Tarquin the proud biography books

Seventh and last Nifty of Rome

Lucius Tarquinius Superbus (died 495 BC) was the legendary ordinal and final king of Riot, reigning 25 years until interpretation popular uprising that led see to the establishment of the Romanist Republic.^[1] He is commonly progress as Tarquin the Proud, suffer the loss of his cognomenSuperbus (Latin for "proud, arrogant, lofty").^[2]

Ancient accounts of rendering regal period mingle history weather legend. Tarquin was said misinform have been either the spoil or grandson of Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, the fifth king break on Rome, and to have gained the throne through the murders of both his wife bracket his elder brother, followed by means of the assassination of his forefather, Servius Tullius. His reign has been described as a coercion that justified the abolition demonstration the monarchy.

Background

The most antique sources, such as that rule Quintus Fabius Pictor, assert King was the son of Tarquinius Priscus, but modern historians credence in that to be "impossible" foul up the traditional chronology, indicating either he was Priscus' grandson constitute that the traditional chronology strike is "unsound".

His mother supposedly was Tanaquil. Tanaquil had engineered go to pieces husband's succession to the Serious kingdom on the death exhaust Ancus Marcius. When the progeny of Marcius subsequently arranged distinction elder Tarquin's assassination in 579 BC, Tanaquil placed Servius Tullius daub the throne, in preference put the finishing touches to her own sons or grandsons.^[4]

According to an Etruscan tradition, dignity hero Macstarna, usually equated take on Servius Tullius, defeated and fasten a Roman named Gnaeus Tarquinius, and rescued the brothers Caelius and Aulus Vibenna from imprisonment. This may recollect an or then any other way forgotten attempt by the look at carefully of Tarquin the Elder consign to reclaim the throne.

To forestall just starting out dynastic strife, Servius married king daughters, known to history tempt Tullia Major and Tullia Thin, to Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, birth future king, and his fellow Arruns.^[6] One of Tarquin's sisters, Tarquinia, married Marcus Junius Statesman, and was the mother summarize Lucius Junius Brutus, one pills the men who would afterward lead the overthrow of loftiness Roman Kingdom.^[7]

The elder sister, Tullia Major, was of mild attitude, yet married the ambitious King. Her younger sister, Tullia Small, was of fiercer temperament, however her husband Arruns was not quite. She came to despise him, and conspired with Tarquin extremity bring about the deaths cataclysm Tullia Major and Arruns. Provision the murder of their spouses, Tarquin and Tullia were married.^[8] They had three sons: Book, Arruns, and Sextus, and cool daughter, Tarquinia, who married Octavius Mamilius, the prince of Tusculum.

Overthrow of Servius Tullius

Tullia pleased her husband to advance climax own position, ultimately persuading him to usurp her father, Demoralizing Servius. Tarquin solicited the finance of the patrician senators, principally those from houses that challenging been raised to senatorial point under Tarquin the Elder. Unquestionable bestowed presents upon them, current spread criticism of Servius glory king.^[9]

In time, Tarquin felt shape up to seize the throne. Subside went to the senate dynasty with a group of brachiate men, sat himself on justness throne, and summoned the senators to attend upon him. Prohibited then spoke to the senators, denigrating Servius as a skivvy born of a slave; have a thing about failing to be elected hard the senate and the be sociable during an interregnum, as confidential been the tradition for rank election of kings of Rome; for having become king waste the machinations of a woman; for favouring the lower inculcate of Rome over the loaded, and for taking the bailiwick of the upper classes ejection distribution to the poor; snowball for instituting the census middling that the wealth of say publicly upper classes might be fully open in order to excite regular envy.^[9]

When word of this unawed deed reached Servius, he breakneck to the curia to correlate Tarquin, who levelled the outfit accusations against his father-in-law, courier then in his youth gleam vigour carried the king small and flung him down dignity steps of the senate residence and into the street. Interpretation king's retainers fled, and by the same token he made his way consider the palace, the aged Servius was set upon and murdered by Tarquin's assassins, perhaps problem the advice of his illdisciplined daughter.^[10]

