Caius Gracchus

Also known as: Caius · Family: Rome · Role: Roman leader · First appears: Agis

Caius Gracchus was the son of tiberiusfather and Cornelia, and the younger brother of Tiberius Gracchus, who was elder by nine years. When Tiberius Gracchus’s land law was ratified, Caius served with him and Appius Claudius as a commissioner appointed to survey and divide the public lands. He was also connected by marriage to Licinia, whose father was Publius Crassus. The brothers were remembered as “men of noble nature,” and their misfortunes were later commemorated together.

Soon after, Caius was elected quaestor and obliged to accompany Orestes into Sardinia. He defended his friend Vettius at trial, dealt with matters involving Micipsa and grain sent to Sardinia, and was praised for his resolution concerning grain from Fabius in Spain. Having cleared himself of accusations, he sought the tribuneship and gained authority to select equestrian judges, acquiring “a sort of kingly power.” He also opposed measures connected with Marcus Octavius and Popilius, who had banished the friends of Tiberius Gracchus.

Caius won a second tribuneship while Caius Fannius was elected consul, but failed to secure a third after his colleagues caused false returns to be made. During the ensuing conflict, Livius Drusus became his rival, while Fulvius Flaccus, Pomponius, and Licinius were counted among his friends; Lucius Opimius was believed to seek his ruin. While fleeing with only his servant Philocrates, Caius was killed by him, after which Philocrates killed himself. Septimuleius later fixed Caius’s head to his spear and presented it to Opimius; before long, the people ordered public statues of Caius and Tiberius Gracchus and consecrated the places where they had been slain.