Explanation: Tiberius Gracchus was a reformer of the Late Republic. He served as the democratically elected People’s Tribune and championed land reform to give public lands to the poor. However, as the rich rented those public lands at a fraction of the ordinary cost, the wealthy men in the Roman Senate were not fond of this plan. Subsequently, when it looked like Tiberius Gracchus might actually succeed, they killed him.
Ten years later, his brother, Gaius Gracchus, championed the same cause. He was illegally killed by the Senate as well.
For some reason, the Senate was then surprised that the poor who made up the vast majority of the army started looking to their generals instead of the ‘legitimate’ institutions of the Republic to fulfill their interests.
Explanation: Tiberius Gracchus was a reformer of the Late Republic. He served as the democratically elected People’s Tribune and championed land reform to give public lands to the poor. However, as the rich rented those public lands at a fraction of the ordinary cost, the wealthy men in the Roman Senate were not fond of this plan. Subsequently, when it looked like Tiberius Gracchus might actually succeed, they killed him.
Ten years later, his brother, Gaius Gracchus, championed the same cause. He was illegally killed by the Senate as well.
For some reason, the Senate was then surprised that the poor who made up the vast majority of the army started looking to their generals instead of the ‘legitimate’ institutions of the Republic to fulfill their interests.