GRACCHUS, TIBERIUS SEMPRONIUS, the son of Tiberius Gracchus, who had been censor, twice consul, and had triumphed twice. His mother was the celebrated Cornelia, daughter of Scipio Africanus the Elder, and she was left by the death of her husband with the charge of no fewer than twelve children. She lost all except three; one daughter, married to Scipio the Younger, and two sons, Caius and Tiberius. Tiberius was born about 163 B.C. and was murdered 133 B.C. He began early to exhibit proofs of great talents, and his mother appears to have cultivated his mind by every means in her power. He was distinguished from his brother Caius by his mildness of manner and the dignity of his deportment. The language of Tiberius was chaste and polished; that of Caius exhibited more of pretension and splendour. The two brothers, however, were equally attentive to their duties as magistrates, and in their self-government in respect to pleasure they were perfectly alike. Tiberius served his first campaign under Scipio the Younger in Africa (B.C. 146), and made himself much beloved by the army. He was some time afterwards (B.C. 137) appointed quaestor, and attended the consul C. Mancinus in the Numantine war. This consul was one of the most unfortunate generals the Romans ever had, and conducted matters so that he and his whole army were obliged to submit to conditions of peace imposed by the Numantians. That people refused to treat with any one except Tiberius Gracchus, and he was employed to draw up the articles of peace. The peace, however, was disavowed at Rome, and Mancinus was delivered up to the Numantians naked and in rags. Tiberius was spared, chiefly through the interest and influence of Scipio, his brother-in-law. It was now that Tiberius entered on the stormy path of politics, and the measure which he first advocated was of a magnitude suited to the part he intended to act in the affairs of his country. It was to restrain the avarice of the rich, and to compel them to give up the possession of the public lands, of which they had unjustly become masters. Caius Lælius, the friend of Scipio, had attempted to correct this disorder; but, frightened by the opposition of men in power, he gave up the undertaking. No sooner, however, had Tiberius been elected tribune of the people, than he determined to make an attempt to restore their share of the public lands to the poor. No law could have been of a milder nature than that which he proposed to introduce; for, instead of punishing those who had infringed the rights of the community, they were to receive a sum of money for foregoing their groundless claims. Nothing, however, could induce the rich to listen for a moment to the proposal; and, like all reformers of abuses, he was accused of attempting to throw the country into disorder, and of subverting the constitution of the state. Incensed at this, Tiberius no longer kept on terms with his opponents, but proposed another law of a severer character, which commanded all to quit the lands which they held contrary to law. This law was confirmed by the people, and three commissioners were appointed to survey the public domain. Tiberius, his brother Caius, and his father-in-law Appius Claudius, received orders to make the survey. If he had contented himself with the passing of this measure, he would have regarded him as a patriot rather than a demagogue; but his position had now become so critical, and his enemies so numerous, that he was urged forward in his career by a regard to his own personal safety rather
than by a reference to the good of the republic. In retiring to a private station he would have been exposed to the vengeance of his enemies, and he could not expect to be re-elected tribune, unless by some new proof of his devotion to the popular cause. He therefore proposed laws for shortening the time of military service, and for granting an appeal from the judges to the people. As the bench of judges consisted entirely of senators, he proposed that an equal number of knights and senators should be admitted. On the day when these laws were to be put to the vote, his opponents resolved to create a disturbance, during which they would have an opportunity of putting him to death. Tiberius became acquainted with it during the meeting of the assembly, and as there was great clamour, he had no other way of communicating the information than by touching his head with his hand, to signify the danger he was in. Some one ran to the senate and informed them that Tiberius had demanded a diadem of the people. This excited a great commotion in the senate, and Scipio Nasica rushed out with numerous attendants, and having put the people to flight, killed Tiberius in the Forum. (Plutarch, Life of Tiberius Gracchus; Liv. Epit. 58.)