Marcus Livius Drusus
Marcus Livius Drusus was the name of two magistrates in the
Roman Republic.
The elder
Marcus Livius Drusus was set up as
tribune by the
Senate in
122 BC to undermine
Gaius Gracchus' land reform bills. To do this, he proposed creating twelve colonies with 3000 settlers each from the poorer classes, and relieving rent on property distributed since
133. He also said the
Latin allies should not be mistreated by Roman generals, which was the counteroffer to Gaius' offer of full citizenship. These were known as the
Leges Liviae, but they were never enacted, because the Senate simply wanted to draw support away from Gracchus. Their plan was successful and Drusus had enough support to veto Gaius' bill. Drusus was later
consul in
112 and fought in
Macedonia defeating the
Scordisci, even pushing them out of Thace across the
Danube. In
109 he was elected
censor along with the elder
Marcus Aemilius Scaurus, but he died the next year in
108.
The younger
Marcus Livius Drusus, son of the above, was tribune of the plebeians in
91 BC. In the manner of
Gaius Gracchus, he set out with comprehensive plans, but his aim was to strengthen senatorial rule. He removed the jury courts from the jurisdiction of the
Equestrian in retaliation for their unjustified condemnation of
Publius Rutilius Rufus in
92 BC. To gain support from the
plebeians he set up a commission to grant them more land, both around
Rome and in new colonies (which was one of only two that was approved by the Senate during the late republic, and lowered the price of grain. Up to this point Drusus managed to have the support of many of the leading senators including
Marcus Aemilius Scaurus. However, Drusus wanted to grant citizenship rights to the
Italian allies. This was vehemently opposed by many, he gradually lost support from the Senate, the equites, the Roman population who did not want the Italians to become citizens, and wealthy Italian landlords who did not want to lose their land. In retaliation for his proposal to grant citizenship to the Italian allies, his previous bills were declared invalid, and he was soon
assassinated. Soon after his assassination, the Italian allies revolted starting the
Social War of 91-88 BC.
