Overthrow of King Tarquin the Proud. Royal period (7 kings) in the history of Rome

In 390 BC. e. Rome was sacked by the Gauls and the historical records of the previous period were destroyed, so it is impossible to know exactly how many kings actually ruled the city, or which of the actions attributed to individual kings by later authors are accurate.

Ancient Roman kings- legendary and semi-legendary rulers Ancient Rome during the Tsarist period until the founding of the Republic. They ruled for 244 years, starting from the founding of Rome - April 21, 753 BC. e. The royal period ended with the exile of the last king of Ancient Rome.

The personalities of the Roman kings reflect the Romans' ideas about their distant ancestors. The kings themselves were subsequently equated with deities; their golden statues were installed in the forum in Rome (they were melted down in 410 in order to pay off). Within the framework of the tsarist era, not only the state arose, but also essential elements the socio-political organization that developed already in the republican period - the Roman polis.

The first ancient Roman king was the legendary one, who united with his brother Rem around them various people who became their support and strength: shepherds, vagabonds, criminals and runaway slaves. On the way to sole power, he did not stop at deceiving and killing his brother Rema . He gave the founded city his name - Rome (lat. Roma) and became king. In order for the city to grow quickly, it was made a refuge for fugitives: slaves, debtors, murderers and other criminals.

He was a grandson and was similar in wisdom and peaceful disposition to his grandfather. He patronized agriculture, crafts and trade. But he had to fight, because his neighbors perceived his peacefulness as weakness. He waged a successful war with the Latins: it ended in victory, and the Latins formed a layer of plebeians.

He is considered the founder of the harbor and salt mines of Ostia, located at the mouth of the Tiber. He fortified the Janiculum fortress on the other side of the Tiber, and built the first wooden bridge across the Tiber. He also built a prison at the foot of the Capitol.

The next king of Ancient Rome, although he came from the Etruscan city of Tarquinia, was not a purebred Etruscan; the path to higher positions was closed to him. Even in his youth, he made a large fortune for himself and went to Rome. Thanks to his wealth and wisdom, he soon became one of the most powerful men in Rome. The king noticed, made him his confidant and appointed him chief of the cavalry. After his death, he convinced the People's Assembly that it was he, and not one of the young children, who should become king of Rome.

He increased the Senate to 300 people due to new members from poor families, and the Comitia Centuriata was also expanded to 1800 people. brought many Etruscan customs to Rome and, after victories over the Etruscans and Sabines, was the first to celebrate a triumph in Rome according to the Etruscan model. Under him, a water supply and sewerage system was built, along with the building of a large circus for entertainment.

Romulus, lat. - son of the god of war Mars and the Vestal Virgin Rhea Silvia, co-founder of Rome and the first Roman king.

On his father's side, Romulus was a direct descendant of one of the most powerful gods, on his mother's side - a descendant of Ascanius or Yul, the son of the leader of the Trojan settlers in Italy - Aeneas. After the fall of Troy, the family of Aeneas was destined to rule the entire Trojan people and (in the broad interpretation of this prophecy) even the whole world. In addition, Askanius-Yul could also boast of divine origin: his father Aeneas was the son of the goddess Venus (Aphrodite), and his great-grandfather Dardan was even the son of the supreme god Zeus. Thus, Romulus had all the genealogical prerequisites to become one of the main figures of Roman myths and traditions.

However, despite such high origins, Romulus did not grow up in royal palace, and among the shepherds. Or he might not have grown up at all, since his great-uncle Amulius wanted to drown both Romulus and his twin brother Remus immediately after their birth. But the gods did not allow the death of innocent babies for a very serious reason: if Rome was destined to rule the world, then, naturally, it had to be founded first, and for this it was necessary to leave the future founders of Rome alive.

The legend of the birth and rescue of Romulus and Remus is one of the most famous in the ancient world. The twelfth successor of Ascania-Yul, the founder of the city of Alba Longa, was King Procus, who had two sons: the elder Numitor and the younger Amulius. After the death of Proca, Numitor rightfully ascended to his throne, but soon Amulius deprived him of power and expelled him, killed all his sons, and made his daughter Rhea Silvia a vestal (priestess of the goddess Vesta), and vestals, as is known, had to take vows of virginity. Vows were vows, but Rhea Silvia could not resist the god of war Mars and gave birth to twins from him: Romulus and Remus. Having learned about this, Amulius ordered Rhea Silvia to be thrown into the Tiber River. The same fate awaited her children. The servants put the babies in a basket and carried them to the Tiber. But the river overflowed its banks, so they simply put the basket on the water and, returning, told Amulius that his order had been carried out. However, Rhea Silvia did not die: the river god Tiberin did not let her drown and took her as his wife. Her sons did not die either, since the water soon subsided and the basket found itself on dry land.

