121 BC - Definition and Overview

Centuries: 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC - 1st century BC

Decades: 170s BC 160s BC 150s BC 140s BC 130s BC - 120s BC - 110s BC 100s BC 90s BC 80s BC 70s BC

Years: 126 BC 125 BC 124 BC 123 BC 122 BC - 121 BC - 120 BC 119 BC 118 BC 117 BC 116 BC

Events

• The Roman Senate passes the motion senatus consultum ultimum, which the consul Lucius Opimius interprets as giving him unlimited power to preserve the republic. He gathers an armed force of Senators and their supporters to confront Gaius Gracchus. A pitched battle is fought inside Rome, resulting in the death of Gracchus and many of his followers.
• A tribunal is established in Rome that executes 3000 followers of Gracchus.
• Led by General Ho Chu-ping, the Chinese defeat the Hsiung-nu.

Births

Deaths

• Gaius Gracchus
• M. Fulvius Flaccus
• Cleopatra Thea (failed attempt to poison her stepson)