Fall of the Roman Republic, Essay Example

Rome’s journey towards imperial leadership began around 133BC. This began when Tiberius Gracchus was elected as tribune. While serving as a tribune, Tiberius sidelined senatorial power by passing his land reform via the ‘Tribal Assembly’. His land reform bill intended to grant public land to the poor, which made him popular among the peasants and annoying the senate. This was the beginning of the downfall of the aristocratic leadership that the senate had since enjoyed. Then Tiberius did another unheard of thing by trying to run for a third term, his enemies at the senate made this impossible by use of bribery and finally facilitated his assassination. Gaius Gracchus, Tiberius’ brother, then rose to being a tribune and like his brother enforced reforms within the Italian side. He formed colonies which were headed by Governors. These Governors headed local courts and were unbiased in deciding cases against senators since they were not friends with the latter. Gaius aligned himself with the middle class people and even fought for citizenship of the Latin people of Italy. Even though Gaius was finally assassinated, he raised awakening among the middle class people. The middle class people then realized their importance and noted that by revolting they have their grievances heard by those in power.

The rule of the Gracchus brothers was succeeded by that of Roman Army commanders. These commanders mainly recruited their own soldiers thus their loyalty was to their commanders. Most commanders recruited their soldiers with the promise of owning land thus strengthening their loyalty to their commanders and not the state. One such Commander was Marius. After his famous success against King Jugurtha, he became so popular that he earned himself consulship when back in Rome. Marius strengthened his army by having his recruits volunteer other than forced recruitment. He went a step further by offering allied troops Roman citizenship. His consequent victory in Social war and Asian rebellion served to entrench his name as a leader of this new Rome that was beginning to take shape. However as Marius went about his agenda of making himself an absolute ruler, another ambitious junior officer by the name Sulla was slowly becoming popular among the troops.  He finally subdued Marius and became ruler as he tried to restore Senatorial control. Revolts and rebellions were quite commonplace while he was in power such that it drove him to retirement.

Pompey, one of Sulla’s top leaders, gained popularity after his exploits in Spain and ending the slave trade war. He later joined armies with Crassus to so as effect their rulership over Rome. Another young politician, Julius Caesar, joined the former two in their quest to install themselves as rulers of Rome. Together they formed the First Triumvirate, with Caesar enjoying support in the senate, Crassus’ vast wealth and ability to manipulate the senate with bribes and Pompey’s almost invincible army, their leadership almost seemed to be the lasting solution to Rome’s political problems. However, there were tensions among the three principals which later became public upon the death of Crassus, and Caesar’s victory in Gaul. The senate then joined hands with Pompey to get rid of Caesar who later triumphed against his enemies and took over Rome. Caesar made himself dictator by awarding himself all the power he stripped off the senate. Even though he was quite popular with his subjects, the senate abhorred his antics and leadership that they conspired to kill Caesar successfully.

Upon Caesar’s death, the senate was faced with the dilemma of supporting Mark Anthony, Caesar’s loyal army commander, or Octavian who was named on Caesar’s will as the rightful heir. Later the senate decided to assume all the power as Mark Anthony and Octavian formed separate armies with an aim of invading Rome and become eventual rulers. The senate later on supported Octavian bearing in mind the fact that they would manipulate him in future. To the chagrin of the senate, Octavian joined forces with Mark Anthony and drove out the Senate; they managed to punish the perpetrators of Caesars murder. Octavian and Mark Anthony formed the second Triumvirate with both agreeing to occupy and rule over separate portions of the empire. It was later that a war broke out between Octavian and Mark Anthony with the former emerging victorious. Finally, Rome had a ruler, emperor that saw to her problem and earned his subjects love and favor. This marked the beginning of monarchy-style of rulership in Rome with Octavian at its helm.