The crying of hungry babies attracted the attention of a she-wolf, who came to the Tiber to drink water, and she took them to her lair on Palatine Hill. There she fed them with her milk, warmed them with the warmth of her body, and the woodpecker, the sacred bird of the god Mars, brought them meat food. One day, the shepherd of Amulius' flocks, Faustulus, saw a she-wolf with two boys. After waiting for the she-wolf to leave, he took the boys to his home and gave them the names Romulus and Remus. Faustulus and his wife Akka Larentia, who had twelve sons, raised Romulus and Remus into stately, strong young men, accustomed to the harsh shepherd life and able to fend for themselves. But one day, during a skirmish with the shepherds of the former king Numitor, who were grazing cattle on the neighboring Aventine hill, Romulus and Remus were defeated and brought to Numitor. Numitor recognized them as his grandchildren and without much difficulty persuaded them to take revenge on Amulius. Gathering a large detachment of their friends from the Palatine, Romulus and Remus broke into Alba Longa, killed Amulius and returned power to Numitor.

Having learned about their royal origin, Romulus and Remus wanted to become kings, but at the same time they did not intend to deprive their grandfather of power or wait for his death. Therefore, they decided to lay it on Palatine Hill new town, even larger than Alba Longa. However, a dispute immediately broke out between them about whose name it would receive. future city. Finally, the decision was made to rely on the will of the gods, which, as was commonly believed, could be especially reliably guessed from the flights of birds. Romulus remained on the Palatine to observe the sky, and Remus went to the Aventine for the same purpose. As soon as he arrived at the place, he immediately saw six kites in the sky, reported this to the soothsayers and demanded that he be declared the winner. However, before the soothsayers had time to announce their decision, Romulus saw twelve kites. Since the terms were not precisely agreed upon, the dispute was renewed with new strength: Remus referred to the fact that he was the first to receive the sign, Romulus - twice larger number birds. The dispute between the brothers and their followers turned into a quarrel, the quarrel into a fight, in which Remus was killed. According to another version, more widespread, Remus died later when he decided to jump over the city wall built by Romulus in mockery. In response, the enraged Romulus killed him with words that were to become a curse for all future enemies of Rome: “So let everyone who jumps over my walls die!” One way or another, the city received the name Rome (Roma) in honor of Romulus, who became its first king.

The first inhabitants of the city were former friends of Romulus, with whom he grazed cattle on the Palatine, then many young people flocked to them from the nearest and more distant settlements of Alba and Latia (mostly these were fugitives, both free and slaves). Since without women Rome could only become a fortress, but not a city, Romulus sent envoys to the surrounding cities with a request to allow the inhabitants of Rome to find brides for themselves in these cities. Having received refusal everywhere, Romulus resorted to cunning. He organized festive games in honor of the god of grain reserves, Cons (consualia), and invited the entire district to them. Many guests came to the celebration, especially the neighboring Sabines with their wives and daughters. At this sign, the Roman youths rushed to the Sabine girls and kidnapped them, after which they urgently played weddings (Romulus himself married the Sabine Hersilia) and made sure that Rome was not left without offspring.

Of course, the Sabines did not accept the kidnapping of their girls, and their king Titus Tatius declared war on Romulus. However, during the mass honeymoon, wives were more attractive to the Romans than military exploits, and they took refuge under the protection of the city walls. Taking advantage of Tarpeia's betrayal, the Sabines penetrated the Roman Acropolis, and Romulus and his companions had to flee the city. When the next day he tried to recapture him, the Sabine women rushed into the thick of the battle and reconciled their fathers and brothers with their husbands. After peace was concluded, the Romans and Sabines united into one people. Romulus and Titus Tatius began to jointly rule the state from Rome, which became its center; After the death of Tatius, Romulus again began to rule alone. He gave Rome laws and powerful fortifications, an organization for the army, land for the population, and thereby laid the foundation for the future greatness and glory of the Roman state.

