Lucius Tarquinius Priscus
| Lucius Tarquinius Priscus | |
|---|---|
| King of Rome | |
 Lucius Tarquinius Priscus | |
| Reign | 616 – 579 BC |
| Predecessor | Ancus Marcius |
| Successor | Servius Tullius |
| Father | Demaratus the Corinthian |
Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, also called Tarquin the Elder or Tarquin I, was the fifth King of Rome from 616 BC to 579 BC. His wife was Tanaquil.
Early life
According to Livy, Tarquinius Priscus came from the Etruscan city of Tarquinii. Livy claims that his original Etruscan name was Lucumo, but since Lucumo (Etruscan Lauchme) is the Etruscan word for "King", there is reason to believe that Priscus' name and title have been confused in the official tradition. After inheriting his father's entire fortune, Lucius attempted to gain a political office. Disgruntled with his opportunities in Etruria (because of a prejudice against foreigners), he migrated to Rome with his wife Tanaquil, at her suggestion. He had been prohibited from obtaining political office in Tarquinii because of the ethnicity of his father, Demaratus the Corinthian, who came from the Greek city of Corinth. Legend has it that on his arrival in Rome in a chariot, an eagle took his cap, flew away and then returned it back upon his head. Tanaquil, who was skilled in prophecy, interpreted this as an omen of his future greatness. In Rome he attained respect through his courtesy. King Ancus Marcius himself noticed Tarquinius and, by his will, appointed Tarquinius guardian of his own sons.[1]
King of Rome
Upon the death of Ancus Marcius, Tarquinius Priscus addressed the Comitia Curiata and convinced them that he should be elected king over Marcius' natural sons, who were still only in their teenage years.[2]
According to Livy, Tarquinius increased the number of the Senate by the addition of 100 men from the minor leading families.[2] Among them was the family of the Octavii, the family of the future first emperor Augustus.[citation needed]
Tarquinius' first war was waged against the Latins. Tarquinius took the Latin town of Apiolae by storm and took great booty from there back to Rome.[2] Subsequently the Latin cities of Corniculum, Firulea, Cameria, Crustumerium, Americola, Medullia and Nomentum were subdued and became Roman.
His military ability was tested by an attack from the Sabines who received auxiliaries from five Etruscan cities. The attack was defeated after dangerous street fighting in Rome. In the peace negotiations that followed, Tarquinius received the town of Collatia and appointed his nephew Aruns Tarquinius, surnamed Egerius, as commander of the garrison which he stationed in that city. Since Tarquinius made it a point to keep the captured Etruscan auxiliaries as prisoners for meddling in the war, the five Etruscan cities who had taken part declared war on Rome. These five cities managed to convinced seven other Etruscan cities to join forces with them. The Etruscans soon captured the Roman colony at Fidenae, which thereupon became the focal point of the war. After several bloody battles, Tarquinius was once again victorious and subjugated the Etruscan cities who had taken part in the war. After each of these wars, which were always extremely successful, Tarquinius brought rich plunder to Rome. He doubled the size of the Centuriate Assembly to 1800 people.
Tarquinius established the Circus Maximus. Raised seating was erected privately by the senators and equites, and other areas were marked out for private citizens. According to Livy horses and boxers from Etruria were sent for as the first to participate in the thenceforth annual games.[2]
After a great flood, the damp lowlands of Rome were drained by the construction of the Cloaca Maxima (great sewer) to create a site for the Forum Romanum. As his last great act he began the construction of a temple in honour of Jupiter Optimus Maximus on the Capitoline Hill, partially funded by plunder seized from the Latins and Sabines. Many of the Roman symbols both of war and of civil office date from his reign, and he was the first to celebrate a Roman triumph, after the Etruscan fashion, wearing a robe of purple and gold, and borne on a chariot drawn by four horses.
Death
Tarquinius reigned for 38 years. Meanwhile the now adult sons of his predecessor Ancus Marcius thought that the throne should fall to them. Thus they arranged for Tarquinius Priscus to be assassinated with an axe blow to the head. Thanks to the intelligent foresight of the queen Tanaquil however, the sons of Ancus were not chosen, but rather Tarquinius' son-in-law Servius Tullius, husband of his daughter Tarquinia, was elected as his successor. His other daughter Tarquinia married Marcus Junius Brutus (father of Lucius Junius Brutus); and his sons were Lucius Tarquinius Superbus and Aruns Tarquinius, who married his niece Tullia, daughter of Servius Tullius, and by her was murdered along with his sister-in-law Tullia so that she could marry her brother-in-law and uncle Lucius Tarquinius Superbus.
Sources
- Livy, 1.34-41
References
- ^ Livy, Ab urbe condita, 1:34
- ^ a b c d Livy, Ab urbe condita, 1:35
External links
- Stemma Tarquiniorum, Tarquinius family tree
