DRUSUS, MARCUS LIVIUS

born c. 124 BC died 91 BC son of the tribune of 122 by the same name; as tribune in 91, Drusus made the last nonviolent civilian attempt to reform the government of republican Rome. Drusus began by proposing colonial and agrarian reform bills. He then introduced a judiciary law that probably specified that the law courts, then controlled by the equites, or cavalry, should be impaneled jointly from senators and equites and that all jurors should be liable to prosecution for corruption. By this compromise Drusus sought to reconcile the equestrian and senatorial orders, which had come into conflict after the trial by equites of an honest governor who had refused to allow extortion of his province by publicans (contractors or tax collectors). Neither order was satisfied with Drusus' proposal, however, and opposition from all sides increased when he pushed for the enfranchisement of the Italian allies. The Senate declared his legislation invalid on technical grounds. Disturbances involving Drusus' supporters among the allies increased, and the reformer was murdered. His assassin was never discovered. died 109 BC Roman politician, tribune with Gaius Gracchus in 122 BC who undermined Gracchus' program of economic and political reform by proposing reforms that were even more appealing to the populace but that he evidently did not seriously intend to be implemented. On the issue of colonization Drusus went further than Gracchus by proposing the immediate foundation in Italy and Sicily of 12 colonies to be settled by citizens without property qualifications. He proposed, in addition, that all land that had been distributed since the passage of Tiberius Gracchus' agrarian reform bill should be rent free. By pressing for immunity from corporal punishment (even during military service), Drusus was promising the Latins more protection from abuses by Roman magistrates than even Roman citizens enjoyed. This was a skillful measure since many Latins preferred protection from the magistrates to all the privileges that Roman citizenship would confer. Although a commission was set up to carry out these Leges Livianae, the laws probably were not implemented. Drusus was consul in 112 and became governor of Macedonia, where he campaigned successfully against the Scordisci tribe. On his return he celebrated a triumph in 110 and, as censor in 109, died in office.