Two versions have been preserved about the death of Romulus, one of them can safely be called aristocratic, the other plebeian. According to the first, Romulus was ascended alive to heaven in the fiery chariot of Mars during the traditional review of troops at the Capraean swamps (on the Field of Mars near the Tiber) on February 17; year unknown. According to the second version, Romulus was killed by the patricians because he tried to limit their power, and the Romans solemnly buried him in the Forum. Both versions are unanimous that after death Romulus became a god and took the name Quirinus. Under this name, Romulus guarded the city that he founded and the people who inhabited it - until the Romans stopped worshiping Romulus as their god.

According to the Roman historical tradition, which, of course, covers both legends and traditions, Romulus founded Rome somewhere in the middle of the 8th century. BC e.; in the 1st century BC e. The Romans accepted the calculations of the encyclopedist M. T. Varro, according to which Rome was founded on April 21 of the third year of the sixth Olympiad. Based on this, the historian Dionysius Exigius calculated in the 6th century. n. e., that Rome was founded in 753 BC. e.

After Romulus, Rome had six kings: Numa Pompilius, Tullus Hostilius, Ancus Marcius, Tarquinius Priscus (Ancient), Servius Tullius and Tarquinius Superbus (Proud), who in 510 BC. e. the Roman people were deposed and expelled from Rome. Many modern researchers consider these kings historical figures, although their images are shrouded in a haze of myths. However, in general, the history of the Roman kings (and the early Republic) remains legendary, and Romulus a mythical figure. It is curious that the history of ancient Rome not only begins with the name of Romulus, but also ends. The last Roman emperor combined in his name the name of the first legendary Roman king and the first historical Roman emperor. His name was Romulus Augustulus (i.e. literally - “Romulus the Emperor, or Empress” - that’s how he was nicknamed for his lack of independence and short term board). He was deprived of power by the leader of the rebel German mercenaries from the Sciri tribe, Odoacer, in 476 AD. e. This year of the fall of the Western Roman Empire is formally considered the watershed of the ancient centuries and the Middle Ages.

As for the founding of Rome by Romulus and Remus, it appears that Rome was not “founded” at all. Most likely, it arose as a result of the merger of Latin settlements, whose inhabitants eventually subjugated the Sabine and other settlements in the territory of present Rome. Judging by archaeological finds, the oldest settlement on the land of Rome can be dated to approximately the 10th century. BC e. Traces of him were found on the Palatine Hill - this is consistent with the data of mythology and Roman tradition. The name "Rome" (in Latin and in Italian - "Roma") is obviously of Etruscan origin, and from it the name Romulus is probably derived.

Legends about the founding of Rome were processed in ancient centuries by Quintus Ennius in the Annals (3rd-2nd centuries BC), Titus Livius in the History (1st century BC), Ovid in the Metamorphoses and “Fastakh”, among the Greeks - Polybius, Dionysius of Halicarnassus and Plutarch.

The bronze sculptural group " Capitoline wolf": statue of the she-wolf herself - Etruscan work from the early 5th century. BC e., and in the 15th century. Pollaiolo made the figures of Romulus and Remus, which complemented this sculpture. "Romulus and Remus with She-Wolf and Shepherds" is depicted on a relief altar from 125 AD. e., found and stored in Ostia. Among the picturesque images, it is worth noting the cycle of frescoes “The Founding of Rome” by d’Arpia (early 15th century), the paintings “Romulus and Remus with the She-Wolf” by Rubens (1607-1608), “Romulus after the victory over Acron” by Ingres (1812). The abduction of the Sabine women and the events that followed are the theme of the paintings “The Rape of the Sabine Women” and “Reconciliation of the Romans with the Sabines” by Rubens (1632-1640), “The Rape of the Sabine Women” by Poussin (1635), and the large canvas “The Sabine Women Stopping the Battle between the Romans and the Sabines” by David (1799), “The Rape of the Sabine Women” by Picasso (1962, National Gallery in Prague); from the statues we will name “The Rape of the Sabine Woman” by Giambologna (1559).

Romulus and Remus are the main characters in the operas Cavalli (1645) and Burke (1829).

