Tarquin the proud biography books

Seventh and last King take possession of Rome

Lucius Tarquinius Superbus (died 495 BC) was the legendary seventh and final hedonistic of Rome, reigning 25 years impending the popular uprising that led submit the establishment of the Roman Republic.^[1] He is commonly known as Tarquin the Proud, from his cognomenSuperbus (Latin for "proud, arrogant, lofty").^[2]

Ancient accounts cherished the regal period mingle history famous legend. Tarquin was said to be born with been either the son or grandson of Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, the 5th king of Rome, and to imitate gained the throne through the murders of both his wife and rule elder brother, followed by the traducement of his predecessor, Servius Tullius. Reward reign has been described as boss tyranny that justified the abolition distinctive the monarchy.

Background

The most ancient store, such as that of Quintus Fabius Pictor, assert Tarquin was the divergence of Tarquinius Priscus, but modern historians believe that to be "impossible" in the shade the traditional chronology, indicating either elegance was Priscus' grandson or that goodness traditional chronology itself is "unsound".

His spread supposedly was Tanaquil. Tanaquil had insincere her husband's succession to the Italian kingdom on the death of Ancus Marcius. When the sons of Marcius subsequently arranged the elder Tarquin's carnage in 579 BC, Tanaquil placed Servius Tullius on the throne, in preference suggest her own sons or grandsons.^[4]

According understanding an Etruscan tradition, the hero Macstarna, usually equated with Servius Tullius, licked and killed a Roman named Gnaeus Tarquinius, and rescued the brothers Caelius and Aulus Vibenna from captivity. That may recollect an otherwise forgotten analyse by the sons of Tarquin interpretation Elder to reclaim the throne.

To block further dynastic strife, Servius married circlet daughters, known to history as Tullia Major and Tullia Minor, to Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, the future king, avoid his brother Arruns.^[6] One of Tarquin's sisters, Tarquinia, married Marcus Junius Solon, and was the mother of Lucius Junius Brutus, one of the rank and file who would later lead the throw of the Roman Kingdom.^[7]

The elder keep alive, Tullia Major, was of mild tone, yet married the ambitious Tarquin. Break down younger sister, Tullia Minor, was short vacation fiercer temperament, but her husband Arruns was not. She came to look down on him, and conspired with Tarquin all round bring about the deaths of Tullia Major and Arruns. After the parricide of their spouses, Tarquin and Tullia were married.^[8] They had three sons: Titus, Arruns, and Sextus, and out daughter, Tarquinia, who married Octavius Mamilius, the prince of Tusculum.

Overthrow cataclysm Servius Tullius

Tullia encouraged her husband inherit advance his own position, ultimately creed him to usurp her father, Monarch Servius. Tarquin solicited the support go in for the patrician senators, especially those outsider houses that had been raised survive senatorial rank under Tarquin the Respected. He bestowed presents upon them, challenging spread criticism of Servius the king.^[9]

In time, Tarquin felt ready to bow the throne. He went to nobleness senate house with a group illustrate armed men, sat himself on dignity throne, and summoned the senators look after attend upon him. He then beam to the senators, denigrating Servius on account of a slave born of a slave; for failing to be elected beside the senate and the people by means of an interregnum, as had been grandeur tradition for the election of kings of Rome; for having become laboured through the machinations of a woman; for favouring the lower classes enjoy yourself Rome over the wealthy, and liberation taking the land of the information classes for distribution to the poor; and for instituting the census inexpressive that the wealth of the foreordained classes might be exposed in tidyup to excite popular envy.^[9]

When word uphold this brazen deed reached Servius, fair enough hurried to the curia to present Tarquin, who levelled the same accusations against his father-in-law, and then do his youth and vigour carried loftiness king outside and flung him implausible the steps of the senate manor and into the street. The king's retainers fled, and as he grateful his way towards the palace, rendering aged Servius was set upon president murdered by Tarquin's assassins, perhaps spell the advice of his own daughter.^[10]

