It was contrary to the law that a person should hold the office of
Tribune for two successive years. But Gracchus, in his desire to carry
out his plans, determined to violate this rule, and offered himself as
candidate for the next year. The election day came, and when it became
evident that he would be re-elected, the aristocrats, who had turned
out in full force on the Campus Martius with their retinues of armed
slaves and clients, raised a riot, and, killing Gracchus with three
hundred of his followers, threw their bodies into the Tiber (133).
Thus was shed the first blood of the civil struggle. The mob was led
by SCIPIO NASÍCA, the uncle of Tiberius. Africánus, when he heard of
the murder of his brother-in-law, exclaimed, "Justly slain."

The agrarian law, however, which had passed, was too evidently just to
be openly ignored. The remaining two commissioners continued their
work, until, within two years, 40,000 families were settled on tracts
of the public land which the patricians were compelled to vacate. But
the commissioners became unpopular, for those who received lands were
not always satisfied, and those who were obliged to leave them were
enraged. The commissioners were suspended, and the law repealed.

The mantle of Tiberius fell on GAIUS GRACCHUS. For a time after his
brother's death he retired from politics, and served in the army in
Africa and Sardinia, where he was Quaestor. His valor, wisdom, and
justice made him justly popular, but caused him to be regarded with
suspicion at Rome. In 123 he was elected Tribune, and twice re-
elected. He revived his brother's agrarian law, and became at once the
avowed enemy of the Senate. As a means of increasing his popularity,
he endeavored to admit all the Italians to the privileges of Roman
citizenship, and to limit the price of bread.