In this article, we will dive into the story of Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, the last king of Rome. We’ll explore his rise to power, his downfall, and how his reign marked the end of the Roman monarchy and the beginning of the Roman Republic.
Before we get into Tarquin’s story, let’s take a quick look at the Roman Kingdom. This period lasted for about 250 years, from around 750 to 500 BC. During this time, Rome was ruled by a series of kings, traditionally seven in total. One of the most famous is Romulus, the legendary founder of Rome. According to myth, Romulus and his twin brother Remus were raised by a she-wolf. Romulus later killed Remus in a dispute over where to build their city. While this story is legendary, it highlights the mythical origins of Rome.
Unfortunately, there are few contemporary sources from this time. The Romans were usually good at recording their history, but many records were likely lost when Rome was first sacked in 390 BC. Our main source for this period is the historian Livy, who wrote about Rome’s history long after the monarchy ended. Other historians like Cassius Dio and Diodorus Siculus also wrote about this time, but only fragments of their work remain.
Romulus, as the first king, held almost complete power, acting as the military leader and head of the government. Interestingly, the Roman Senate was established from the start, with Romulus appointing 100 senators from influential families. These senators were called “patres,” and their descendants became known as patricians.
There were also assemblies, like the Curiate Assembly, but their power was mostly symbolic. However, they played a crucial role when it came to choosing a new king. Roman kings were elected, not chosen by their predecessors. When a king died, the Senate selected a new king during a period called an interregnum.
Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, known as Tarquin the Proud, was born in the mid-6th century BC. He was the son of the fifth king, Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, and his mother, Tanaquil, was from Etruria. Priscus became a trusted advisor to King Ancus Marcius and eventually became king himself after arranging for Ancus’s sons to be away during the election.
Tarquin the Elder, as Priscus was known, ruled for nearly 40 years, expanding Rome’s territory and initiating major construction projects. During his reign, Servius Tullius emerged as a key figure, raised by the Tarquins and positioned as their heir, which angered Ancus Marcius’s sons.
After a long period of resentment, Ancus’s sons plotted against Tarquin the Elder, leading to his assassination. Tanaquil quickly installed Servius Tullius as the new king. Servius ruled for several decades but faced hostility from Tarquin’s sons. To ease tensions, he married his daughters to them, but this only led to more conflict.
Eventually, Tarquin and Tullia the Younger conspired to eliminate their spouses and seize power. Tarquin gained support from discontented senators and stormed the Senate, killing Servius Tullius. Tullia then drove over her father’s body to greet Tarquin as the new king.
Tarquin’s rule was marked by violence and fear. He purged the Senate of those loyal to Servius and held unfair trials. He also launched military campaigns to expand Rome’s influence. However, his harsh rule led to widespread resentment among the people.
The turning point came in 510 BC when Tarquin’s son, Sextus, committed a terrible crime against Lucretia, a noblewoman. Her tragic death sparked outrage and led to a movement against the monarchy, led by Lucius Junius Brutus.
Brutus rallied the people, leading to Tarquin’s banishment and the end of the monarchy. The Senate was restored, and the office of consul was created to prevent any one person from gaining too much power.
Tarquin tried to reclaim his throne with the help of allies but ultimately failed. He died in exile, and his death was celebrated in Rome as the end of the Tarquin dynasty and the monarchy.
Research the key events and figures of the Roman Kingdom, including the reigns of the seven kings. Create a timeline that highlights these events and illustrates the transition from monarchy to republic. Use visuals and brief descriptions to make your timeline engaging.
Divide into groups and simulate a session of the Roman Senate during the time of Tarquin the Proud. Each group member will take on the role of a senator, debating the pros and cons of Tarquin’s rule. Discuss how the Senate’s decisions impacted the transition to the Roman Republic.
Imagine you are a Roman citizen living during the reign of Tarquin the Proud. Write a diary entry describing your thoughts and feelings about the king’s rule and the events leading to the establishment of the Roman Republic. Reflect on how these changes affect your daily life.
Create a poster that captures the key events leading to the fall of Tarquin the Proud and the birth of the Roman Republic. Use images, quotes, and facts to convey the significance of this historical transition. Present your poster to the class and explain its elements.
Participate in a class debate on the advantages and disadvantages of monarchy versus a republic. Use examples from the Roman Kingdom and Republic to support your arguments. Discuss how the transition from monarchy to republic shaped the future of Rome.
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In this video, we will explore Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, the last king of Rome. We will examine his family heritage and the many plots that led to his rise to power and eventual downfall, marking the end of the Roman monarchy and the birth of the Republic.
Before diving into Tarquin’s story, let’s briefly look at the Roman Kingdom itself, which is often overlooked. The regnal period lasted for around 250 years, roughly between 750 and 500 BC. Traditionally, there are seven recognized kings of Rome, although there may have been more or less. For example, most of us have heard of Romulus, the founder of Rome, who, according to legend, was raised by a she-wolf alongside his twin brother Remus, whom he later killed during a dispute over where to establish their new city. Many scholars consider the tale of Romulus to be entirely legendary, and whether he was a historical figure is up for debate.
