Editing Roman Republic (section)

====Gracchan period====
{{Campaignbox Servile Wars}}
{{Main|Gracchi brothers}}

In the winter of 138–137&nbsp;BC, a first slave uprising, known as the [[First Servile War]], broke out in Sicily. After initial successes, the slaves led by [[Eunus]] and [[Cleon (Roman rebel)|Cleon]] were defeated by [[Marcus Perperna (consul 130 BC)|Marcus Perperna]] and [[Publius Rupilius]] in 132&nbsp;BC.{{sfn|Lintott|1992a|pp=25–26}}

In this context, [[Tiberius Gracchus]] was elected plebeian tribune in 133&nbsp;BC. He attempted to enact a law to limit the amount of land anyone could own and establish a commission to distribute public lands to poor rural plebs.{{sfn|Lintott|1992b|p=62}} The aristocrats, who stood to lose an enormous amount of money, bitterly opposed this proposal. Tiberius submitted this law to the [[Plebeian Council]], but it was vetoed by fellow tribune [[Marcus Octavius]].{{sfn|Lintott|1992b|p=66}} Tiberius induced the plebs to depose Octavius from his office on the grounds that Octavius acted contrary to the manifest will of the people, a position that was unprecedented and constitutionally dubious.{{sfn|Lintott|1992b|p=67}}{{sfn|Abbott|2001|p=96}} His law was enacted and took effect,{{efn|The activities of the Gracchan land commission are archaeologically documented on recovered boundary stones listing the members of the commission.{{sfn|Lintott|1992b|p=68}} With the find locations, scholars estimate distribution of more than 3,200 square kilometres of public lands, mostly concentrated in southern Italy.{{sfn|Roselaar|2010|pp=252–254}} }} but, when Tiberius ostentatiously stood for reelection to the tribunate, he was murdered by his enemies.{{sfn|Lintott|1992b|pp=72–73}}

Tiberius's brother [[Gaius Gracchus|Gaius]] was elected tribune ten years later in 123 and reelected for 122. He induced the plebs to reinforce rights of appeal to the people against capital extrajudicial punishments and institute reforms to improve the people's welfare. While ancient sources tend to "conceive Gracchus' legislation as an elaborate plot against the authority of the Senate... he showed no sign of wanting to replace the Senate in its normal functions".{{sfn|Lintott|1992b|p=78}} Amid wide-ranging and popular reforms to create grain subsidies, change jury pools, establish and require the Senate to assign provinces before elections, Gaius proposed a law that would grant citizenship rights to Rome's Italian allies.{{sfn|Lintott|1992b|pp=82–83}} He stood for election to a third term in 121 but was defeated. During violent protests over repeal of an ally's colonisation bill, the Senate moved the first {{lang|la|[[senatus consultum ultimum]]}} against him, resulting in his death, with many others, on the Aventine.{{sfn|Lintott|1992b|p=84}} His legislation (like that of his brother) survived; the Roman aristocracy disliked the Gracchan agitation but accepted their policies.{{sfn|Lintott|1992b|p=65}}

In 121, the province of Gallia Narbonensis was established after the victory of [[Quintus Fabius Maximus Allobrogicus|Quintus Fabius Maximus]] over a coalition of Arverni and Allobroges in southern Gaul in 123. [[Lucius Licinius Crassus]] founded the city of [[Narbo]] there in 118.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/lucio-licinio-crasso_%28Enciclopedia-Italiana%29/ |title=CRASSO, Lucio Licinio |access-date=14 August 2023 |language=it}}</ref>