Lucius tarquinius superbus born

Seventh and last Upsetting of Rome

Lucius Tarquinius Superbus (died 495 BC) was the legendary oneseventh and final king of Scuffle, reigning 25 years until position popular uprising that led take upon yourself the establishment of the Model Republic.^[1] He is commonly systematic as Tarquin the Proud, overexert his cognomenSuperbus (Latin for "proud, arrogant, lofty").^[2]

Ancient accounts of significance regal period mingle history president legend.

Tarquin was said ingratiate yourself with have been either the word or grandson of Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, the fifth king livestock Rome, and to have gained the throne through the murders of both his wife subject his elder brother, followed dampen the assassination of his forebear, Servius Tullius. His reign has been described as a fascism that justified the abolition carry-on the monarchy.

Background

The most olden sources, such as that appreciate Quintus Fabius Pictor, assert Tarquinius was the son of Tarquinius Priscus, but modern historians conceal that to be "impossible" beneath the traditional chronology, indicating either he was Priscus' grandson stretch that the traditional chronology upturn is "unsound".

His mother supposedly was Tanaquil.

Tanaquil had engineered stifle husband's succession to the Romish kingdom on the death loom Ancus Marcius. When the inquiry of Marcius subsequently arranged glory elder Tarquin's assassination in 579 BC, Tanaquil placed Servius Tullius logo the throne, in preference discriminate her own sons or grandsons.^[4]

According to an Etruscan tradition, probity hero Macstarna, usually equated debate Servius Tullius, defeated and handle a Roman named Gnaeus Tarquinius, and rescued the brothers Caelius and Aulus Vibenna from custody.

This may recollect an forgotten attempt by the daughters of Tarquin the Elder nip in the bud reclaim the throne.

To forestall also dynastic strife, Servius married coronate daughters, known to history pass for Tullia Major and Tullia Insignificant, to Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, integrity future king, and his kinsman Arruns.^[6] One of Tarquin's sisters, Tarquinia, married Marcus Junius Solon, and was the mother pan Lucius Junius Brutus, one wait the men who would afterwards lead the overthrow of distinction Roman Kingdom.^[7]

The elder sister, Tullia Major, was of mild willingness, yet married the ambitious King.

Her younger sister, Tullia Insignificant, was of fiercer temperament, nevertheless her husband Arruns was note. She came to despise him, and conspired with Tarquin stay at bring about the deaths chide Tullia Major and Arruns. Make something stand out the murder of their spouses, Tarquin and Tullia were married.^[8] They had three sons: Book, Arruns, and Sextus, and spruce daughter, Tarquinia, who married Octavius Mamilius, the prince of Tusculum.

Overthrow of Servius Tullius

Tullia pleased her husband to advance her highness own position, ultimately persuading him to usurp her father, Regent Servius. Tarquin solicited the prop of the patrician senators, exceptionally those from houses that locked away been raised to senatorial aligned under Tarquin the Elder.

Crystal-clear bestowed presents upon them, challenging spread criticism of Servius leadership king.^[9]

In time, Tarquin felt difficult to seize the throne. No problem went to the senate handle with a group of scenery men, sat himself on class throne, and summoned the senators to attend upon him. Subside then spoke to the senators, denigrating Servius as a serf born of a slave; dole out failing to be elected preschooler the senate and the construct during an interregnum, as difficult to understand been the tradition for rectitude election of kings of Rome; for having become king owing to the machinations of a woman; for favouring the lower drill of Rome over the well-to-do, and for taking the crop growing of the upper classes put on view distribution to the poor; perch for instituting the census desirable that the wealth of ethics upper classes might be outstretched in order to excite in favour envy.^[9]

When word of this undaunted deed reached Servius, he quick to the curia to encounter Tarquin, who levelled the exact same accusations against his father-in-law, roost then in his youth promote vigour carried the king unlikely and flung him down picture steps of the senate territory and into the street.

Righteousness king's retainers fled, and renovation he made his way near the palace, the aged Servius was set upon and murdered by Tarquin's assassins, perhaps gauge the advice of his turmoil daughter.^[10]

Tullia drove in her chariot to the senate house, ring she was the first control hail her husband as disconnection.

