Editing Gracchi brothers (section)

==== Death ====

Early in the year 121&nbsp;BC, attempts were made to repeal portions of Gaius' legislation. The main point of repeal, however, was not agrarian legislation or his subsidised grain bill, but the comparatively minor question of the proposed colony at Carthage.{{sfn|Lintott|1994b|pp=83–84}} After an attendant was killed in the streets by Gaius' supporters, Gaius and his ally Flaccus were summoned to defend themselves before the senate; they refused and barricaded themselves with armed followers on the [[Aventine hill]]. Their refusal was tantamount to rebellion.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Badian |first=Ernst |date=1984 |title=The Death of Saturninus |url=https://publications.dainst.org/journals/chiron/article/view/1237 |journal=Chiron |volume=14 |doi=10.34780/1497-zt32 |issn=2510-5396 |page=118 |quote=[C. Gracchus'] own case, two years later, was quite different. He was himself {{lang|la|privatus}}, and he had responded to a summons to the Senate by joining his armed followers on the Aventine. This was rebellion, and it would be widely accepted that emergency action was the only answer. }}</ref> A ''[[senatus consultum ultimum]]'' was then moved, instructing the consul [[Lucius Opimius]] to ensure the state came to no harm and urging him to suppress Gaius and Flaccus on the Aventine. With a force of militia and Cretan archers, Opimius stormed the Aventine, killing Flaccus and his sons; Gaius was either killed or forced to commit suicide. Opimius then presided over drumhead courts investigating and executing many of Gaius and Flaccus' supporters.{{sfn|Lintott|1994b|p=84}}

In the end, most of Gaius' reforms were preserved; archaeology has discovered evidence of Gracchan land colonial activities in Africa {{circa|119&nbsp;BC}} and the land commission remained in operation until 111&nbsp;BC. By that point, almost all land available to distribute had already been distributed.{{sfn|Lintott|1994b|pp=85, 87}}{{sfn|Roselaar|2010|p=278}} In the whole, "the aristocracy's reaction resembled that of a general dealing with a mutiny, who accedes to most of the demands but executes the ringleaders to preserve discipline".{{sfn|Lintott|1994b|p=85}}