, looking out for the interests of the patricians, stopped such a law from being passed and killed Gracchus and 300 of his followers. Following this incident, Gaius Gracchus, Tiberius’ brother took up the cause that his brother had fought for. He demanded that the Senate’s power should be lessened, the military pay rates should be increased, and give free grain to the citizens of Rome. The Senate would not even consider such action so they declared martial law. Because of this, riots broke out and 3000 Populares, along with Gaius, were killed. From this point on, the corruption of the Senate was obvious and the respect of the Senate by the citizens severely declined. This was the first blow to the Senate that would eventually bring about the end of the Republic.The early years of the 1st BC the long period of civil war that began with the struggle mentioned above reached a climax with Octavian’s defeat of Marcus Antonius at the Battle of Actium in 31 B. C. During that period, the Senate steadily lost power to the imperators, or generals of large Roman armies who controlled the government. In 27 B. C., the Senate voluntarily gave much of its power to Octavian, whom they had given the title of Augustus Caesar. While most of the early emperors tried to involve the Senate in the governing process and actively sought its counsel, most of the Senate’s real power was gone by the reign of Tiberius. Thus, the Battle of Actium marketed the end of the Roman Republic and consequently, the end of the Roman Senate’s power.Rome is said to have had at one point during its history a republic, this is true, but it was definitely a limited one. For example, in theory, all citizens of Rome could vote for the Senators and serve in the Assembly. However, all citizens does not imply all people. Far from this democratic-sounding system, the only people considered to be full citizens were everyone in Rome with the excep...
