Plut. Ti. Gracch. 16, 1: a Gracchan law on appeal?

Authors

  • Natalia A. Kuznetsova St. Petersburg State University (SPbSU), 7–9, Universitetskaya nab., St. Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21638/11701/spbu20.2019.104

Abstract

According to Plutarch, Tiberius Gracchus announced during the election campaign of the  133 BCE, that he would pass a number of laws, and among them — the law granting the right  of appeal to the people (provocatio) ἀπὸ τῶν δικαστῶν. Ti. Gracchus has died before he passed  the alleged law. Besides Plutarch, his last reform programme is attested only by Cassius Dio,  who mentions no law on appeal. The whole programme is very similar to the laws of Gaius  Gracchus, and there is suspicion, that it consists of the laws of Gaius which were ascribed to  Tiberius to depict him as a power-seeking demagogue. What could be the aims of the law on  appeal and what it meant exactly? Firstly, both Gracchi could consider an appeal against the  senatorial extraordinary commissions which would protect the Gracchans against political  persecution. This measure seems to be more appropriate after the advocates of Tiberius Gracchus  were prosecuted in senatorial courts. But Gaius Gracchus, instead of it, prohibited appointing  the extraordinary courts iniussu populi. Secondly, if the aim was to gain the electors,  Tiberius could promise them appeal against murder courts, though it would be pernicious for  the public order. Finally, in all other cases the bill on appeal would be of no use for the Gracchans,  but would make them a good target of criticism. Such a measure could well be invented  by an anti-Gracchan source.

Keywords:

provocatio ad populum, Gaius Gracchus, Tiberius Gracchus

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Published

2019-06-25

How to Cite

Kuznetsova, N. (2019). Plut. Ti. Gracch. 16, 1: a Gracchan law on appeal?. Philologia Classica, 14(1), 56–67. https://doi.org/10.21638/11701/spbu20.2019.104

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 1 (2019)

Section

Orbis Romanus

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Articles of "Philologia Classica" are open access distributed under the terms of the License Agreement with Saint Petersburg State University, which permits to the authors unrestricted distribution and self-archiving free of charge.