THE ETRUSCAN MONARCHY: KINGS OF ROME (753­509 BCE)

When Rome began, kings usually ruled city­states Romulus ruled as the first king of Rome 753­715 BC ● He populated Roman with fugitives and gave them wives abducted from the Sabine Tribe ● Was said to have vanished in a thunderstorm and later worshipped as the god Quirinus ● Known as a warrior king who developed Rome’s first army Numa Pompilius was a Sabine and ruled as the second king in 715­673 BC ● Succeeded Romulus ​ ● Numa was traditionally celebrated by the Romans for his wisdom and piety. ● He was said to have a direct and personal connection with a bunch of deities. ● One of Numa's first acts was the construction of a temple of Janus as a symbol of peace and war. ● Credited with the foundation of most Roman Religious Rites Tullus Hostilius was the successor of Pompilius as the third King from 672­641 BC ● Completely different and opposite from his predecessor ● Region consisted mainly of expansion ● Destructed the rival city of Alba Longa ● Plagued a city ● Had a warlike behavior and a complete neglect for Roman Gods ● Asked for help from an angered Jupiter and apparently was struck down by lightning Ancus Marcius was the fourth king and the grandson of Numa Pompilius ● Built Rome’s first prison ● Annexed the Latin tribes ● reformed the Roman religion and ordered the Pontifex Maximus to write down all the traditions and rules of their religion ● His work was kept by future monarchs Lucius Tarquinius Priscus was the fifth king ● His name was originally Lucumo and he was the son of a foreigner ● He was married to a woman named Tanaquil who was unhappy with his social status. They moved to Rome where there was yet to be a strong aristocracy ● She interpreted an eagle swooping down to place a hat upon his head as an omen he would become king ● His wealth and behaviour helped him gain many important friends including King Ancus ● He was appointed the guardian of his children in his will and upon Ancus’ death, persuaded Rome to make him the king ● Created 100 new senators to garner political support ● Waged war against the Latins ● Raised Servius, his son­in­law, to be his successor due to another omen ● Got assassinated by the sons of Ancus Servius Tullius: sixth king of Rome and reigned 578–535 BC ​ ● Servius' popularity and marriage to the current king, Tarquinius Priscus’ daughter made him a likely successor to the kingship ● these Ancus Marcius(the previous kings) sons attempted to seize the throne for themselves ● The current king was attacked and died of his wounds but made Servius king ● Servius celebrated three triumphs over the Etruscans ​ ​ ● had two daughters, Tullia the younger and Tullia the elder ● Tulia the younger and husband, Lucius Tarquinius, plotted death of their siblings and servius ● Accused Servius of being an unfit king because he was born a slave, for failing to be elected by the Senate ● when Servius arrived to defend himself, he was killed by Tarquinius Tarquinius Superbus was the final king of Rome, also dubbed Tarquin the proud ● ruled from 534­510 BC ● Etruscans were at the height of their power ● Authority of monarchy was absolute ● Used violence and murder to hold his power ● Tyrannical rule was despised by the Romans ● Rape of Lucretia, Roman Patrician was the last straw ● Were kicked out and the Senate voted to never allow the rule of a King and formed a Republic Government in 509 BC