7 – Tarquinius Superbus (534? – 509 BC)
Also known as Tarquin the Proud, he was the seventh and final king of Rome. ‘Superbus’ means arrogant, proud or lofty in Latin and perfectly sums up the attitude of this monarch. Tradition states that he was the son of Lucius Tarquinius, but the timelines suggest he was probably his grandson. He had gained the throne through the most violent way possible and lacked legitimacy from the start. According to ancient historians, his reign was one marked by tyranny, and his actions justified the abolition of the monarchy.
Tarquin was only interested in maintaining his position through violence and fear and soon after he became king, he announced that he was Rome’s supreme judge. He used this power to take total control of capital cases, so the accused had no chance to appeal. Tarquin abused his new position as he used it to get rid of rivals.
The king had a reasonable military record; he managed to bully the Latin League into accepting Rome as its official leader. It was a clever move because it meant the Latins were now part of the Roman army; he effectively doubled his kingdom’s military strength. Tarquin used his new army to start a war with the Volsci and take the city of Suessa Pometia. Next, he started a war with the Latin city of Gabii by treachery.
Back in Rome, he destroyed the Tarpeian Rock to make room for the construction of the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus on Capitoline Hill. By 509 BC, the Roman people were fed up with Tarquin’s insistence on constant construction. Nonetheless, he continued to stay busy and started a war against the Rutuli. The Romans failed to take Ardea, and the army started drinking and boasting.
According to legend, one of the king’s sons, Sextus, raped the wife of a nobleman named Collatinus; she committed suicide in shame. Collatinus swore an oath to remove the king from power and soon, an uprising was threatened. All of this happened when Tarquin was still at Ardea, but when he heard that his position was under threat; he fled and looked for support from his Etrurian allies.
The rebels met the king at the Battle of Silva Arsia and won a decisive victory in 509 BC. Tarquin fled into exile but spent the rest of his life attempting to regain his crown. His final attempt was thwarted at the Battle of Lake Regillus which officially took place in 496 BC but could have occurred several years later. The Romans retained their independence by defeating the Latin League. Tarquin fled to the court of Aristodemus, the tyrant of Cumae. He died there in 495 BC, and the Roman Republic was safe.
Sources For Further Reading:
History Information – The Gauls Sack Rome and Destroy Most Records
Facts & Details – Battles Between Celts And Romans
The Collector – Sexual Assault Of Women In Ancient Rome
ThoughtCo – Biography of Numa Pompilius, Roman King
ThoughtCo – Tullus Hostilius the 3rd King of Rome
ThoughtCo – The Roman King L. Tarquinius Priscus According to Livy
Smart History – Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus
Ancient Origins – Servius Tullius – The Last Benevolent King Of Rome
ThoughtCo – The Legend of Lucretia in Roman History