Death of Gaius Gracchus and Fulvius Flaccus Gaius Gracchus
the death of gaius gracchus, françois topino-lebrun, 1792.
gaius head cut off, opimius had announced whoever brought head paid weight in gold. when head measured astonishing seventeen , two-thirds pounds, discovered septimuleius, brought head, committed fraud removing brain , pouring in molten lead , therefore received no reward @ all. bodies of gaius, fulvius , 3 thousand supporters died thrown tiber, property confiscated , sold public treasury. appian adds homes looted opponents.
their wives forbidden mourn death of husbands , licinia, wife of gaius, stripped of dowry. fulvius youngest son, took no part in fighting , merely acted herald, executed, though appian holds opimius allowed him choose own manner of death. outrageous people when opimius celebrated victory building temple concord in forum senate s approval. people felt victory bought massacre of many citizens exceptionally distasteful. according plutarch, 1 night inscription carved read temple of concord work of mad discord.
plutarch maintains opimius first roman appoint himself dictator, kill 3,000 roman citizens without trial, including proconsul fulvius flaccus celebrated triumph , tribune gaius gracchus, man renowned reputation , virtue. ironically, same opimius later committed fraud , accepted bribes numidian king jugurtha and, after being convicted, spent days in disgrace. people, realizing democratic cause dead, understood how missed gracchus brothers.
statues erected in rome, fell consecrated holy ground , season s first fruits offered sacrifice. many worshiped them daily if gracchi had been elevated divine status. cornelia honored memory of sons murders constructing elaborate tombs @ spot of deaths. appian adds within 15 years, of progress done under gracchi had been overturned , poor in worse position ever before, many reduced unemployment.
while many of gaius laws repealed political opponents, lex frumentaria remained. set precedent roman bread dole existed in 1 form or until fall of western empire.
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