Gaius countered with a furious three-week campaign to promote universal citizenship. He attended every contio he could and spoke at the forum daily. “Try to imagine a Rome of the future,” Gaius shouted to a gathering at the forum. “It can’t possibly remain a walled city with a narrow apron of land around it. Roman conquests currently reach from Spain to Syria, from Transalpine Gaul to Africa. Our vision of ourselves must change with Rome’s expansion. We must dare to think big. We must dare to become a unified Italy. When it comes to building our armies, when it comes to managing our farmland, when it comes to building roads and enabling commerce, everything functions more smoothly if we are one.
“Our goal must be that all residents of Italy live under the same laws that Romans do. As it is now, a Roman magistrate can appear in a Latin or Italian town and impose his will on those who live there. We have all heard the stories. The local magistrate in Teanum who was flogged by the order of a Roman consul because the public baths had not been cleaned quickly enough for his wife to use them. Or what about the young Roman staff officer who had a Venusian ploughman flailed to death for making a comic remark when the officer passed him on the street? The common Italian, the common Latin, hovers in fear when a Roman of any rank comes into their town. Who can possibly know what minor incident will inflame them? This makes no sense. You may be Romans, but you must recognize that you and all of Italy would be better off if everyone lived under the same laws.”
But no matter how Gaius might beseech the Roman populace, those who stood the most to gain, the Latins and Italians, would have little or no impact on the vote. And his appeal to the Roman citizens’ higher sense of justice and the inevitability of a unified Italy fell short when compared to the short-term material loses that Fannius emphasized would come with extended citizenship.
“Would you want to share the spoils our generals bring home from Asia and Africa with the rest of Italy? Would you want to share the wonderful fortune of being born Roman with any of these lesser people? Would that not detract from what it means to be a Roman? Why would anyone want to change our great Republic from what it is already? Why venture into some new order when what we have works so well? There is absolutely no reason for this kind of change.”
CHAPTER 88
The tribes assembled on the top of the Capitoline Hill before dawn to prepare for the referendum on universal citizenship. It was early summer. It would be a long hot day, but the morning was alive with anticipation for an outcome on this viciously contested issue. I remember that Gaius got a rough head count the day before. At least fifteen of the tribes would support the bill.
After the religious ceremonies were completed, the ten tribunes lined up across the speaking platform with Livius Drusus in the center and Gaius on the far left. His second tribuneship had proven to be a tough one. He had passed no bills written under his name, while Drusus, guided by a large faction of senators, had outmaneuvered him at every turn and passed several bills. This vote could not have been more critical to Gaius’ reputation. He told the herald to read the bill to the Assembly.
The herald stood up to the podium, opened the scroll, and Livius Drusus stepped forward and stopped the herald from reading. He was vetoing the bill. It was a repeat of what had happened to Tiberius’ initial attempt at land reform. Gaius had not anticipated a veto because there was such a strong chance the bill would be defeated anyway. But no, the opposition was not taking any chances. There would be no vote at all.
After the Assembly was dismissed, Gaius retired to his home with his closest advisors, Fulvius, Carbo, Pomponius, and Laetorius. “It would have been nice to have the vote just to see how close it was,” said Fulvius as the group barged into the house and sought out the shaded side of the atrium.
Laetorius went to the pantry and returned with an amphora of wine and a handful of cups. He offered a cup to Gaius, but he pushed it away. Licinia came into the atrium from the peristyle, looked around, then returned to where she had been. Gaius watched her the entire time.
“Dare we try it again tomorrow, Gaius?” asked Pomponius
“It’s the same thing they did to your brother,” said Carbo. “Maybe we should just vote egg-sucking Drusus out!”
Gaius was agitated. He paced around, shaking his head. “That won’t work. He has too strong a following in the Assembly. The vote today would have told us how strong.”
“Let’s give it some time,” said Laetorius. “We should focus on revealing who Drusus really works for. Undermine his influence. Then try the vote again in a couple of months.”
Gaius looked up from his gloom.
Fulvius, always upbeat and confident, laughed. “You need a break, Gaius. Go to Junonia. Start the colony. Get out of Rome for a few months. Prove that mixing Italians and Romans can work. Make it an example of what enfranchisement of Italy could mean. I’ll manage things here in Rome.”
“There’s too much to do in Rome for me to leave.”
“No, you should go,” said Carbo. “The rest of us can continue to push the bill. And with you gone, the Senate won’t pay such close attention. Then we’ll try another vote when you get back.”
“But what if Drusus vetoes it again? What do we do then?”
“We’ll make sure we have the votes before doing anything,” said Fulvius. “If we have the numbers and he vetoes it, we vote him out.”
“And if we don’t have the votes,” said Carbo, “we wait until next year.”
Gaius shook his head. It had been a dismal day. What was he to do? Leaving Rome seemed like quitting, but maybe a break was what he needed.
CHAPTER 89
Gaius decided to talk to Cornelia before making a decision. The summer had been hot and this afternoon was no different. I sat with Gaius and Cornelia in the peristyle in the shade of a large willow. I was in my wheelchair, Cornelia on a bench. Gaius, wearing a tunic and no toga because of the heat, sat beside Cornelia.