The problem is a lack of contemporary sources. This is common for ancient times, but the Romans were usually good at documenting their history. If records from this time did exist, they were likely destroyed in 390 BC when Rome was sacked for the first time. Our main source for the Roman Kingdom is the historian Livy, whose work covers the history of Rome from its founding to the birth of the Empire under Augustus. However, he lived almost 500 years after the last king was overthrown, so he relied on hearsay and legends.
Other historians who covered this period include Cassius Dio and Diodorus Siculus, but their works have not survived in their entirety, leaving us with only fragments about Tarquin’s reign.
Romulus founded Rome and served as its first king, wielding almost total power as the military leader and head of the executive, judicial, and legislative branches. Interestingly, the Roman Senate existed from the very beginning; according to Livy, Romulus created it and named 100 senators from among Rome’s most influential families. These original senators were known as “patres,” signifying their complete authority within their families, and their descendants became known as patricians.
The Roman Kingdom also had several assemblies, chief among them the Curiate Assembly, but their authority was mostly symbolic, primarily enacting the decrees of the king. There was one exception: when it was time to find a new king. The Roman kings were elected, not named by their predecessors. When a king died, Rome entered a brief period called an interregnum, during which the Senate had the power to choose a new king.
Lucius Tarquinius Superbus was born around the mid-6th century BC. He was the son of the fifth king, Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, and his mother, Tanaquil, was an Etruscan. Priscus and Tanaquil moved to Rome from Etruria, where they had married into wealthy families but lacked status. They received an omen from the gods on their way to Rome, which Tanaquil interpreted as a sign that her husband would one day become king.
Priscus proved to be an able businessman and became a trusted advisor to King Ancus Marcius. After Ancus Marcius died, Tarquin arranged for his sons to be away on a hunting trip during the election of the new king. He campaigned for votes and was eventually elected as the fifth king of Rome around 616 BC.
Tarquin the Elder had a long reign of almost 40 years, expanding Rome’s borders and initiating significant construction projects. During this time, the story of Servius Tullius emerged. He was raised by the Tarquins and was positioned as their heir, which angered the sons of Ancus Marcius.
After a long period of resentment, the sons of Ancus Marcius plotted against Tarquin the Elder. They enlisted the help of two shepherds, who assassinated the king. Tanaquil quickly took control, ensuring that the news of her husband’s death did not spread, and appointed Servius Tullius as the new king.
Servius Tullius ruled for several decades, but he faced animosity from Tarquin’s sons. To alleviate tensions, he married his daughters to them, but this did not go as planned. Eventually, Tarquin and Tullia the Younger conspired to eliminate their spouses and seize power.
Tarquin secured support from disgruntled senators and stormed the Senate, where he killed Servius Tullius. Tullia then drove over her father’s body to salute Tarquin as the new king.
Tarquin’s reign was marked by violence and fear as he sought to secure his position. He purged the Senate of those loyal to Servius and held trials without proper counsel. He also embarked on military campaigns to expand Rome’s power.
However, his reign of terror led to widespread resentment among the people. The turning point came in 510 BC when Sextus Tarquinius raped Lucretia, a noblewoman. Her subsequent suicide sparked outrage and led to the anti-royal movement, spearheaded by Lucius Junius Brutus.
Brutus rallied the people against Tarquin, leading to his banishment and the end of the monarchy. The Senate was restored, and the office of consul was created to prevent any one individual from gaining too much power.
Tarquin attempted to regain his throne with the help of allies but ultimately failed. He died in exile, and his death was celebrated in Rome as the end of the Tarquin dynasty and the monarchy.
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Tarquin – Tarquin refers to the last king of Rome, Tarquin the Proud, who was overthrown, leading to the establishment of the Roman Republic. – The harsh rule of Tarquin led to widespread dissatisfaction and ultimately the end of the Roman monarchy.
Rome – Rome is the capital city of Italy, known for its rich history and as the center of the Roman Empire. – Ancient Rome was a powerful civilization that influenced much of Europe and the Mediterranean region.
Monarchy – A monarchy is a form of government where a single person, usually a king or queen, rules the country. – Before becoming a republic, Rome was governed by a monarchy with a series of kings.
Republic – A republic is a form of government in which power is held by the people and their elected representatives. – After the fall of the monarchy, Rome established a republic that lasted for centuries.
Senators – Senators are members of a senate, which is a legislative body in a government, often in a republic. – In the Roman Republic, senators played a crucial role in making decisions and passing laws.
Power – Power refers to the ability or authority to control people or events, often within a government or organization. – The struggle for power between different factions often led to conflicts in Roman history.
History – History is the study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – Understanding the history of Rome helps us learn about the development of Western civilization.
Kings – Kings are male monarchs who rule a kingdom, often inheriting their position by birth. – The early history of Rome was marked by a series of kings before the establishment of the republic.
Violence – Violence refers to the use of physical force to harm someone or something. – The transition from monarchy to republic in Rome was marked by significant violence and upheaval.
Resentment – Resentment is a feeling of anger or displeasure about someone or something unfair. – The Roman citizens’ resentment towards Tarquin’s tyranny fueled the revolt that led to the republic.