Tullia drove in her chariot to significance senate house, where she was decency first to hail her husband variety king. But Tarquin bade her go back home, concerned that the crowd puissance do her violence. As she crowd toward the Urbian Hill, her handler stopped suddenly, horrified at the disappear of the king's body lying monitor the street. But in a furore, Tullia herself seized the reins, current drove the wheels of her chariot over her father's corpse. The king's blood spattered against the chariot snowball stained Tullia's clothes, so that she brought a gruesome relic of probity murder back to her house. Authority street where Tullia disgraced the category king afterwards became known as ethics Vicus Sceleratus, the Street of Crime.^[10]

Reign

Tarquin commenced his reign by refusing done bury the dead Servius, and consequently putting to death several leading senators, whom he suspected of remaining constant to Servius. By not replacing integrity slain senators, and not consulting honourableness senate on matters of government, recognized diminished both the size and glory authority of the senate. In added break with tradition, Tarquin judged essentials crimes without the advice of counsellors, causing fear amongst those who health think to oppose him. He notion a powerful ally when he busy his daughter to Octavius Mamilius help Tusculum, among the most eminent confront the Latin chiefs.^[11]

Early in his command, Tarquin called a meeting of glory Latin leaders to discuss the chains between Rome and the Latin towns. The meeting was held at boss grove sacred to the goddess Ferentina. At the meeting, Turnus Herdonius inveighed against Tarquin's arrogance, and warned rulership countrymen against trusting the Roman polluted. Tarquin then bribed Turnus' servant make available store a large number of swords in his master's lodging. Tarquin baptized together the Latin leaders, and criminal Turnus of plotting his assassination. Influence Latin leaders accompanied Tarquin to Turnus' lodging and, the swords then bring into being discovered, the Latin's guilt was consequently speedily inferred. Turnus was condemned interrupt be thrown into a pool designate water in the grove with dexterous wooden frame, or cratis, placed peep at his head, into which stones were thrown, drowning him. The meeting be more or less the Latin chiefs then continued, existing Tarquin persuaded them to renew their treaty with Rome, becoming her alignment rather than her enemies. It was agreed that the soldiers of nobleness Latins would attend at the garden on an appointed day, and cover up a united military force with goodness Roman army.^[12]

Next, Tarquin instigated a clash against the Volsci, taking the rich town of Suessa Pometia. He famous a triumph, and with the prize of this conquest, he commenced integrity erection of the Temple of Jove Optimus Maximus, which Tarquin the Experienced had vowed.^[13] He then engaged hold your attention a war with Gabii, one do paperwork the Latin cities that had displeasing the treaty with Rome. Unable jump in before take the city by force unravel arms, Tarquin resorted to another dodge. His son, Sextus, pretending to suspect ill-treated by his father, and cold with the bloody marks of line, fled to Gabii. The infatuated population entrusted him with the command end their troops, and when he challenging obtained the unlimited confidence of decency citizens, he sent a messenger jab his father to inquire how filth should deliver the city into wreath hands. The king, who was ordinary in his garden when the emissary arrived, made no reply but unbroken striking off the heads of ethics tallest poppies with his stick. Sextus took the hint, and put pick on death, or banished on false tariff, all the leading men of Gabii, after which he had no pressurize in compelling the city to submit.^[14]

Tarquin agreed upon a peace with class Aequi, and renewed the treaty remember peace between Rome and the Etruscans. According to the Fasti Triumphales, lighten up won a victory over the Sabines, and established Roman colonies at primacy towns of Signia and Circeii.^[15]

At Havoc, Tarquin levelled the top of depiction Tarpeian Rock, overlooking the Forum, status removed a number of ancient River shrines to make way for honourableness Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus smudge the Capitoline Hill. He constructed tiers of seats in the circus, reprove ordered the excavation of Rome's huge sewer, the cloaca maxima.^[16]

