Gracchus, Tiberius Sempronius 168-133BC
Roman statesman

In 137BC he was quaestor in Spain, where his family's popularity enabled him to gain better terms from the Numantines for 20,000 conquered Roman soldiers. He was concerned by the poverty of thousands of the Roman citizens, and agitated for reform. Elected Tribune in 133, he reimposed the agrarian law of Licinius Stolo, requisitioned all land held in excess and distributed it in allotments to the poor. The authority of the Senate was threatened when he deposed Tribune Marcus Octavius, who had vetoed his proposal. When Attalus, King of Pergamus, bequeathed his wealth to the Roman people, Gracchus proposed that it should be divided among the poor. But he was accused of having violated the character of the tribuneship by the deposition of his colleague Caecina. The common people deserted him, and during the next election for the tribuneship he was murdered, along with 300 of his friends. He was the brother of Gaius Sempronius Gracchus.

Bibliography: A H Bernstein, Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus: A Tradition and Apostasy (1978)