Gaius was Tiberius younger brother.
Gaius had even greater ambitions than Tiberius, and he was a better public speaker than his brother.
Gaius became tribune in 123 and was re-elected in 122.
Gaius not only reaffirmed Tiberius reforms, he also instituted bread rations for the poor and unemployed.
However Gaius made a big mistake. Hes proposed citizenship for the Italian allies.
This meant that people from outside Rome were given the right to vote in the Roman elections.
The people of Rome were in favor of justice, as long as it did not mean, that their own advantages were taken away.
Giving the allies the right to vote would water down the votes of the original Romans.
Then Gaius’ followers killed a consul’s servant in a street fight, and therefore the senators passed a law, that gave the
consuls, the right to bring an army into Rome.
Gaius now took a desperate action: He and his followers occupied the Aventine Hill.
However the consul’s army was the strongest, and Gaius and his followers were killed.
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