius Crassus
Map: Bruttium
Crassus
Corruption of Senate and loss of united front with growth of factions Rise of Great Men: more focused on their own desire for power than needs of Rome Acceptance of violence as solution to political problems