The Kings of Ancient Rome

Servius may have been an Etruscan, or a Latin slave who was born into Priscus's household and later adopted by the king. He arranged for his daughters, both called Tullia, to marry two brothers who were Priscus's sons or grandsons. The couples were mismatched, however, and one of the Tullias fell in love with her sister's husband, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus (Tarquin the Proud). Tullia and Tarquin killed their spouses, married each other, and then, to top it all off, Tarquin killed old King Servius and Tullia deliberately drove over her father's corpse.

This happy couple had an equally admirable son name Sextus who brought about the downfall of the Tarquin dynasty when he raped a virtuous noblewoman named Lucretia. After making her father and husband and their friends promise to punish her attacker, she stabbed herself to death in front of them. True to their word, the men avenged her, driving Tarquin from his throne. Sextus fled the city, but was assassinated by old enemies. The monarchy was ended, and Rome became a republic.

To learn more, visit these sites:

Forum Romanum
Plutarch Texts: Life of Romulus
Livy: History of Rome
Britannica.com: Roman Republic and Empire
The Columbia Encyclopedia: Tarquin
Royalty in Ancient Rome

Go To Page: 1 2