Gaius Gracchus

-Beginning of the end for the Roman Republic.
-With his brother's death, Gaius Gracchus was left as patriarch of the Gracchii clan at the age of 21!
-126 BC- Elected as a political officer of Sardinia.
   -The Senate wanted to keep GG in Sardinia, away from Rome so they could undo all of Tiberius' reforms.
-123 BC- Managed to quit his office in Sardinia to head for Rome, and also was able to be elected tribune at the same time.
   -The grain famine continued in Rome at this time due to a plague of locusts destroying lots of crops in North Africa.  The price of grain soared, so GG arranged for the grain to be sold far below the market price, which was a huge relief for the common folk.
   -GG also passed a bunch of political and economic reforms.  He was hugely popular with the people, and was elected to a second term due to some technicalities.
   -Wanted to extend full citizenship status to non-Roman Italians, but the Senate didn't want this because they felt it would allow GG to expand his power base.
      -Over a short time, however, GG's political enemies worked hard to undermine him and his reforms, and turn his allies against him.
-GG tried to combat his opposition by running for a third term.
   -Unfortunately, GG lost, although this could have been due to voter fraud.
-GG then tried to unite the people to protest.
   -These protests turned violent, and one of his opponents was murdered by the angry mob.  As a result, GG was charged with inciting murder, and was branded an enemy of the state.
      -He fled with his slave, and soon committed suicide :(