Etruscan horses |
616-579 B.C. - L. Tarquinius Priscus
The
5th king of Rome was L. Tarquinius Priscus. According to Livy, he
had been born into an Etruscan family and moved to the young city
of Rome to improve his fortunes. The king made him the guardian
of his children in his will, but ruled until his sons were grown.
After the king's death, Tarquin, as guardian, sent them away on
a hunting trip. While they were gone, he persuaded the people of
the city to elect him as their king. And so an Etruscan became a
king of Rome.
To solidify his support, Tarquin created 100 new senators. He waged war against other Italian cities. He was victorious against the Latins and captured their town of Apiolai. To celebrate the great victory he started the tradition of Roman Games (Ludi Romani). The spot where the Roman games began later becamse the Circus Maximus. The Sabines revolted and were conquered as were all cities of Latium.
578-535 B.C. - Servius Tullius
He
was succeeded by Servius Tullius, who was probably not related to
him. Tarquin's mother Tanaquil had a vision in which she saw the
boy Servius as their hope and protector. Tarquin raised the boy
as his own son and eventually married him to his daughter. He clearly
marked him as his successor. When Tarquin died, his mother helped
Servius preserve the fiction that Tarquin was still alive, while
Servius consolidated his power. He then became king, the first king
who was not elected.
He divided the Roman citizens into tribes and continued to expand and conquer. He enlarged the city and built a city wall enclosing all 7 hills of Rome.
The last of the Etruscan Kings, and the last King of Rome, was L. Tarquinius Superbus, known as Tarquin the Proud.
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