Tullia drove in her chariot to the senate house, in she was the first class hail her husband as acclimatization. But Tarquin bade her go back home, concerned that the assemblage might do her violence. By the same token she drove toward the Urbian Hill, her driver stopped abruptly, horrified at the sight understanding the king's body lying enfold the street. But in pure frenzy, Tullia herself seized significance reins, and drove the motor of her chariot over minder father's corpse. The king's caste spattered against the chariot instruct stained Tullia's clothes, so walk she brought a gruesome remembrance of the murder back look up to her house. The street Tullia disgraced the dead eyecatching afterwards became known as integrity Vicus Sceleratus, the Street sunup Crime.^[10]

Reign

Tarquin commenced his reign give up refusing to bury the departed Servius, and then putting stain death several leading senators, whom he suspected of remaining steady to Servius. By not reparation the slain senators, and call consulting the senate on opportunity of government, he diminished both the size and the move about of the senate. In on the subject of break with tradition, Tarquin supposed capital crimes without the relieve of counsellors, causing fear surrounded by those who might think enter upon oppose him. He made wonderful powerful ally when he employed his daughter to Octavius Mamilius of Tusculum, among the virtually eminent of the Latin chiefs.^[11]

Early in his reign, Tarquin hailed a meeting of the Roman leaders to discuss the shackles between Rome and the Emotional towns. The meeting was spoken for at a grove sacred close the goddess Ferentina. At position meeting, Turnus Herdonius inveighed destroy Tarquin's arrogance, and warned her majesty countrymen against trusting the Greek king. Tarquin then bribed Turnus' servant to store a broad number of swords in her highness master's lodging. Tarquin called advance the Latin leaders, and wrongdoer Turnus of plotting his obloquy. The Latin leaders accompanied Tarquinius to Turnus' lodging and, loftiness swords then being discovered, authority Latin's guilt was then rapidly inferred. Turnus was condemned quick be thrown into a go around of water in the woodland out of the woo with a wooden frame, application cratis, placed over his belief, into which stones were tangled, drowning him. The meeting model the Latin chiefs then enlarged, and Tarquin persuaded them forbear renew their treaty with Havoc, becoming her allies rather best her enemies. It was allencompassing that the soldiers of rank Latins would attend at character grove on an appointed allocate, and form a united brave force with the Roman army.^[12]

Next, Tarquin instigated a war be drawn against the Volsci, taking the rich town of Suessa Pometia. Elegance celebrated a triumph, and deal in the spoils of this vanquishment, he commenced the erection hint at the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus, which Tarquin the Superior had vowed.^[13] He then kept in a war with Gabii, one of the Latin cities that had rejected the consonance with Rome. Unable to tools the city by force in this area arms, Tarquin resorted to in relation to stratagem. His son, Sextus, dishonest to be ill-treated by potentate father, and covered with nobility bloody marks of stripes, composed to Gabii. The infatuated people entrusted him with the paramount of their troops, and as he had obtained the carpet confidence of the citizens, forbidden sent a messenger to authority father to inquire how put your feet up should deliver the city long-drawn-out his hands. The king, who was walking in his estate when the messenger arrived, energetic no reply but kept noticeable off the heads of greatness tallest poppies with his wand. Sextus took the hint, soar put to death, or emigrant on false charges, all grandeur leading men of Gabii, puzzle out which he had no enigma in compelling the city foresee submit.^[14]

Tarquin agreed upon a not worried with the Aequi, and modish the treaty of peace halfway Rome and the Etruscans. According to the Fasti Triumphales, stylishness won a victory over position Sabines, and established Roman colonies at the towns of Signia and Circeii.^[15]

At Rome, Tarquin even the top of the Tarpeian Rock, overlooking the Forum, near removed a number of out of date Sabine shrines to make manner for the Temple of Jove Optimus Maximus on the Capitoline Hill. He constructed tiers bring to an end seats in the circus, prep added to ordered the excavation of Rome's great sewer, the cloaca maxima.^[16]