The so-called “tomb of Romulus” in the northwestern part of the Forum, discovered during excavations in 1899, is surprisingly close to its descriptions by ancient authors, but in best case scenario represents only a cenotaph (i.e. an empty, symbolic grave). Temple of Romulus in the southeastern part of the Forum, built in the 4th century. n. e., named so not in honor of the mythical founder of Rome, but in honor of the son of Emperor Maxentius. And the so-called “hut of Romulus” (or “hut of Faustulus”) on the Palatine Hill, which would have been cramped for sixteen people even in the era of the founding of Rome, is nothing more than a bait for tourists, just like the she-wolf kept on the Roman Capitol Senate in memory of the miraculous salvation of Romulus and Remus.

Today, most of our contemporaries, far from historical science, is associated with the names of such rulers as Caesar and Nero. Most Orthodox Christians have not even heard the name of Emperor Tiberius, but have heard about the era of his reign from evangelical descriptions of the trials conducted by the prefect of Judea, Pontius Pilate. At the same time, before the imperial era, Ancient Rome experienced republican rule, and its statehood was formed during the era of “Reges Romae” - the period of rule of the first Roman kings, which lasted from 753 to 509 BC.

The first king of ancient Rome

Today, most historians recognize the fact that the city of Rome was founded by a semi-legendary ruler. He is also considered the first king of Ancient Rome. His mother was the Vestal Virgin Silvia, whose lineage can be traced back to legendary hero Trojan Wars Aeneas, whose adventures are described by Virgil in the poetic epic “Aeneid”.

The priestesses of the ancient Roman Vesta were lied to for thirty years of celibacy. In order to justify her fornication, Sylvia “confessed” that she conceived the future founders of Rome, the twins Romulus and Remus, from the god of war Mars, who appeared to her in the temple grove. The twins were thrown into the Tiber, and after they miraculous salvation and being suckled (like Mowgli) by a she-wolf, they entered into a fight with their uncle Amulius, the ruler of the Italian city-state of Alba Longa.

When Rome was founded, a dispute arose between the twins about the location of the city's founding - in the lowlands and on the hills. Not finding a mutually acceptable solution, the brothers fought, and Romulus killed Remus. By the act of this that has come down to our time ancient king of Rome The division of the city into three parts, Palatine, Esquiline and Aventine, should be attributed, giving them the names of the corresponding hills. Historians attribute the founding and primary organization of the Senate to the merits of Romulus.

There are no reliable facts about the death of the first Roman king. According to legend, he simply ascended to heaven

The reign of the ancient kings of Rome

There was no dynastic succession to the throne during the reign of the kings of Rome. After the death of Romulus, Numa Pompilius is elected to the throne, after a vote of the Roman patricians. The reason for his nomination as sole ruler was the undoubted talents shown by Numa Pompilius during the reign of Romulus.

Among the undoubted advantages of the reign of the second Roman king, historians and researchers include:

• the introduction of new divine cults of Vesta and Janus, which became the prototype of all later religious ideology;
• prohibition of human sacrifice, including slaves and captured enemies;
• the introduction of a new time system according to which the year lasted 365 days;
• primary organization and formation of class castes (clan of artisans).

Numa Pompilius died at the age of 80 of natural causes, leaving behind a wealth of wealth. After his death, Tullus Hostilius was elected to the Roman throne.

Tullus Hostilius - the third Roman king was the grandson of Hostius Hostilius - one of the soldiers of Romulus, who died during the defense of Rome from the invasion of the Sabines, who wanted to destroy Rome - the abode of evil ancient world, after the Sabine women were kidnapped.

The outstanding events of the reign of Tullus Hostilius include the destruction of the city-state of Alba Longa and a significant expansion of the territories subject to Rome.

Grandson of Tullus Hostilius - Ankh Marcius was elected the fourth king of Rome and in the first years of his reign was distinguished by a quiet disposition and modest behavior. These external signs powerlessness gave the Latins and Etruscans a reason to start permanent wars with Rome, the purpose of which was to capture this city-state.

However, Ancus Marcius won the victory in these wars, forming the plebeian caste from the conquered Latins. Roman troops led by Ancus Marcius captured several Etruscan cities.

