Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus (consul 177 BC)

Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus
Bornc. 220 BC
Died154 BC
NationalityRoman
Office
SpouseCornelia
ChildrenTiberius, Gaius, and Sempronia

Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus (c. 220 BC[1] – 154 BC[2]) was a Roman politician and general of the 2nd century BC. He served two consulships, one in 177[3] and one 163 BC,[4] and was awarded two triumphs.[5] He was also the father of the two famous Gracchi brothers: Tiberius and Gaius.

During his tribunate in 187 or 184 BC, he interceded to save Scipio Africanus or Scipio Asiagenes from prosecution or prison, feeling that their services to the republic outweighed any alleged wrongdoing. He later married Africanus' daughter, Cornelia, after Africanus' death. A few years later, Tiberius was elected praetor and prorogued pro consule to Spain; he won victories there for which he was awarded a triumph. After his first consulship in 177 BC, he was assigned to Sardinia and on his return triumphed for the second time. In 169 BC, he was elected to the censorship and began construction of the basilica Sempronia in the forum; he later won a second consulship in 163 BC.

  1. ^ Eilers, Claude F (1991). "Cn. Domitius and Samos: a new extortion trial (IGR 4,968)". Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik. 89: 167–178. ISSN 0084-5388.
  2. ^ Kajava, Mika (1989). "Cornelia Africani f. Gracchorum". Arctos: acta philologica Fennica. 23: 130. [W]ould unmistakably refer to her consort, Ti. Sempronius Gracchus... who died in 154 BC.
  3. ^ Broughton 1951, p. 397.
  4. ^ Broughton 1951, p. 440.
  5. ^ Duncan 2017, p. 17.