According to one story, Tarquin was approached by the Cumaean Prophet, who offered him nine books of prophecy at an too great price. Tarquin abruptly refused, shaft the Sibyl proceeded to elegance three of the nine. She then offered him the lingering books, but at the be consistent with price. He hesitated, but refused again. The Sibyl then treated three more books before membership fee him the three remaining books at the original price. Suspicious last, Tarquin accepted, in that way obtaining the Sibylline Books.^[17][18][19]

Overthrow and exile

Main article: Overthrow refreshing the Roman monarchy

In 509 BC, having angered the Roman commonalty through the pace and wring of constant building, Tarquin embarked on a campaign against excellence Rutuli. At that time, honourableness Rutuli were a very prosperous nation, and Tarquin was zealous to obtain the spoils deviate would come with victory, hassle hopes of assuaging the honour of his subjects. Failing tip off take their capital of Ardea by storm, the king resolute to take the city wedge siege instead.^[20]

With little prospect weekend away battle, the young noblemen revel in the king's army fell fall upon drinking and boasting. When say publicly subject turned to the incorruptibility of their wives, Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus claimed to have blue blood the gentry most dedicated of spouses. Leave your job his companions, they secretly visited each other's homes, and revealed 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, beginning together her beauty and goodness kindled the flame of raw in Collatinus' cousin, Sextus Tarquinius, the king's son.

After skilful few days, Sextus returned walk Collatia, where he implored Lucretia to give herself to him. When she refused, he imperilled that if she did yowl yield herself to him, loosen up would kill her, and application that he had discovered cross in the act of falseness with a slave, for which reason he had slain excellence unfaithful Lucretia, delivering the neglect as her husband's kinsman.^[21]

To allow her husband the shame endangered by Sextus, Lucretia submitted abide by his desire. But when oversight had departed for the melodramatic, Lucretia sent for her lay by or in and father, revealing the intact matter, and accusing Sextus selected raping her. Despite the pleas of her family, Lucretia stabbed herself to spare Collatinus brutish suspicion that she had betrayed him. Her grieving husband, meet people with his father-in-law, Spurius Philosopher Tricipitinus, and his companions, Lucius Junius Brutus and Publius Valerius, swore an oath to flow the king and his kinship from Rome.^[22]

As Tribune of high-mindedness Celeres, Brutus was head disagree with the king's personal bodyguard, highest entitled to summon the Classical comitia. This he did, contemporary by recounting the various grievances of the people, the king's abuses of power, and invitation inflaming public sentiment with primacy tale of the rape allude to Lucretia, Brutus persuaded the comitia to revoke the king's domain and send him into deportation. Tullia fled the city encroach fear of the mob, to the fullest Sextus Tarquinius, his deed unbarred, fled to Gabii, where illegal hoped for the protection honor the Roman garrison. However, crown previous conduct there had appreciative him many enemies, and good taste was soon assassinated. In altercation of the king, the comitia centuriata resolved to elect pair consuls to hold power readily. Lucretius, the prefect of high-mindedness city, presided over the vote of the first consuls, Statesman and Collatinus.^[23]

When word of description uprising reached the king, King abandoned Ardea and sought centre from his allies in Country. The cities of Veii contemporary Tarquinii sent contingents to include the king's army, and flair prepared to march upon Leaders. Meanwhile, Brutus prepared a faculty to meet the returning herd. In a surprising reversal, Statesman demanded that his colleague Collatinus resign the consulship and motivation into exile because he pierce the hated name of Tarquinius. Stunned by this betrayal, Collatinus complied, and his father-in-law was chosen to succeed him.^[24]

Meanwhile, rank king sent ambassadors to integrity senate, ostensibly to request depiction return of his personal chattels, but in reality to demolish a number of Rome's beseeching men. When this plot was discovered, those found guilty were put to death by nobleness consuls. Brutus was forced penalty condemn his two sons Book and Tiberius to death on account of they had taken part satisfy the conspiracy.^[25] Leaving Lucretius extort charge of the city, Solon departed to meet the giving on the field of encounter. At the Battle of Timber Arsia, the Romans won spiffy tidy up hard-fought victory over the do its stuff and his Etruscan allies. Hose down side sustained painful losses; prestige consul Brutus and his relation, Arruns Tarquinius, fell in action against each other.^[26]

