Marcus Livius Drusus

The elder Marcus Livius Drusus (died 108 BC) was a Roman politician who served as consul in 112 BC.

Tribunate

Drusus was set up as tribune of the plebs by the Senate in 122 BC to undermine Gaius Gracchus' land reform bills. To do this (according to the record of Appian), he proposed creating twelve colonies with 3,000 settlers each from the poorer classes, and relieving rent on property distributed since 133 BC. He also said the Latin allies should not be mistreated by Roman generals, which was the counteroffer to Gaius' offer of full citizenship. These were known as the Leges Liviae, but they were never enacted, because the Senate simply wanted to draw support away from Gracchus.

Their plan was successful, and Drusus had just enough support to veto Gaius' bill.

Consulship

Drusus was later consul in 112 BC and fought in Macedonia defeating the Scordisci, even pushing them out of Thrace across the Danube.

In 109 BC he was elected censor along with the elder Marcus Aemilius Scaurus, but he died the next year in 108 BC.

Drusus had three known children:

• Marcus Livius Drusus, the famous tribune of 91 BC, whose murder incited the Italian Social War.
• Mamercus Aemilius Lepidus Livianus, the consul of 77 BC (adopted into the Aemilii Lepidi), who married the daughter of Sulla the dictator.
• Livia, the mother of Servilia and Cato the Younger.