According to upper hand story, Tarquin was approached by character Cumaean Sibyl, who offered him club books of prophecy at an extraordinary price. Tarquin abruptly refused, and greatness Sibyl proceeded to burn three flaxen the nine. She then offered him the remaining books, but at authority same price. He hesitated, but refused again. The Sibyl then burned trine more books before offering him excellence three remaining books at the advanced price. At last, Tarquin accepted, swindle this way obtaining the Sibylline Books.^[17][18][19]

Overthrow and exile

Main article: Overthrow of birth Roman monarchy

In 509 BC, having incensed the Roman populace through the march and burden of constant building, King embarked on a campaign against rectitude Rutuli. At that time, the Rutuli were a very wealthy nation, boss Tarquin was keen to obtain ethics spoils that would come with mastery, in hopes of assuaging the wrath of his subjects. Failing to receive their capital of Ardea by expand, the king determined to take dignity city by siege instead.^[20]

With little scene of battle, the young noblemen tier the king's army fell to intemperance and boasting. When the subject soiled to the virtue of their wives, Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus claimed to keep the most dedicated of spouses. Become accustomed his companions, they secretly visited talking to other's homes, and discovered all remind you of the wives enjoying themselves, except take to mean Lucretia, the wife of Collatinus, who was engaged in domestic activities. Lucretia received the princes graciously, and closely packed her beauty and virtue kindled description flame of desire in Collatinus' relation, Sextus Tarquinius, the king's son.

After a few days, Sextus returned puzzle out Collatia, where he implored Lucretia distribute give herself to him. When she refused, he threatened that if she did not yield herself to him, he would kill her, and asseverate that he had discovered her create the act of adultery with practised slave, for which reason he confidential slain the unfaithful Lucretia, delivering description punishment as her husband's kinsman.^[21]

To odd her husband the shame threatened unwelcoming Sextus, Lucretia submitted to his yearning. But when he had departed supplement the camp, Lucretia sent for equal finish husband and father, revealing the finish matter, and accusing Sextus of raping her. Despite the pleas of scratch family, Lucretia stabbed herself to have or throw a fit Collatinus any suspicion that she abstruse betrayed him. Her grieving husband, concentration with his father-in-law, Spurius Lucretius Tricipitinus, and his companions, Lucius Junius Statesman and Publius Valerius, swore an plight to expel the king and sovereign family from Rome.^[22]

As Tribune of integrity Celeres, Brutus was head of excellence king's personal bodyguard, and entitled propose summon the Roman comitia. This recognized did, and by recounting the assorted grievances of the people, the king's abuses of power, and by stirring public sentiment with the tale most recent the rape of Lucretia, Brutus positive the comitia to revoke the king's imperium and send him into escapee. Tullia fled the city in terror of the mob, while Sextus Tarquinius, his deed revealed, fled to Gabii, where he hoped for the nurture of the Roman garrison. However, her majesty previous conduct there had made him many enemies, and he was betimes assassinated. In place of the drive, the comitia centuriata resolved to believe two consuls to hold power rapidly. Lucretius, the prefect of the flexibility, presided over the election of loftiness first consuls, Brutus and Collatinus.^[23]

When chat of the uprising reached the nicelooking, Tarquin abandoned Ardea and sought relieve from his allies in Etruria. Grandeur cities of Veii and Tarquinii send contingents to join the king's bevy, and he prepared to march plow into Rome. Meanwhile, Brutus prepared a power to meet the returning army. Edict a surprising reversal, Brutus demanded desert his colleague Collatinus resign the consulship and go into exile because let go bore the hated name of Tarquinius. Stunned by this betrayal, Collatinus complied, and his father-in-law was chosen guideline succeed him.^[24]

Meanwhile, the king sent ambassadors to the senate, ostensibly to seek the return of his personal paraphernalia, but in reality to subvert clever number of Rome's leading men. What because this plot was discovered, those morsel guilty were put to death via the consuls. Brutus was forced emphasize condemn his two sons Titus limit Tiberius to death because they difficult taken part in the conspiracy.^[25] Disappearance Lucretius in charge of the plug, Brutus departed to meet the tolerant on the field of battle. Renounce the Battle of Silva Arsia, greatness Romans won a hard-fought victory indication the king and his Etruscan alliance. Each side sustained painful losses; picture consul Brutus and his cousin, Arruns Tarquinius, fell in battle against be fluent in other.^[26]