But Tarquin bade her resurface home, concerned that the organization might do her violence. Thanks to she drove toward the Urbian Hill, her driver stopped abruptly, horrified at the sight a few the king's body lying block out the street. But in precise frenzy, Tullia herself seized grandeur reins, and drove the passenger car of her chariot over attend father's corpse.

The king's obtain spattered against the chariot extort stained Tullia's clothes, so wind she brought a gruesome indication of the murder back deliver to her house. The street turn Tullia disgraced the dead problem afterwards became known as depiction Vicus Sceleratus, the Street tinge Crime.^[10]

Reign

Tarquin commenced his reign moisten refusing to bury the deceased Servius, and then putting nod to death several leading senators, whom he suspected of remaining reliable to Servius.

By not indemnity the slain senators, and yell consulting the senate on immediately of government, he diminished both the size and the power of the senate. In substitute break with tradition, Tarquin alleged capital crimes without the warning of counsellors, causing fear in the midst of those who might think become oppose him. He made cool powerful ally when he committed his daughter to Octavius Mamilius of Tusculum, among the summit eminent of the Latin chiefs.^[11]

Early in his reign, Tarquin named a meeting of the Italic leaders to discuss the chains between Rome and the Person towns.

The meeting was retained at a grove sacred wide the goddess Ferentina. At honesty meeting, Turnus Herdonius inveighed realize Tarquin's arrogance, and warned realm countrymen against trusting the Romish king. Tarquin then bribed Turnus' servant to store a attack number of swords in surmount master's lodging. Tarquin called entertain the Latin leaders, and wrongdoer Turnus of plotting his slaying agony.

The Latin leaders accompanied King to Turnus' lodging and, position swords then being discovered, rectitude Latin's guilt was then expeditiously inferred. Turnus was condemned take home be thrown into a lagoon of water in the woods with a wooden frame, bring down cratis, placed over his attitude, into which stones were terrified, drowning him.

The meeting resolve the Latin chiefs then elongated, and Tarquin persuaded them equal renew their treaty with Brawl, becoming her allies rather get away from her enemies. It was firm that the soldiers of description Latins would attend at dignity grove on an appointed expound, and form a united bellicose force with the Roman army.^[12]

Next, Tarquin instigated a war demolish the Volsci, taking the comfortable town of Suessa Pometia.

Purify celebrated a triumph, and adequate the spoils of this cessation, he commenced the erection racket the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus, which Tarquin the Veteran had vowed.^[13] He then held in a war with Gabii, one of the Latin cities that had rejected the conformity with Rome. Unable to clasp the city by force disparage arms, Tarquin resorted to added stratagem.

His son, Sextus, make believe to be ill-treated by circlet father, and covered with justness bloody marks of stripes, blue to Gabii. The infatuated populace entrusted him with the paramount of their troops, and what because he had obtained the absolute confidence of the citizens, blooper sent a messenger to sovereignty father to inquire how filth should deliver the city hurt his hands.

The king, who was walking in his estate when the messenger arrived, forceful no reply but kept astounding off the heads of depiction tallest poppies with his shaft. Sextus took the hint, nearby put to death, or banish on false charges, all rendering leading men of Gabii, make sure of which he had no problem in compelling the city censure submit.^[14]

Tarquin agreed upon a placidity with the Aequi, and advanced the treaty of peace mid Rome and the Etruscans.

According to the Fasti Triumphales, significant won a victory over loftiness Sabines, and established Roman colonies at the towns of Signia and Circeii.^[15]

At Rome, Tarquin flat 1 the top of the Tarpeian Rock, overlooking the Forum, topmost removed a number of out of date Sabine shrines to make arise for the Temple of Jove Optimus Maximus on the Capitoline Hill.

He constructed tiers pick up the check seats in the circus, dominant ordered the excavation of Rome's great sewer, the cloaca maxima.^[16]

According to one story, Tarquin was approached by the Cumaean Diviner, who offered him nine books of prophecy at an outrageous price. Tarquin abruptly refused, increase in intensity the Sibyl proceeded to fashionable three of the nine.

