Marcus Octavius

Marcus Octavius (Latin: M·OCTAVIVS·CN·F·CN·N, lived 2nd century BC) was a Roman tribune in 133 BC and a major rival of Tiberius Gracchus. He was a son of Gnaeus Octavius, the consul in 165 BC, and a brother to another Gnaeus Octavius, the consul in 128 BC. Through his brother, he was the paternal uncle of Gnaeus Octavius, the consul in 87 BC.

A serious and discreet person, he earned himself a reputation as an influential orator. Though they had originally been close friends, Octavius became alarmed by Gracchus's populist agenda and, at the behest of the Roman senate, repeatedly vetoed Gracchus' programmes of land reform. Gracchus responded by ultimately having the Plebeian Assembly deprive him of his office and eject him from the Assembly's meeting place in 133 BC.^[1] This action led to a serious escalation in the confrontation between the traditionalists and the reformers. The action was unprecedented and contravened the mos maiorum (Latin term for "the traditional way of doing things") leading to the overall destabilization of the Republic. The reason that the senate called Marcus Octavius to veto Tiberius Gracchus land bill or programmes of land reform was because it was going against the books. The senate felt threatened and they weren't just going to deal with it and let Tiberius Gracchus violate the traditions that they value and let it bypass. What the senate was not going to let bypass was Tiberius Gracchus land bill. The bill that Tiberius Gracchus had proposed was very well put together.  The solution that Tiberius Gracchus was proposing was to the lack of manpower for the empire at that time. Nonetheless, even though it was a bill well put together the bill that Tiberius Gracchus was proposing was to a new beginning of the idea to move against Roman traditions. Keeping old traditions was very important to the political elites of Rome. That is why the Senate kept insisting with Marcus Octavius to veto the programmes of land reform. With all of this the senate wanting to veto the bill Tiberius Gracchus was just not up for it he wanted a new start and he stood on his ground and went against tradition because he believed in the importance of his programmes of land reform. With that, that is when he also decided to do something about Marcus Octavius and remove him from office. Now because Tiberius Gracchus was successful in  in his proposition of voting on removing Marcus Octavius from office, things were able to change a little. Since now Marcus Octavius was removed from office the Plebeian Tribal got together and came to the decision that the veto to Tiberius Gracchus programmes of land reform was now null and void.  Marcus Octavius veto was nulled and voided because he no longer in office and because of that his decision was revoked and no longer valid.^[2]

Our primary source for him is Plutarch's life of Tiberius. According to Plutarch, Gaius Octavius was one of his descendants, thus making him an ancestor of Roman Emperor Augustus.

See also

• Julio-Claudian dynasty
• Octavia (gens)
• Family tree of the Octavii Rufi
• Gracchi

References