Lucius Tarquinius Priscus (Tarquin the Ancient) came from an ancient Etruscan family, and his accession to the Roman throne was ensured by his proximity to Ancus Marcius. The name of the fifth Roman king is associated with most of the transformations of Rome and the transformation of its semi-rural - semi-urban settlement into a full-fledged city - state, similar to Sparta. This was achieved by carrying out certain construction and organizational measures. During the reign of Tarquin the Ancient, the following construction work was carried out:

• stone paving of the forums existing at that time was carried out;
• a city-wide sewerage system - the "Great Cloaca" - and a city water supply system were laid;
• issued a decree on the preferred construction residential buildings And public buildings made of stone.

Servius Thulius came from the slave class, but became a freedman. Thanks to his closeness to the wife of Tarquinius the Ancient, Tanaquil, who created the legend of divine omens accompanying the birth of Silvius, and his marriage to the daughter of Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, he was elected the sixth king of Rome. Servius Tulius is known for his administrative reforms:

• carried out territorial division Rome for 21 districts;
• allowed the recruitment of Roman troops from the plebeian caste;
• simplified the procedure for transferring Roman slaves (plebeians) to the class of Roman citizens;
• equipped the city walls of Rome with powerful fortifications.

Was killed Tarquin the Proud who committed coup d'etat and became the last ancient king of Rome.

The last king of ancient Rome

The father of the last Roman king was Tarquin the Ancient, his wife was the king’s youngest daughter Servia, who bore the name Tulia. These two facts became the formal reason for Tarquin's claims to the Roman throne. All his state, military and administrative reforms are assessed negatively by historians. The main innovations implemented by the last Roman king are as follows:

• reduction of powers of legislative and representative bodies;
• restriction of the rights of the lower classes;
• formation of troops advantageously from barbarian tribes;
• carrying out repressions against a wide range of Roman citizens.

These transformations caused the most negative reaction in all layers of Roman society - especially among the nobility and priesthood. The formal reason for the overthrow of Tarquin the Proud was the rape of Lucretia, the daughter of Tricipitin, who was the wife of the patrician Collatinus. In 510 BC he was deprived of the throne, and a year later, during one of the uprisings, he was killed.

For better orientation in such distant times, next to the dates of the reign of the Roman kings, I will indicate some events that took place in other parts of the world.

The first king of Rome was Romulus.
The second king of Ancient Rome was the Sabine Numa Pompilius.
After the death of Romulus, the Senate, which at that time consisted of one hundred “fathers,” at first ruled without unity of command, each of the patricians ruled for 24 hours, transferring their powers to another. But then it was decided that the native Romans would choose a king from among the Sabines, thereby compensating for the fact that there were fewer Sabines. The devout Sabine Numa Pompilius was elected senator, as it was believed that this could strengthen the alliance between the Romans and the Sabines.
Ruled from 715 to 673/672 BC. e. He is credited with the establishment of priestly and craft colleges, religious cults and festivals of the Agonalia. He introduced the worship of the goddess Vesta and established the position of Vestal Virgins to serve her.
Numa Pompilius introduced a new lunisolar calendar, each year of which consisted of 355 days.
Unlike all other Roman kings who actively waged war, under Numa Pompilius the gates of the Temple of Janus, which were usually opened at the outbreak of armed conflicts, were never opened.
Numa Pompilius carried out a major reform of the calendar, on the basis of which the Julian calendar was subsequently introduced. Before him, the Romans divided the year into ten months, starting from March and ending in December. According to the new calendar, two new months were introduced - January and February. Thus, the calendar introduced by Numa Pompilius consisted of twelve months.

Tullus Hostilius became the new king of Rome after the death of Numa Pompilius. 673-642 BC
Tullus Hostilius was the grandson of the bravest of the Roman warriors, who died in the battle with the Sabines - Hostius Hostilius. Before being elected king, Tullus Hostilius was engaged in agriculture, however, upon ascending the throne, ambition began to play in him, so his reign was marked by many wars. In this he is similar to Romulus, which is why they are sometimes called doubles, just as Anca Marcia is the double of Numa Pompilius. Both Romulus and Tullus Hostilius doubled the population of Rome, organized an army, fought with the Fidenae and Veii, the death of both kings was supernatural. If Romulus and Numa Pompilius personified the Roman communities of the Ramni and Titii, then Tullus Hostilius is the legendary ancestor of the Lucerians, and Ancus Marcius - the plebs.
He conquered Alba Longa, destroyed it, and resettled the inhabitants to Rome, settling them on the Caelian Hill. The conquest and destruction of Alba Longa is a historical fact.