Cornelia began the conversation by asking Gaius the same question Pomponius had asked. “How will you counter the veto?” Drusus’ veto had disturbed her more than it had Gaius. It brought back memories of Tiberius’ death. Her worries became mine and were further magnified in Licinia.
“I’m contemplating leaving Rome for two months to supervise the building of Junonia—which means leaving Fulvius in control.”
Cornelia understood the trip to Africa would involve its own dangers, but she immediately supported the idea, probably because it would get Gaius out of Rome and two months closer to the end of his term when he came back.
“When I return,” he said, “we will try the citizenship bill one more time.”
“Is there any reason to think it would not be vetoed?”
“Not really. We’re simply hoping Fulvius and the others can rally the other tribunes to put pressure of Drusus.”
“Fulvius is nowhere near the strategist you are, Gaius,” replied Cornelia. “I’m not sure he can accomplish what you want.”
“He’s still quite a favorite since his success in Massilia, Mother. He held a triumph less than a year ago. He should have no trouble managing things here for two months.”
“And what if you come back and citizenship fails again. What will you do then?”
Gaius stood from the bench and began to pace. “I’m not certain. It will depend on how things go in Africa. I’m hoping to use Junonia’s success as a means of gaining an edge on Drusus.”
“Would you try another term as tribune to get the citizenship bill passed?” The tone of Cornelia’s voice expressed her opinion on the idea.
Gaius looked at me before answering. “I’ve considered it.”
Cornelia took a deep breath. “Then let’s hope Fulvius can do some good work while you’re gone.”
“Gaius,” I said, “truly, you would try again?”
“What else would I do?” Anger flashed behind his words. He did not like being challenged. “It’s the most important thing I’ve tried to accomplish. I believe it’s as impor
tant to me as land reform was to Tiberius.”
“And could get your body thrown in the Tiber,” snapped Cornelia.
Gaius replied evenly. “I have one life to live and one death to give. They belong to the people of Rome. Nothing is more worthy than this work.”
CHAPTER 90
Gaius decided to go to Africa to do the work of colonization instead of trying to outmaneuver Drusus. Three thousand Roman citizens were initially slated to settle Junonia. Gaius added three thousand Italians to bolster his chances for success and to demonstrate the promise of a united Italy.
When Aemilianus besieged and destroyed Carthage, he placed a curse on the ground where the city had stood, pledging that no man should tread the ground that had once been Carthage. Because of Carthage’s excellent harbor, which still existed in a skeletal form, Gaius ignored his uncle’s curse. He decided to build homes and infrastructure on both the elevated area on the coast that had been the city proper and the prime farmland that extended well inland.
The process began, as did all Roman events, with a series of ritualized customs. The six thousand settlers marched in military style to the site of the colony’s inauguration, where the isthmus that was Carthage met the mainland. At the lead was an ensign held high on a staff. During the march, the colonists encountered strong winds, and the staff was blown from the bearer’s grip and fell to the ground, breaking the ensign into several pieces. The next day when the altars were raised and three sheep were sacrificed to Juno, again a furious wind dispersed the ceremony and blew the sheep carcasses from the altar onto the ground. Although these ominous signs frightened some colonists, Gaius kept at the work with the same effort and efficiency that he brought to everything he did.
CHAPTER 91
Three weeks after Gaius left for Africa, Laelia got her second day in court—after two delays for no apparent reason. Laelia arrived early. Her case was second on the docket. She watched the first case, constantly on the lookout for her husband, who had been issued a summons to be there.
I came to the forum to observe. I saw Laelia watching the first trial and ordered my slaves to carry my litter to where she was waiting. When I opened the litter curtains to give her a few words of support, she was intent on the trial in progress. A man was accusing his neighbor of stealing his goat. I said her name and she turned to face me. An ugly bruise blackened her right eye—and was clearly not something she had painted on her face.
Her smile was a hesitant wince. “It went just as I said, Sempronia. When I asked him if he would honor the summons, he tore it up then hit me in the face. My first piece of evidence.” She grinned. “It doesn’t hurt that much any more.”
“Will Quintus actually come to the trial?”
Laelia looked around. “He’s not here yet. If he doesn’t, the court has the authority to bring him here by force. As you can see, the judge is Manilius again. I can’t imagine him giving me this second day in court without fairly judging my complaint.”
“What about the jury? They’re not the same group that was here the first time. They might be less sympathetic.”
Laelia shrugged, suggesting it was out of her control, then noticed that the first trial had ended. She reached into the litter and touched my hand. “Let’s see what happens.”
“May all the goddesses be with you.”
The herald stepped forward and called for the second case, this time using Laelia’s name to identify it. She walked the short distance to the table where Manilius held court. She placed her petition on the table and looked directly at Manilius.
The judge made no acknowledgment of the condition of her face. “Where is the defendant?”
“I have no idea, Senator. I can verify that he did receive the summons.” She turned to the jurors. “At which point he struck me.”
The jurors did not react the way the previous jury had, perhaps because they had not witnessed Laelia’s display of her thigh and shoulder.
