The Social War, Marius, Sulla

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The Social War, Marius, Sulla Caesar
Patricians vs. Plebeians

• Global History I
• Spiconardi

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Social Structure

• Patricians ? elite aristocrats of Rome
• Plebeians ? commoners of Rome
• Republic ? Government whose power is based on
  popular representation

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The Social War

• Causes
• Patricians refused to allow plebeians to hold
  high political office
• The Roman government refused to give its allies
  citizenship
• Peasant farmers were reduced to slaves
• Political disputes between the Optimates
  (Patrician Party) and Populares (Plebeian party)

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The Social War

• Resolution
• Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus Gaius Sempronius
  Gracchus pass legislation
• Limited the amount of grain patrician could buy
• Freed up more grain for plebeians to buy
• Assassination
• The Optimates had both Gracchi brothers
  assassinated
• The Populares and Italian allies revolt, but are
  put down by Optimate controlled army
• Oddly enough, they were granted citizenship under
  the Lex Iulia

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Marius vs. Sulla

• Two Consuls of Rome, but hated each other
• Marius ? member of the Populares
• Sulla ? member of the Optimates
• In his seventh term as consul, Marius
• Re-organizes voting methods to give the plebeians
  more of a political voice
• Distributed grain to the plebeians
• Patricians are OUTRAGED!

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Marius vs. Sulla

• In an attempt to seize power and control the army
  in an upcoming war Sulla
• marches on Rome and causes Marius to flee for his
  life
• overturns all the reforms to aid the plebeians

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Marius vs. Sulla

• While at Sulla was at war
• Marius returns to Rome
• Burns down Sullas home
• Kills patrician supporters of Sulla
• Sulla returns to Rome with his army
• Defeats Marius
• Post conscription lists
• Takes land away from plebeians gives to his
  troops
• Makes his troops Senators
• Limits political power of the plebeians

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Marius vs. Sulla

• Significance
• End of the Republic?
• Elections did not matter
• Whoever controlled the army, could control Rome
• Plebeians lose political power
• Agricultural production declines
• Sullas legions arent farmers
• Rome forced to import grain from Africa

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Gaius Julius Caesar

• Nephew of Marius
• Adopts populares platform
• Rises through the political ranks of Rome
• Excellent Politician
• Makes alliances with high-ranking government
  officials (Pompey, the most celebrated man in
  Rome)

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Gaius Julius Caesar

• Rise to Power
• Conquers Gaul
• Caesar and Pompey distrust one another
• Caesar marches on Rome and civil war breaks out!
• Pompey and patrician government officials flee
  Rome
• Caesar wins the war and his made dictator for
  life
• Pardons all political enemies

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Gaius Julius Caesar

• Activities and Reforms
• Increases size of the Senate
• New seats are filled by plebeians and conquered
  Gauls
• Revised Calendar (Stole it from Egypt)
• Redistributes land to plebeians and veterans

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Gaius Julius Caesar

• Absolute Monarch or Man of the People?
• Senate fears his pro-plebeian reforms
• How dare he take from the patricians!
• Senate fears relationship with Cleopatra
• Accused Caesar of bribery and corruption

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Gaius Julius Caesar

• The Assassination
• Senators including those pardoned by Caesar plot
  an assassination
• E tu Brutus?
• Caesar is approached by the Senators and stabbed
  to death
• How about this for irony.Caesar collapses at the
  foot of a statue of Pompey

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End of the Republic

• Republic officially ends
• Caesars grand-nephew adopted son Octavius
• Hunts down Caesars assassins
• Defeats Caesars advisor Marcus Antonius in a
  power struggle
• Is crowned Emperor of Rome and given title
  Augustus Caesar