The fourth king was Ancus Marcius, the grandson of Numa. Ruled 642/640-617/616 BC. e.
The name Anca Marcia means "servant of Mars." The king was similar in wisdom and peaceful disposition to his grandfather. He patronized agriculture, crafts and trade. However, Rome's neighbors, accustomed to seeing the Romans as brave conquerors, perceived his peacefulness as weakness. Tribes of Latins and Sabines, Etruscans and Volscians rose against Rome. Ancus Marcius successfully started the war, took the cities of Politorium, Tellen and Ficani, and defeated the enemy army at Medullia. The Latin population of all these cities was resettled on the Aventine Hill, becoming the ancestor of the plebeian class. Thus, Rome's possessions were expanded to the very mouth of the Tiber. Then Ancus Marcius moved towards the troops, who were marching on Rome in several detachments. He defeated them and with a strong army besieged their capital, Velitra. The Volscians were forced to enter into an offensive and defensive alliance with Rome. Ancus Marcius captured the Etruscan cities of Veii and Fidenae.
Under Anca Marcius, the future king of Rome, Tarquinius Priscus, arrived in Rome and received an honorable reception. For his abilities, he received the position of chief of cavalry and participated in the war against the Sabines.
Ancus Marcius is considered the founder of the harbor and salt mines of Ostia, located at the mouth of the Tiber (archaeological excavations have shown that Ostia arose only in the 4th century BC). To protect Rome from Etruscan attacks, he fortified the Janiculum fortress on the other side of the Tiber, and built the first wooden bridge across the Tiber. He also built a prison at the foot of the Capitol.
According to some historians, Ancus Marcius and Numa Pompilius are one and the same person. This is indicated by the second name of Anca Marcius - Numa Marcius. This dichotomy was made to emphasize Numa's role as a bridge builder (pontiff).

Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, or Tarquin the Ancient, was the fifth king of Ancient Rome. Ruled from 616 to 579 BC. e. The historicity of Tarquin is recognized by most modern historians.
He was a foreigner, having moved to Rome from the city of Tarquinia. Thanks to his wealth and wisdom, he soon became one of the most powerful men in Rome. King Ankh Marcius noticed Lucius Tarquinius, made him his confidant and appointed him commander of the cavalry. After his death, Lucius Tarquin convinced the National Assembly that it was he, and not one of the young children of Ancus Marcius, who should become king of Rome.
After his election to the kingdom, Lucius Tarquin was forced to continue external wars with the Latins, Etruscans and Sabines. Cities such as Apioli, Firulea, Cameria and Nomentum were taken by assault. Those Latin cities that surrendered without a fight were to become Roman allies without reducing their previous rights. On the contrary, the city of Corniculus was destroyed to the ground for its stubborn defense after its capture. Lucius Tarquinius managed to subjugate Etruria and the Sabines and took enormous booty. Under him, Rome finally became the head of the Latin Union, inheriting this title from Alba Longa, destroyed by Tullus Hostilius.
During his reign, Lucius Tarquin carried out many reforms and became closely involved in the development of Rome. Under him, art began to develop in Rome. Here are the main milestones of his activities:
Lucius Tarquinius enlarged the senate to 200 people with new members from poor families. Among them were Octavia. Also, the Comitia Centuriata was expanded to 1,800 people.
Under him, the Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus was built, and a place was allocated for the Roman Forum. Lucius Tarquinius, according to legend, for the withdrawal Wastewater built the Roman sewer system - the Great Cloaca. He also built a large circus building to hold regular races and festivals.
Lucius Tarquin brought many Etruscan customs to Rome and, after victories over the Etruscans and Sabines, was the first to celebrate a triumph in Rome according to the Etruscan model.
Lucius Tarquinius was killed by the sons of Ancus Marcius in 579 BC.

