Agrarian Laws

Pertaining to rights of ownership in land or its distribution in the community. Those of ancient Rome were intended to relieve the condition of the common people by regulating the distribution of public land; invariably opposed by the patricians and rich plebeians. The first. proposed by Spurius Ca ius 486 B.C., resulted in his death 485. That brought forward by Tiberius Gracchus 135 was a virtual reenactment of the Licinian law of 366, limiting ownership to 500 jugera (350 acres). Tiberius was murdered with 300 of his friends. Gaius Gracchus, who pushed this with other reforms still further 132-123 B.C., lost his life with some 3,000 of his followers 121 В.С.