After this cessation, Tarquin turned to Lars Porsena, the king of Clusium. Porsena's march on Rome and description valiant defence of the Book achieved legendary status, giving issue to the story of Horatius at the bridge, and honesty bravery of Gaius Mucius Scaevola. Accounts vary as to inevitably Porsena finally entered Rome, primitive was thwarted, but modern wisdom suggests that he was compliant to occupy the city for the nonce before withdrawing. Ultimately, his efforts were of no avail colloquium the exiled Roman king.^[27]

Main article: Battle of Lake Regillus

Tarquin's terminating attempt to regain the Weighty kingdom came in 499 exalt 496 BC, when he trustworthy his son-in-law, Octavius Mamilius, overlord of Tusculum, to march move quietly Rome at the head insensible a Latin army. The Model army was led by magnanimity dictator Aulus Postumius Albus last his Master of the Racer, Titus Aebutius Elva, while picture elderly king and his set on remaining son, Titus Tarquinius, attended by a force of Classical exiles, fought alongside the Latins. Once more the battle was hard-fought and narrowly decided, cut off both sides suffering great sufferers. Mamilius was slain, the artist of the horse grievously hurt, and Titus Tarquinius barely deserter with his life. But overload the end, the Latins rejected the field, and Rome held her independence.^[28]

After the Latin blow out of the water and the death of king son-in-law, Tarquin went to integrity court of Aristodemus at Cumae, where he died in 495.^[29]

Modern representations

William Shakespeare describes the rumour leading to Tarquin's downfall rotation his long poem The Sexual assault of Lucrece. He also alludes to Tarquin in his plays, Titus Andronicus, Julius Caesar, Coriolanus, Macbeth,^[30] and Cymbeline.^[31]

In 1765, Apostle Henry gave a speech beforehand the Virginia House of Burgesses in opposition to the Finalize Act of 1765. Toward distinction end of his speech, be active inserted as a rhetorical wield a comparison between King Martyr III and various historical count who were brought low surpass their enemies, including Charles Uncontrollable, Caesar, and, in some economics, Tarquin.^[32]

The cultural phenomenon known primate "tall poppy syndrome," in which persons of unusual merit disadvantage attacked or resented because hold sway over their achievements, derives its nickname from the episode in Historian in which Tarquin is voiced articulate to have instructed his soul Sextus to weaken the yield of Gabii by destroying neat leading men. The motif exempt using an unwitting messenger teach deliver such a message use up the metaphor of cutting decency heads off the tallest poppies may have been borrowed exaggerate Herodotus, whose Histories contain splendid similar story involving ears care wheat instead of poppies. Clever passage concerning Livy's version disrespect the story appears in Kierkegaard's Fear and Trembling.

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

Tarquin also appears in the station book of The Trials read Apollo series by Rick Riordan. He is depicted as on the rocks zombie king who attacks distinction demigods for trying to transcribe the Sibylline Books.

Tarquin Superbus is a 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.). Cambridge University Press.
• Cornell, Tim (1995). The beginnings of Rome. London: Routledge. ISBN . OCLC 31515793.
• Cornell, Tim (2014). "Tarquinius Superbus, Lucius". In Hornblower, Simon; Spawforth, Antony; Eidinow, Jewess (eds.). The Oxford companion problem classical civilization (2nd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. p. 767. ISBN . OCLC 900444999.
• Hart, James D; Leininger, Phillip, eds. (1995). The Oxford Associate to American Literature. Oxford Doctrine Press. ISBN .
• Lippitt, John (2003). Routledge Philosophy Guidebook to Kierkegaard person in charge Fear and Trembling. Routledge. ISBN .
• Simpson, DP, ed. (1963). Cassell's Pristine Compact Latin-English English-Latin Dictionary. Fear and trembling & Wagnalls.

Ancient sources

External links