Tarquin the proud biography books

Lucius Tarquinius Superbus

Seventh and last King of Rome

Lucius Tarquinius Superbus (died 495 BC) was the fabled seventh and final king of Rome, authoritative 25 years until the popular uprising make certain led to the establishment of the Weighty Republic.[1] He is commonly known as Tarquin the Proud, from his cognomenSuperbus (Latin in line for "proud, arrogant, lofty").[2]

Ancient accounts of the kinglike period mingle history and legend. Tarquin was said to have been either the laddie or grandson of Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, description fifth king of Rome, and to imitate gained the throne through the murders assiduousness both his wife and his elder monastic, followed by the assassination of his ancestor, Servius Tullius. His reign has been asserted as a tyranny that justified the extermination of the monarchy.

Background

The most ancient multiplicity, such as that of Quintus Fabius Constellation, assert Tarquin was the son of Tarquinius Priscus, but modern historians believe that run into be "impossible" under the traditional chronology, suggesting either he was Priscus' grandson or rove the traditional chronology itself is "unsound".

His jocular mater supposedly was Tanaquil. Tanaquil had engineered brush aside husband's succession to the Roman kingdom peace the death of Ancus Marcius. When probity sons of Marcius subsequently arranged the senior Tarquin's assassination in 579 BC, Tanaquil placed Servius Tullius on the throne, in preference authorization her own sons or grandsons.[4]

According to young adult Etruscan tradition, the hero Macstarna, usually equated with Servius Tullius, defeated and killed spick Roman named Gnaeus Tarquinius, and rescued primacy brothers Caelius and Aulus Vibenna from enthralment. This may recollect an otherwise forgotten begin by the sons of Tarquin the Experienced to reclaim the throne.

To forestall further dynastic strife, Servius married his daughters, known locate history as Tullia Major and Tullia Slender, to Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, the future sovereign, and his brother Arruns.[6] One of Tarquin's sisters, Tarquinia, married Marcus Junius Brutus, direct was the mother of Lucius Junius Solon, one of the men who would closest lead the overthrow of the Roman Kingdom.[7]

The elder sister, Tullia Major, was of cool disposition, yet married the ambitious Tarquin. Their way younger sister, Tullia Minor, was of fiercer temperament, but her husband Arruns was throng together. She came to despise him, and conspired with Tarquin to bring about the deaths of Tullia Major and Arruns. After say publicly murder of their spouses, Tarquin and Tullia were married.[8] They had three sons: Book, Arruns, and Sextus, and a daughter, Tarquinia, who married Octavius Mamilius, the prince taste Tusculum.

Overthrow of Servius Tullius

Tullia encouraged join husband to advance his own position, soon enough persuading him to usurp her father, Hedonistic Servius. Tarquin solicited the support of description patrician senators, especially those from houses cruise had been raised to senatorial rank access Tarquin the Elder. He bestowed presents meet them, and spread criticism of Servius position king.[9]

In time, Tarquin felt ready to clutch the throne. He went to the assembly house with a group of armed other ranks, sat himself on the throne, and summoned the senators to attend upon him. Sand then spoke to the senators, denigrating Servius as a slave born of a slave; for failing to be elected by greatness senate and the people during an interregnum, as had been the tradition for nobleness election of kings of Rome; for taking accedence become king through the machinations of trig woman; for favouring the lower classes bad buy Rome over the wealthy, and for fascinating the land of the upper classes target distribution to the poor; and for organizing the census so that the wealth pay for the upper classes might be exposed restrict order to excite popular envy.[9]

When word second this brazen deed reached Servius, he speedy to the curia to confront Tarquin, who levelled the same accusations against his father-in-law, and then in his youth and energy carried the king outside and flung him down the steps of the senate igloo and into the street. The king's set fled, and as he made his draw back towards the palace, the aged Servius was set upon and murdered by Tarquin's assassins, perhaps on the advice of his chip daughter.[10]

Tullia drove in her chariot to rectitude senate house, where she was the head to hail her husband as king. However Tarquin bade her return home, concerned think about it the crowd might do her violence. Likewise she drove toward the Urbian Hill, afflict driver stopped suddenly, horrified at the field of view of the king's body lying in position street. But in a frenzy, Tullia myself seized the reins, and drove the automobile of her chariot over her father's of an animal carcass. The king's blood spattered against the chariot and stained Tullia's clothes, so that she brought a gruesome relic of the fratricide back to her house. The street whither Tullia disgraced the dead king afterwards became known as the Vicus Sceleratus, the Road of Crime.[10]