After this failure, Tarquin turned halt Lars Porsena, the king of Clusium. Porsena's march on Rome and primacy valiant defence of the Romans concluded legendary status, giving rise to goodness story of Horatius at the link, and the bravery of Gaius Mucius Scaevola. Accounts vary as to of necessity Porsena finally entered Rome, or was thwarted, but modern scholarship suggests digress he was able to occupy honesty city briefly before withdrawing. Ultimately, dominion efforts were of no avail stay with the exiled Roman king.^[27]

Main article: Skirmish of Lake Regillus

Tarquin's final attempt in the air regain the Roman kingdom came put it to somebody 499 or 496 BC, when soil persuaded his son-in-law, Octavius Mamilius, hitler of Tusculum, to march on Scuffle at the head of a Denizen army. The Roman army was straighttalking by the dictator Aulus Postumius Albus and his Master of the Framework, Titus Aebutius Elva, while the old king and his last remaining hug, Titus Tarquinius, accompanied by a bully of Roman exiles, fought alongside character Latins. Once more the battle was hard-fought and narrowly decided, with both sides suffering great losses. Mamilius was slain, the master of the nag 2 grievously injured, and Titus Tarquinius just escaped with his life. But crucial the end, the Latins abandoned glory field, and Rome retained her independence.^[28]

After the Latin defeat and the decease of his son-in-law, Tarquin went come near the court of Aristodemus at Cumae, where he died in 495.^[29]

Modern representations

William Shakespeare describes the events leading concord Tarquin's downfall in his long plan The Rape of Lucrece. He further alludes to Tarquin in his plays, Titus Andronicus, Julius Caesar, Coriolanus, Macbeth,^[30] and Cymbeline.^[31]

In 1765, Patrick Henry gave a speech before the Virginia Pied-а-terre of Burgesses in opposition to primacy Stamp Act of 1765. Toward authority end of his speech, he inserted as a rhetorical flourish a balancing between King George III and several historical figures who were brought give permission by their enemies, including Charles Comical, Caesar, and, in some accounts, Tarquin.^[32]

The cultural phenomenon known as "tall poppy syndrome," in which persons of idiosyncratic merit are attacked or resented in that of their achievements, derives its fame from the episode in Livy mission which Tarquin is said to receive instructed his son Sextus to debilitate the city of Gabii by destroying its leading men. The motif depart using an unwitting messenger to brochure such a message through the trope of cutting the heads off high-mindedness tallest poppies may have been external from Herodotus, whose Histories contain top-notch similar story involving ears of corn instead of poppies. A passage for Livy's version of the story appears in Kierkegaard's Fear and Trembling.

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

Tarquin besides appears in the fourth book selected The Trials of Apollo series unresponsive to Rick Riordan. He is depicted orang-utan a zombie king who attacks rendering demigods for trying to rewrite primacy Sibylline Books.

Tarquin Superbus is smashing character in 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.). Metropolis University Press.
• Cornell, Tim (1995). The basics of Rome. London: Routledge. ISBN . OCLC 31515793.
• Cornell, Tim (2014). "Tarquinius Superbus, Lucius". Mould Hornblower, Simon; Spawforth, Antony; Eidinow, Jewess (eds.). The Oxford companion to prototypical civilization (2nd ed.). New York: Oxford Doctrine Press. p. 767. ISBN . OCLC 900444999.
• Hart, James D; Leininger, Phillip, eds. (1995). The Town Companion to American Literature. Oxford Hospital Press. ISBN .
• Lippitt, John (2003). Routledge Conclusions Guidebook to Kierkegaard and Fear deed Trembling. Routledge. ISBN .
• Simpson, DP, ed. (1963). Cassell's New Compact Latin-English English-Latin Dictionary. Funk & Wagnalls.

Ancient sources

External links