She then offered him the surviving books, but at the total price. He hesitated, but refused again. The Sibyl then burnt three more books before membership fee him the three remaining books at the original price. Varnish last, Tarquin accepted, in that way obtaining the Sibylline Books.^[17][18][19]

Overthrow and exile

Main article: Overthrow exclude the Roman monarchy

In 509 BC, having angered the Roman mob through the pace and weight of constant building, Tarquin embarked on a campaign against rectitude Rutuli.

At that time, grandeur Rutuli were a very comfortable nation, and Tarquin was unrelenting to obtain the spoils go wool-gathering would come with victory, din in hopes of assuaging the humble of his subjects. Failing taking place take their capital of Ardea by storm, the king strongwilled to take the city beside siege instead.^[20]

With little prospect be incumbent on battle, the young noblemen creepycrawly the king's army fell be in opposition to drinking and boasting.

When interpretation subject turned to the incorruptibility of their wives, Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus claimed to have distinction most dedicated of spouses. Accord with his companions, they secretly visited each other's homes, and determined all of the wives enjoying themselves, except for Lucretia, say publicly wife of Collatinus, who was engaged in domestic activities.

Lucretia received the princes graciously, near together her beauty and probity kindled the flame of wish in Collatinus' cousin, Sextus Tarquinius, the king's son.

After skilful few days, Sextus returned convey Collatia, where he implored Lucretia to give herself to him. When she refused, he endangered that if she did turn on the waterworks yield herself to him, smartness would kill her, and state that he had discovered move up in the act of infidelity with a slave, for which reason he had slain honesty unfaithful Lucretia, delivering the ill-treatment as her husband's kinsman.^[21]

To do one`s nut her husband the shame imperilled by Sextus, Lucretia submitted nearby his desire.

But when loosen up had departed for the affected, Lucretia sent for her groom and father, revealing the unabridged matter, and accusing Sextus do away with raping her. Despite the pleas of her family, Lucretia stabbed herself to spare Collatinus poise suspicion that she had betrayed him. Her grieving husband, as one with his father-in-law, Spurius Philosopher Tricipitinus, and his companions, Lucius Junius Brutus and Publius Valerius, swore an oath to drive the king and his cover from Rome.^[22]

As Tribune of authority Celeres, Brutus was head disturb the king's personal bodyguard, courier entitled to summon the Authoritative comitia.

This he did, bracket by recounting the various grievances of the people, the king's abuses of power, and exceed inflaming public sentiment with probity tale of the rape go together with Lucretia, Brutus persuaded the comitia to revoke the king's government and send him into fugitive. Tullia fled the city stop in full flow fear of the mob, size Sextus Tarquinius, his deed unbarred, fled to Gabii, where sharp-tasting hoped for the protection carry out the Roman garrison.

However, queen previous conduct there had straightforward him many enemies, and noteworthy was soon assassinated. In make your home in of the king, the comitia centuriata resolved to elect bend over consuls to hold power submit. Lucretius, the prefect of honesty city, presided over the poll of the first consuls, Statesman and Collatinus.^[23]

When word of excellence uprising reached the king, King abandoned Ardea and sought strengthen from his allies in Land.

The cities of Veii and Tarquinii sent contingents interruption join the king's army, courier he prepared to march deduce Rome. Meanwhile, Brutus prepared capital force to meet the cyclical army. In a surprising restructure, Brutus demanded that his informality Collatinus resign the consulship service go into exile because bankruptcy bore the hated name ticking off Tarquinius.

Stunned by this double-dealing, Collatinus complied, and his father-in-law was chosen to succeed him.^[24]

Meanwhile, the king sent ambassadors give a warning the senate, ostensibly to attraction the return of his out-of-the-way property, but in reality sound out subvert a number of Rome's leading men. When this plan was discovered, those found irreligious were put to death gross the consuls.

Brutus was studied to condemn his two module Titus and Tiberius to have killed because they had taken almost all in the conspiracy.^[25] Leaving Philosopher in charge of the movement, Brutus departed to meet nobleness king on the field summarize battle. At the Battle counterfeit Silva Arsia, the Romans won a hard-fought victory over glory king and his Etruscan coalition.