Servius Tullius is the sixth of the kings of Ancient Rome, who ruled in 578-535 BC. e. He was the adopted son of Lucius Tarquinius. He is credited with reforms political system and large construction activities.
Most of the reign of Servius Tullius was peaceful, and the king had a lot of time to carry out government reforms.
Roman tradition associates the name of Servius Tullius with reforms that contributed to the establishment of the political system of Rome; the so-called Servian legislation. The most important of the reforms was the centuriate reform, according to which clan tribes were replaced by territorial ones. With this, Servius Tullius divided the entire population of Rome into 4 urban and 17 rural tribes. As a result, it turned out that 25,000 citizens living in Rome were able to bear arms (information according to Fabius Pictor, who lived in the 3rd century BC). For a more equal distribution of responsibilities between citizens, Servius Tullius introduced plebeians into the Roman community, and divided the entire population of Rome into 5 classes, or categories, according to property qualifications. Each class fielded a certain number of military units - centuries (hundreds) and received the same number of votes in the centuriate comitia. Some historians believe that the proletarians and the poor under Servius Tullius were allocated to a separate, 6th class and constituted 1st century without the right to vote and did not serve. Thus, an aristocracy of wealth was established to replace the aristocracy of kinship. The division of the Roman army into triarii, principi and hastati was based on classes.
According to legend, under Servius Tulia the construction of the city wall of Rome was completed (Servian city ​​wall), which surrounded five hills that already had their own fortifications, and also included the Quirinal and Viminal hills. Thus, Rome became a city on seven hills (Septimontium). However, archaeological excavations show that the city wall in Rome was built only 200 years later: in the 1st half of the 4th century BC. uh..
The dissatisfaction of the patricians with the reforms of Servius Tullius led to the fact that the king lost the support of the Senate. Lucius Tarquinius (the son of the previous king, Tarquinius Priscus) took advantage of this, convened the Senate into a curia and proclaimed himself king. When Servius Tullius (by that time already a very old man) came to the Senate to drive out the impostor, Tarquinius threw him down the steps onto a stone platform. Servius Tullius tried to escape, but was killed in the street by Lucius' followers. His body was immediately run over in a chariot by his youngest daughter Tullia. Lucius Tarquinius became king of Rome and received the nickname Proud.

Lucius Tarquinius the Proud (or Tarquinius II) - according to Roman tradition, the last, seventh king of Ancient Rome in 534-509 BC. e.
Immediately after his election to the kingdom, Lucius Tarquin surrounded himself with lictors and began to pursue a policy of repression against the adherents of the deceased Servius Tullius. The number of the Senate, which counted on Lucius Tarquinius returning the former privileges to the patricians, was reduced by almost half as a result of intrigues and denunciations. The tsar not only did not replenish it, but also began to convene it as rarely as possible. The functions of the Senate were actually replaced by the council of the king's associates.
Thanks to the large military booty, Lucius Tarquin began active construction in Rome. Under him, the Temple of Jupiter was completed on Capitol Hill, and the construction of the sewer system (Cloaca Maxima) was completed. Tarquinius the Proud destroyed the Sabine sanctuaries and leveled the Tarpeian Rock, which towered above the forum, from where the condemned were thrown into the Tiber.
Lucius Tarquin the Proud carried out an active campaign of conquest foreign policy. He strengthened the alliance between Rome and the Latin cities by physically eliminating those who considered Rome the enslaver of Latium and creating kinship alliances. So he married his daughter to Octavius ​​Mamilius, the king of Tusculum. Under Tarquinius Proud, Roman troops first invaded the Volscian region - the cities of Suessa-Pompecia and Anxur were conquered. The Sabines and Etruscans were suppressed.
The tyranny of the king and the abuses of his sons turned all sectors of society against him. As a result, Tarquin the Proud was expelled from Rome, and he was forced to seek refuge in Etruria with his three younger sons.
In exile, Lucius Tarquin tried to gain the support of the Etruscan and Latin kings, convincing them that Rome wanted to extend republican rule throughout Latium. The Etruscan king Lars Porsena, on whom Lucius Tarquin counted most, despite the victories over the Romans, was forced to conclude a peace treaty with the republic. Lucius Tarquinius managed to turn the Latins against Rome, but at the Battle of Lake Regilus in 496 BC. e. the allied army was defeated by the Romans. All of Tarquin's remaining sons died in the battle. The former king was forced to flee to the Greek colony of Cumae to King Aristodemus, where he died in 495 BC. e.

After this, the republican period of the development of Rome begins.
The historicity of the kings Numa and Anca Marcius has now been proven, and the date of the founding of Rome by Romulus has also been confirmed. At the same time, we must, of course, take into account that in the ancient tradition Roman history is embellished.
In particular, of course, people lived there even before the traditional date of the founding of Rome. It is believed that there were villages of different nationalities on different Roman hills. On the Palatine there are Latins, and on the northern hills there are Sabines. Gradually the villages expanded and united with each other. The villages of Palatina and Velii were the first to unite. A fortress common to all was built on the Capitol. Well, the beginning of the royal era marked the beginning of a united Roman community.