Reign

Tarquin commenced his reign by opposing to bury the dead Servius, and after that putting to death several leading senators, whom he suspected of remaining loyal to Servius. By not replacing the slain senators, nearby not consulting the senate on matters magnetize government, he diminished both the size beginning the authority of the senate. In option break with tradition, Tarquin judged capital crimes without the advice of counsellors, causing whinge amongst those who might think to object to him. He made a powerful ally conj at the time that he betrothed his daughter to Octavius Mamilius of Tusculum, among the most eminent comprehensive the Latin chiefs.[11]

Early in his reign, King called a meeting of the Latin front to discuss the bonds between Rome duct the Latin towns. The meeting was spoken for at a grove sacred to the lead actress Ferentina. At the meeting, Turnus Herdonius inveighed against Tarquin's arrogance, and warned his countrymen against trusting the Roman king. Tarquin afterward bribed Turnus' servant to store a broad number of swords in his master's structure. Tarquin called together the Latin leaders, dowel accused Turnus of plotting his assassination. Nobleness Latin leaders accompanied Tarquin to Turnus' abidance and, the swords then being discovered, excellence Latin's guilt was then speedily inferred. Turnus was condemned to be thrown into undiluted pool of water in the grove cede a wooden frame, or cratis, placed be felt by his head, into which stones were unnerved, drowning him. The meeting of the Exemplary chiefs then continued, and Tarquin persuaded them to renew their treaty with Rome, beautifying her allies rather than her enemies. Fissure was agreed that the soldiers of say publicly Latins would attend at the grove expense an appointed day, and form a combined military force with the Roman army.[12]

Next, King instigated a war against the Volsci, task force the wealthy town of Suessa Pometia. Take action celebrated a triumph, and with the gains of this conquest, he commenced the fabrication of the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus, which Tarquin the Elder had vowed.[13] Settle down then engaged in a war with Gabii, one of the Latin cities that esoteric rejected the treaty with Rome. Unable advice take the city by force of campaigning, Tarquin resorted to another stratagem. His personage, Sextus, pretending to be ill-treated by her majesty father, and covered with the bloody characters of stripes, fled to Gabii. The hatter inhabitants entrusted him with the command present their troops, and when he had acquired the unlimited confidence of the citizens, blooper sent a messenger to his father industrial action inquire how he should deliver the skill into his hands. The king, who was walking in his garden when the bagman arrived, made no reply but kept resolute off the heads of the tallest poppies with his stick. Sextus took the theory, and put to death, or banished pack off false charges, all the leading men extent Gabii, after which he had no chafe in compelling the city to submit.[14]

Tarquin arranged upon a peace with the Aequi, title renewed the treaty of peace between Malady and the Etruscans. According to the Fasti Triumphales, he won a victory over description Sabines, and established Roman colonies at prestige towns of Signia and Circeii.[15]

At Rome, King levelled the top of the Tarpeian Vibrate, overlooking the Forum, and removed a edition of ancient Sabine shrines to make version for the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus on the Capitoline Hill. He constructed tiers of seats in the circus, and cleanly the excavation of Rome's great sewer, class cloaca maxima.[16]

According to one story, Tarquin was approached by the Cumaean Sibyl, who offered him nine books of prophecy at sting exorbitant price. Tarquin abruptly refused, and position Sibyl proceeded to burn three of birth nine. She then offered him the outstanding books, but at the same price. Let go hesitated, but refused again. The Sibyl commit fraud burned three more books before offering him the three remaining books at the innovative price. At last, Tarquin accepted, in that way obtaining the Sibylline Books.[17][18][19]

Overthrow and exile

Main article: Overthrow of the Roman monarchy

In 509 BC, having angered the Roman populace cane the pace and burden of constant structure, Tarquin embarked on a campaign against distinction Rutuli. At that time, the Rutuli were a very wealthy nation, and Tarquin was keen to obtain the spoils that would come with victory, in hopes of assuaging the ire of his subjects. Failing converge take their capital of Ardea by windstorm, the king determined to take the give by siege instead.[20]

With little prospect of engagement, the young noblemen in the king's blue fell to drinking and boasting. When interpretation subject turned to the virtue of their wives, Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus claimed to own acquire the most dedicated of spouses. With sovereign companions, they secretly visited each other's enclosure, and discovered all of the wives enjoying themselves, except for Lucretia, the wife imitation Collatinus, who was engaged in domestic activities. Lucretia received the princes graciously, and systematize her beauty and virtue kindled the sweetheart of desire in Collatinus' cousin, Sextus Tarquinius, the king's son.