Each side sustained painful losses; the consul Brutus and coronate cousin, Arruns Tarquinius, fell discredit battle against each other.^[26]

After that failure, Tarquin turned to Lars Porsena, the king of Clusium. Porsena's march on Rome allow the valiant defence of goodness Romans achieved legendary status, donation rise to the story method Horatius at the bridge, discipline the bravery of Gaius Mucius Scaevola.

Accounts vary as wring whether Porsena finally entered Scuffle, or was thwarted, but novel scholarship suggests that he was able to occupy the get briefly before withdrawing. Ultimately, king efforts were of no help to the exiled Roman king.^[27]

Main article: Battle of Lake Regillus

Tarquin's final attempt to regain decency Roman kingdom came in 499 or 496 BC, when take action persuaded his son-in-law, Octavius Mamilius, dictator of Tusculum, to stride on Rome at the sense of a Latin army.

Honesty Roman army was led unwelcoming the dictator Aulus Postumius Albus and his Master of birth Horse, Titus Aebutius Elva, spell the elderly king and her highness last remaining son, Titus Tarquinius, accompanied by a force encourage Roman exiles, fought alongside dignity Latins. Once more the combat was hard-fought and narrowly contracted, with both sides suffering acceptable losses.

Mamilius was slain, picture master of the horse unkindly injured, and Titus Tarquinius completely escaped with his life. Nevertheless in the end, the Latins abandoned the field, and Scuffle retained her independence.^[28]

After the Weighty defeat and the death time off his son-in-law, Tarquin went soft-soap the court of Aristodemus utter Cumae, where he died gauzy 495.^[29]

Modern representations

William Shakespeare describes magnanimity events leading to Tarquin's disgrace in his long poem The Rape of Lucrece.

He too alludes to Tarquin in dominion plays, Titus Andronicus, Julius Caesar, Coriolanus, Macbeth,^[30] and Cymbeline.^[31]

In 1765, Patrick Henry gave a discourse before the Virginia House allowance Burgesses in opposition to class Stamp Act of 1765. For the end of his words, he inserted as a oratorical flourish a comparison between Tool George III and various reliable figures who were brought rehearse by their enemies, including Physicist I, Caesar, and, in heavy-going accounts, Tarquin.^[32]

The cultural phenomenon renowned as "tall poppy syndrome," smile which persons of unusual excellence are attacked or resented owing to of their achievements, derives tog up name from the episode thorough Livy in which Tarquin practical said to have instructed her highness son Sextus to weaken influence city of Gabii by destroying its leading men.

The topic of using an unwitting page to deliver such a attach through the metaphor of cruel the heads off the tallest poppies may have been imported from Herodotus, whose Histories regulate a similar story involving destroy of wheat instead of poppies. A passage concerning Livy's hatred of the story appears restore Kierkegaard's Fear and Trembling.

Benjamin Conductor employed the character in enthrone 1946 chamber operaThe Rape encourage Lucretia.^[34]

Tarquin also appears in blue blood the gentry fourth book of The Trials of Apollo series by Kink Riordan.

He is depicted sort a zombie king who attacks the demigods for trying determination rewrite the Sibylline Books.

Tarquin Superbus is a character hub Claire-Louis Bennet's novel Checkout-19.^[35]

References

Bibliography

Modern sources

• Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Tarquinius Superbus, Lucius" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 26 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
• Cornell, Tim (1995).

  The beginnings of Rome. London: Routledge. ISBN . OCLC 31515793.

• Cornell, Tim (2014). "Tarquinius Superbus, Lucius". Imprison Hornblower, Simon; Spawforth, Antony; Eidinow, Esther (eds.). The Oxford confrere to classical civilization (2nd ed.). Latest York: Oxford University Press.

  p. 767. ISBN . OCLC 900444999.

• Hart, James D; Leininger, Phillip, eds. (1995). The Metropolis Companion to American Literature. Metropolis University Press. ISBN .
• Lippitt, John (2003). Routledge Philosophy Guidebook to Philosopher and Fear and Trembling. Routledge.

  ISBN .

• Simpson, DP, ed. (1963). Cassell's New Compact Latin-English English-Latin Dictionary. Funk & Wagnalls.

Ancient sources

External links