A complete dictionary of the Greek and Roman antiquities explaining the obscure places in classic authors and ancient historians relating to the religion, mythology, history, geography and chronology of the ancient Greeks and Romans, their ... rites and customs, laws, polity, arts and engines of war : also an account of their navigations, arts and sciences and the inventors of them : with the lives and opinions of their philosophers / compiled originally in French ... by Monsieur Danet ; made English, with the addition of very useful mapps.

AGRARIA LEX,

the Agrarian Law, was made for the dividing Lands got by Conquest, which the Tribuni Plebis would have to be sha∣red among the People by Poll. Spurius Cassius Vicellinus being Consul first propounded this A∣grarian Law, Anno U. C. 267, which was the cause of a very great Quarrel betwixt the Se∣nate and the People; but it was rejected the first time. There are two Agragrian Laws men∣tioned in the Digests, one made by Julius Caesar and the other by the Emperour Nerva, but they had respect only to the Bounds of Lands, and had no relation to that we now speak of.

Cassius perceiving the strong Opposition which some made that this Agrarian Law might not be received, proposed to distribute among the People the Money which arose from the Sale of the Corn brought from Sicily, but the People refused it.

After this first Attempt, a peace was settled in Rome for some years; but in the Consulship of Caeso Fabius and Aemilius Mamercus, Licinius Stolo Tribune of the People proposed the Agra∣rian Law a second time in the year 269 from the Building of Rome. This second Attempt had no better Success than the former, tho it was pass'd over calmly enough. Nevertheless the Consul Caeso seeing the People fond of this Law, and that the Senate was positive it ought not to be received, contriv'd a way to satisfie both Parties, as he thought, by proposing, that only the Lands of the Vejentes, conquer'd under his Consulship, should be divided among the People, but this met withno better Success than the other.

The Tribunes of the People, being angry at the Opposition of the Senate drew up many Accusations against the Patricians and Noble∣men before the People, and caused many of them to be fined and banish'd, which so much provok'd the Cousuls, that they caused Genutius the Tribune to be stab'd: this Assassination raised a great Tumult in Rome, and stir'd up the People to revenge, till the Consul Sempro∣nius was condemned to pay a large Fine.

Lastly, In the year 320 from the Building of Rome, Mutius Scaevola put Tiberius Gracchus, the Tribune of the People, in mind to have the Agrarian Law established against the Will of the Senate, Nobles and Rich Commons. Octa∣vius, his Partner, being rich, was not of the same mind, and opposed the Law. Grac∣chus, seeing that, accused him before the Peo∣ple of Prevarication and Unfaithfulness in his Office, and caused him to be depos'd with Dis∣grace. This Obstacle being remov'd, the A∣grarian Law passed, and Commissioners were appointed to divide the Lands.