,
Gaius Gracchus passed the _Lex Judicaria_, which prescribed that the
jurors _(judices)_ should be chosen from the Equites, and not the
Senate. From this time dates the struggle between the two classes,
and the breach widened every year. On the one side were the nobles,
represented by the Senate; on the other side, the equestrian order.
Since the jurors were chosen from the latter, it had control of the
courts, and often made an unscrupulous use of its power, especially in
those courts which were established to try governors for extortion in
the management of provinces _(quaestiones rerum repetundarum)_. From
the Equites, too, were taken the tax-gatherers of the provinces. They
pillaged and robbed the people at will, and, if a governor had the
courage to interfere with them, a threat of prosecution was held over
his head. The average governor preferred to connive at their exactions;
the bolder ones paid with fines or exiles for their courage. Another
trouble was threatening the commonwealth. The Italian allies of Rome did
not possess the franchise belonging to a Roman citizen. For nearly two
centuries they had shared dangers and victories with the Romans; they
now eagerly demanded all their privileges.

In 91, MARCUS LIVIUS DRUSUS, the Tribune, took up the task of reform.
He was noble, wealthy, and popular, and he hoped to settle the
question peacefully and equitably. But his attempt to reform the
courts displeased the Equites, his agrarian and corn laws made him many
enemies, and his attempt to admit the Italians to the rights of Roman
citizenship aroused great opposition.

His laws were passed, but the Senate pronounced them null and void.
He was denounced in that body as a traitor, and was struck down by an
assassin in the same year.

The death of Drusus drove the Italians to despair. Eight nations entered
into a close alliance, chose CORFINIUM, in the Pelignian Apennines, as
their capital, and formed a Federal Republic, to which they gave the
name ITALIA. All Italians were to be citizens of Corfinium, and here was
to be the place of assembly and the Senate-House.

Rome, in the face of this danger, acted promptly and with resolution.
The Consuls, Lucius Julius Caesar and Publius Rutilius Lupus, both took
the field; with each were five lieutenants, among whom were Marius and
Sulla.

This war (90-88), called the SOCIAL WAR, i.e. the war with the allies
(_Socii_), was at first disastrous to Rome. The allies overr