“We’ll give the defendant a little more time,” said Manilius. “Herald, call for the third case on the docket.”
“Sir, I’m concerned my husband won’t come at all. I request that you send a representative of the court to get him.”
Manilius ignored her and told the herald to move on to the next case. I remained in the litter watching and waiting, as Laelia, now growing anxious, paced through what turned out to be four more trials without any sign of Quintus. A long hot day grew longer. Laelia approached Manilius after the herald called for the next case.
“Sir, did you send anyone after my husband? We’re wasting time. I don’t think he’ll come without some kind of action from the court.”
Manilius waved her away as the advocate for the next case placed his documents on the table.
Even from a distance I could see how angry Laelia had become. She stalked over to my litter. “I’m not sure what’s going on, Sempronia. Manilius is making no effort to get Quintus here. I’m beginning to worry.”
I took her hand to comfort her, but she pulled away and returned to pacing and looking for her husband. After six more cases, the sun was behind the city walls to the west. Manilius motioned to the herald. The herald stood out before the gallery of jurors and announced that the court had closed for the day. The jurors stood to leave. Manilius gathered the scrolls on his table, stuck them under his arm, and took two steps right into a determined Laelia.
“What about my petition, Senator? How do we proceed?”
Manilius barely looked at her. “A wife has no right to petition for a divorce. Only your husband does. He’s not here. Your petition is denied.” He walked away from her.
Laelia cursed him to his back. Manilius spun on her. “Watch your mouth, woman. I’ll hold you in contempt of court.” Then he shook his head and sneered, “I’m actually quite surprised your husband didn’t come. Who would want to be married to a witch like you?”
Laelia spat at his feet. Manilius puffed up his chest and continued off across the forum.
Laelia came to my litter steaming. She let loose with a long rant against Manilius, then concluded by saying, “I’m not done with this.”
“But what can you do? To whom can you appeal?”
“I’m not sure. If I only wanted to be rid of Quintus, I’d follow your lead and buy some hemlock. But I want some kind of precedent set here. My motives are not simply for myself, they’re for all women.”
CHAPTER 92
During the time that Gaius was gone, Fulvius, who tended to be brusque and outspoken and had none of Gaius’ personal grace, lost more ground to Drusus, who had launched an attack on Gaius’ efforts in Africa. Reports about the inauspicious signs witnessed in the first few days of colonization reached Rome. Drusus fabricated a third incident, saying that the boundary stones used to mark Junonia’s perimeter had been carried off in the mouths of wolves. He called the omens a clear consequence of Gaius’ ignoring the curse Aemilianus had placed on Carthage. Rather than praise for Gaius’ work, the conversation in Rome turned to repealing Rubrius’ bill and canceling the colonization effort entirely.
This is what confronted Gaius when he returned after sixty days in Africa. He was livid. Instead of giving up the idea of universal citizenship, he applied himself with greater energy. The first thing he did was to move from his home on the Palatine Hill, once Cornelia’s beautiful villa, to a smaller home near the markets in Subura. Licinia protested, as did Cornelia, who saw the move as a sign that Gaius would seek a third tribuneship. But Gaius was determined. He hoped to gain the support of Rome’s poorest people by living in their neighborhood.
He rewrote the citizenship bill and presented it to the Senate. During the three weeks of contiones and open discussion, he made regular appearances in the forum, speaking both for citizenship and against the duplicitous methods that Drusus had used to undermine his proposals. By this time, however, the Roman citizens had grown weary of wonderful promises made by demagogues. They lost interest in the ongoing battle of words and even Gaius�
� proposals rang hollow. The opitmates’ strategy had succeeded. Drusus had entirely subverted Gaius. Words meant nothing anymore. Gaius Gracchus, the orator, was no longer the most powerful man in Rome.
A two-day gladiatorial exhibition was scheduled to take place in the marketplace south of the forum the week prior to the vote on Gaius’ new citizenship bill. These bloody exhibitions were hugely popular among Romans of all classes and were as highly anticipated as any of the festivals or games that were a regular occurrence in Rome. Because of the certainty of drawing a large crowd, several of the magistrates took it upon themselves the day before the event to have wooden scaffolds built around the gaming area so the upper class would have good seats for the exhibition.
Gaius saw the grandstands being built. Clearly they would prevent the lower-class citizens from being able to watch the event except from a long distance off. With no way of removing the seating in a legal manner, he gathered twenty workmen from his road crew to dismantle and remove the grandstands that night.
When the first magistrates arrived in the morning to claim their seats for the opening of the exhibition, a huge crowd had already gathered and staked out standing room to watch the event. Nothing could be done to reverse Gaius’ late night work. The average Roman could not have been more pleased, but the optimates saw it as another of Gaius’ blatant efforts to garner votes.
Worse, however, was that it angered the majority of the tribunate. All but Fulvius stood with Drusus condemning Gaius’ use of the tribunal workforce to serve his own purposes. At least he could have brought the issue to the tribunate to discuss. What he had done instead was beyond the authority of his position and little better than vandalism.
Cornelia- the First Woman of Rome Page 32