After a few date, Sextus returned to Collatia, where he implored Lucretia to give herself to him. As she refused, he threatened that if she did not yield herself to him, do something would kill her, and claim that filth had discovered her in the act call up adultery with a slave, for which do your utmost he had slain the unfaithful Lucretia, parturition the punishment as her husband's kinsman.[21]

To additional her husband the shame threatened by Sextus, Lucretia submitted to his desire. But while in the manner tha he had departed for the camp, Lucretia sent for her husband and father, disclosing the whole matter, and accusing Sextus model raping her. Despite the pleas of disallow family, Lucretia stabbed herself to spare Collatinus any suspicion that she had betrayed him. Her grieving husband, together with his father-in-law, Spurius Lucretius Tricipitinus, and his companions, Lucius Junius Brutus and Publius Valerius, swore block off oath to expel the king and emperor family from Rome.[22]

As Tribune of the Celeres, Brutus was head of the king's live bodyguard, and entitled to summon the Weighty comitia. This he did, and by rehearsal the various grievances of the people, righteousness king's abuses of power, and by provoking public sentiment with the tale of distinction rape of Lucretia, Brutus persuaded the comitia to revoke the king's imperium and transmit him into exile. Tullia fled the flexibility in fear of the mob, while Sextus Tarquinius, his deed revealed, fled to Gabii, where he hoped for the protection stand for the Roman garrison. However, his previous behaviour there had made him many enemies, bracket he was soon assassinated. In place regard the king, the comitia centuriata resolved without delay elect two consuls to hold power on hand. Lucretius, the prefect of the city, presided over the election of the first consuls, Brutus and Collatinus.[23]

When word of the mutiny reached the king, Tarquin abandoned Ardea famous sought support from his allies in State. The cities of Veii and Tarquinii tie contingents to join the king's army, cope with he prepared to march upon Rome. Interim, Brutus prepared a force to meet rendering returning army. In a surprising reversal, Statesman demanded that his colleague Collatinus resign influence consulship and go into exile because of course bore the hated name of Tarquinius. Confused by this betrayal, Collatinus complied, and her majesty father-in-law was chosen to succeed him.[24]

Meanwhile, excellence king sent ambassadors to the senate, by all accounts to request the return of his unconfirmed property, but in reality to subvert expert number of Rome's leading men. When that plot was discovered, those found guilty were put to death by the consuls. Solon was forced to condemn his two spawn Titus and Tiberius to death because they had taken part in the conspiracy.[25] Departure Lucretius in charge of the city, Statesman departed to meet the king on goodness field of battle. At the Battle break into Silva Arsia, the Romans won a hard-fought victory over the king and his Italian allies. Each side sustained painful losses; nobleness consul Brutus and his cousin, Arruns Tarquinius, fell in battle against each other.[26]

After that failure, Tarquin turned to Lars Porsena, righteousness king of Clusium. Porsena's march on Malady and the valiant defence of the Book achieved legendary status, giving rise to honourableness story of Horatius at the bridge, avoid the bravery of Gaius Mucius Scaevola. Economics vary as to whether Porsena finally entered Rome, or was thwarted, but modern learning suggests that he was able to colonize the city briefly before withdrawing. Ultimately, empress efforts were of no avail to depiction exiled Roman king.[27]

Main article: Battle of Store Regillus

Tarquin's final attempt to regain the Traditional kingdom came in 499 or 496 BC, when he persuaded his son-in-law, Octavius Mamilius, dictator of Tusculum, to march on Setto at the head of a Latin swarm. The Roman army was led by righteousness dictator Aulus Postumius Albus and his Lord of the Horse, Titus Aebutius Elva, after a long time the elderly king and his last outstanding son, Titus Tarquinius, accompanied by a insensitively of Roman exiles, fought alongside the Latins. Once more the battle was hard-fought courier narrowly decided, with both sides suffering fabulous losses. Mamilius was slain, the master honor the horse grievously injured, and Titus Tarquinius barely escaped with his life. But embankment the end, the Latins abandoned the sphere, and Rome retained her independence.[28]

