Gracchi Marius and Sulla

The Gracchi Marius and Sulla -
Epochs Of Ancient History

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Title: The Gracchi Marius and Sulla Epochs Of Ancient History
Author: A.H. Beesley
Release Date: January 29, 2004 [EBook #10860]
Language: English
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EPOCHS OF ANCIENT HISTORY
* * * * *
THE GRACCHI MARIUS AND SULLA
BY
A.H. BEESLEY
WITH MAPS
1921

PREFACE
It would be scarcely possible for anyone writing on the period
embraced in this volume, to perform his task adequately without
making himself familiar with Mr. Long's 'History of the Decline of the
Roman Republic' and Mommsen's 'History of Rome.' To do over again
(as though the work had never been attempted) what has been done
once for all accurately and well, would be mere prudery of
punctiliousness. But while I acknowledge my debt of gratitude to both
these eminent historians, I must add that for the whole period I have
carefully examined the original authorities, often coming to
conclusions widely differing from those of Mr. Long. And I venture to
hope that from the advantage I have had in being able to compare the
works of two writers, one of whom has well-nigh exhausted the
theories as the other has the facts of the subject, I have succeeded in
giving a more consistent and faithful account of the leaders and
legislation of the revolutionary era than has hitherto been written.
Certainly there could be no more instructive commentary on either
history than the study of the other, for each supplements the other and
emphasizes its defects. If Mommsen at times pushes conjecture to the
verge of invention, as in his account of the junction of the Helvetii and
Cimbri, Mr. Long, in his dogged determination never to swerve from
facts to inference, falls into the opposite extreme, resorting to
somewhat Cyclopean architecture in his detestation of stucco. But my
admiration for his history is but slightly qualified by such
considerations, and to any student who may be stimulated by the
volumes of this series to acquire what would virtually amount to an
acquaintance first-hand with the narratives of ancient writers, I would
say 'Read Mr. Long's history.' To do so is to learn not only knowledge
but a lesson in historical study generally. For the writings of a man with
whom style is not the first object are as refreshing as his scorn for
romancing history is wholesome, and the grave irony with which he
records its slips amusing.
A.H.B.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

ANTECEDENTS OF THE REVOLUTION.
Previous history of the Roman orders--The Ager Publicus--Previous
attempts at agrarian legislation--Roman slavery--The first Slave
War--The Nobiles, Optimates, Populares, Equites--Classification of the
component parts of the Roman State--State of the transmarine
provinces

CHAPTER II.
TIBERIUS GRACCHUS.
Scipio Aemilianus--Tribunate of Tiberius Gracchus--His agrarian
proposals--Wisdom of them--Grievances of the possessors--Octavius
thwarts Gracchus--Conduct of Gracchus defended--His other intended
reforms--He stands again for the tribunate--His motives--His murder

CHAPTER III.
CAIUS GRACCHUS.
Blossius spared--The law of T. Gracchus carried out--Explanation of
Italian opposition to it--Attitude of Scipio Aemilianus--His
murder--Quaestorship of Caius Gracchus--The Alien Act of
Pennus--Flaccus proposes to give the Socii the franchise--Revolt and
extirpation of Fregellae--Tribunate of Caius Gracchus--Compared to
Tiberius--His aims--His Corn Law defended--His Lex Judiciaria--His
law concerning the taxation of Asia--His conciliation of the
equites--His colonies--He proposes to give the franchise to the
Italians--Other projects--Machinations of the nobles against him--M.
Livius Drusus outbids him--Stands again for the tribunate, but is
rejected--His murder--Some of his laws remain in force--The Maria
Lex--Reactionary legislation of the Senate--The Lex Thoria--All offices
confined to a close circle

CHAPTER IV.
THE JUGURTHINE WAR.
Legacy of Attalus--Aristonicus usurps his kingdom--Settlement of
Asia--Jugurtha murders Hiempsal and attacks Adherbal--His intrigues
at Rome and the infamy of M. Aemilius Scaurus and the other Roman
nobles--Three commissions bribed by Jugurtha--Adherbal
murdered--Rome declares war and Jugurtha bribes the Roman generals,
Bestia and Scaurus--Memmius denounces them at Rome--Jugurtha
summoned to Rome, where he murders Massiva--He defeats Aulus
Albinos--Metellus sent against him Jugurtha defeated on the
Muthul--Keeps up a guerilla warfare--Marius stands for the consulship,
and succeeds Metellus--Bocchus betrays Jugurtha to Sulla--Settlement
of Numidia

CHAPTER V.
THE CIMBRI AND TEUTONES.
Recommencement of the Social struggle at Rome--Marius the popular
hero--Incessant frontier-warfare of the Romans--The Cimbri defeat
Carbo and Silanus--Caepio and 'The Gold of Tolosa'--The Cimbri
defeat Scaurus and Caepio--Marius elected consul--The Cimbri march
towards