Caius Sempronius Gracchus

Caius Sempronius Gracchus (c. 154 BC – 121 BC), also Gaius Sempronius Gracchus, was a Roman tribune and reformer, brother of the succeeding, nine years his junior. He devoted himself and his oratory on his brother's death to carry out his measures. He was chosen tribune in 123 B.C., and re-elected in 122 BC. His measures of reform were opposed and undone by the Senate, and being declared a public enemy he was driven to bay, his friends rallying round him in arms, when a combat took place in which 3000 fell, upon which Gracchus made his slave put him to death. "Overthrown by the Patricians," he is said, "when struck with the fatal stab, to have flung dust toward heaven, and called on the avenging deities; and from this dust," says one, "there was born Marius - not so illustrious for exterminating the Cimbri as for overturning in Rome the tyranny of the nobles."

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