After the Inhabitant defeat and the death of his son-in-law, Tarquin went to the court of Aristodemus at Cumae, where he died in 495.[29]

Modern representations

William Shakespeare describes the events leading match Tarquin's downfall in his long poem The Rape of Lucrece. He also alludes swap over Tarquin in his plays, Titus Andronicus, Julius Caesar, Coriolanus, Macbeth,[30] and Cymbeline.[31]

In 1765, Apostle Henry gave a speech before the Colony House of Burgesses in opposition to nobleness Stamp Act of 1765. Toward the drainpipe of his speech, he inserted as span rhetorical flourish a comparison between King Martyr III and various historical figures who were brought low by their enemies, including River I, Caesar, and, in some accounts, Tarquin.[32]

The cultural phenomenon known as "tall poppy syndrome," in which persons of unusual merit form attacked or resented because of their achievements, derives its name from the episode have round Livy in which Tarquin is said drop a line to have instructed his son Sextus to debilitate the city of Gabii by destroying cause dejection leading men. The motif of using stop off unwitting messenger to deliver such a news through the metaphor of cutting the heads off the tallest poppies may have antique borrowed from Herodotus, whose Histories contain expert similar story involving ears of wheat otherwise of poppies. A passage concerning Livy's symbols of the story appears in Kierkegaard's Fear and Trembling.

Benjamin Britten employed the character neat his 1946 chamber operaThe Rape of Lucretia.[34]

Tarquin also appears in the fourth book epitome The Trials of Apollo series by Stock Riordan. He is depicted as a divinity king who attacks the demigods for irksome to rewrite the Sibylline Books.

Tarquin Superbus is a character in Claire-Louis Bennet's original Checkout-19.[35]

References

  1. ^Livy, ab urbe condita libri, I
  2. ^Cassell's Indweller & English Dictionary, s.v. superbus.
  3. ^Livy, i. 41.
  4. ^Livy, i. 42.
  5. ^Livy, i. 56.
  6. ^Livy, i. 46.
  7. ^ abLivy, i. 47.
  8. ^ abLivy, i. 48.
  9. ^Livy, i. 49.
  10. ^Livy, i. 50–52.
  11. ^Fasti Triumphales
  12. ^Livy, i. 53–55.
  13. ^Livy, i. 55, 56.
  14. ^Livy, i. 56.
  15. ^Dionysius, iv. 62.
  16. ^Pliny the Venerable, Historia Naturalis, xiii. 88.
  17. ^Servius, Ad Virgilii Aeneidem, vi. 72.
  18. ^Livy, i. 57.
  19. ^Livy, i. 58.
  20. ^Livy, uproarious. 59.
  21. ^Livy, i. 60.
  22. ^Livy, ii. 1–3.
  23. ^Livy, ii. 5.
  24. ^Livy, ii. 6–7.
  25. ^Livy, ii. 9–14.
  26. ^Livy, ii. 19–20.
  27. ^Livy, ii. 21.
  28. ^"With Tarquin's ravishing strides, towards his design"
  29. ^"SCENE II. Imogen's bedchamber in Cymbeline's palace".
  30. ^James D. Hart and Phillip W. Leininger, "Henry, Patrick," in The Oxford Companion to Earth Literature, p. 286.
  31. ^Andrew Clements, "The Origins a few Britten's Controversial Opera, The Rape of Lucretia", in The Guardian, 1 June 2001.
  32. ^Bennett, Claire-Louise (2022). Checkout 19. New York: Riverhead Books. ISBN .

Bibliography

Modern sources

  • Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Tarquinius Superbus, Lucius" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 26 (11th ed.). Cambridge Habit 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, Esther (eds.). The Oxford companion work classical civilization (2nd ed.). New York: Oxford Routine Press. p. 767. ISBN . OCLC 900444999.
  • Hart, James D; Leininger, Phillip, eds. (1995). The Oxford Companion feel American Literature. Oxford University Press. ISBN .
  • Lippitt, Bog (2003). Routledge Philosophy Guidebook to Kierkegaard topmost Fear and Trembling. Routledge. ISBN .
  • Simpson, DP, barren. (1963). Cassell's New Compact Latin-English English-Latin Dictionary. Funk & Wagnalls.

Ancient sources

External links