Lex Sempronia Agraria

• The Lex Sempronia Agraria was a series of Agricultural Reform Laws passed by two brothers, Tiberius Gracchus and Gaius Gracchus when they became Tribune of the Plebs.
• The first free Grain distribution, the Grain Dole, was begun in 123 BCE, and continued under the Roman Emperors.

The Gracchian Land Reforms

• The Crisis

  • The purchase of small farms and Public Land by the big Latifundia was forcing small farmers off the land and into the slums of Rome creating a social crisis.
  • Also, as these farmers no longer held property they didn’t qualify to join the Legion, so Rome was experiencing a shortage of soldiers.

• Tiberius Gracchus (163-133 BCE)

  • Tiberius Gracchus was a Tribune of the Plebs under the Roman Republic who was determined to reform the Agrarian Laws. After his death, his younger brother, Gaius Gracchus, continued with his Reforms.

• The Lex Sempronia Agraria of 133 BCE

  • To resolve this crisis, Tiberius Gracchus proposed a Reform of the Agrarian Laws which would give Roman citizens a minimum amount of land to live on:
    1. Gracchus proposed to enforce the Sexto-Licinian Laws (367 BCE) which limited the cultivation of Public Land by an individual to 500 jugera.
    2. He also proposed an extension to graze livestock on other areas of the Public Land, so that in addition to the maximum of 100 cattle already permitted, an additional 500 sheep would be allowed.
    3. Also, each son in the household would be permitted an additional 250 jugera.
    4. Land exceeding these limits should be confiscated and redistributed (after payment to the owner) to the poor.
  • Tiberius’ attempt was overthrown by a riot, instigated by the Senate, and he was killed by a mob.

• Gaius Gracchus (154-121 BCE)

  • Tiberius’ younger brother, also became a Tribune of the Plebs, and subsequently proposed a revised version for a fair Grain Distribution in Rome.

• The Lex Sempronia Agraria of 123 BCE

  • In 123 BCE Gaius Gracchus passed a law that all adult male Roman citizens, over 14 yrs old, were entitled to buy 5 modii (33 kgs) of grain each month at below market price.
  • This made 40,000 adult males eligible.
  • This began the regular distribution of Grain in Rome that continued for the duration of the Roman Empire.