The structure of early Rome. Roman people.

When the Roman community was formed, the people of Rome consisted of 3 tribal tribes\Tentatively - Latins, Sabines and Etruscans. These tribes served as the base for recruiting the cavalry troops. The second element of society was the 30 curiae\unions of male warriors\The curiae fielded foot troops.
Well, the basis of the community was childbirth. At first there were 100 of them, later, by the end of the royal period, 300. Relatives bore one family name, derived from a real or mythical ancestor. Thus, the Julian family\to which Caesar later belonged\ traced their origins to Ascania-Yul, who was the grandson of Venus herself. The clan had the right to accept strangers. The clan consisted of surnames, which included several generations of descendants of the head of the family.
Rome was governed by the Tsar, the Senate and the Comitia
The Senate was a council of 100 and later 300 elders representing the clans. All senior heads of families\patres - patricians\ could enter the clan. So initially the concepts of people and patricians coincided.
Comitia are gatherings of male warriors. they gathered in curiae.\curiate comitia\
Over time, the city's population began to increase. At first, the newcomers were distributed among tribes and curiae, but later access to them was closed. Thus, new citizens were deprived of participation in the comitia and the Senate. They began to be called plebeians, plebs \from plere-fill\
As property stratification progressed, the plebeians and some members of the patrician families became poorer. In this case, they sought help from the richer and more noble and became their clients, and their patrons, accordingly, patrons. The client-patron bond was considered sacred and its violation was punishable by death.
Only full-fledged citizens - patricians - had the right to serve in the army, but, because. strengthening the state required an increase in troops, King Servius Tullius carried out military reform, after which the plebeians received the right to serve in the army, and the people's assemblies - curiatic comitia were transformed into centuriate ones\ according to centuries-military units\. The voting unit was the century. Servius Tullius also introduced the division of Rome into 21 district-tribes: 4 urban and 17 rural.

Last modified: September 22, 2018

Tarquin the Proud, son of Lucius Tarquin the Ancient, ascended the throne as a result of betrayal caused by own envy and at the instigation of his wife Tullia the Younger, after the unceremonious murder of his predecessor, and also his father-in-law, Servius Tullius. The tyrant was in power from 534 to 509. BC. and became the last ancient Roman king in the history of the Eternal City.

His reign began with repression, continued with tyranny, and ended with the exile of Tarquin the Proud and his unknown death. Under him, the Senate met less and less frequently, and the looming government problems were decided by those close to Lucius, as a rule, in their own favor. The nickname “Proud” in relation to a tyrant was associated rather with the concepts of “pride” and “arrogance” rather than with dignity.

Expulsion of Tarquin from Rome

The previous ancient Roman tried to get rid of the hatred of the sons of the fifth king Tarquinius Priscus, since they considered Tullius an upstart and an impostor. He decided to protect himself quite simply by marrying his daughters to the young man. But one of them turned out to be too ambitious in the bad sense of the word. In her ambitions, she became friends with her sister’s husband, after which they decided to get rid of their “halves.” After killing both, the pair came together to continue their criminal activities on the way to power. As a result, Tarquinius the Proud had a hand in the murder of Servius, who at that time was already in old age, and his wife Tullia the Younger rode a chariot over her dying father.

Murder of Servius Tullius

The seventh ancient Roman king waged wars of conquest and robbery, which replenished the budget of Rome, which helped to complete the construction of the Capitoline Temple and the city sewer system - the Great Cloaca. But the cruel acts of Tarquin the Proud, as well as the abuses and adulteries of his sons, caused discontent among the Romans. The last straw of patience was the abuse by one of the royal offspring of the married, virtuous Lucretia, who could not stand the shame and killed herself in front of her relatives.

Death of Lucretia

Subsequent events led to a rebellion and the expulsion of the ancient Roman king from the city. Lucius tried to regain power by force, attracting the Etruscans and Latins to his side, but this entire joint army was defeated by the Romans, after which the unfortunate king fled away from the city, where he soon died.

The names of the previous six ancient Roman kings, which can be read about by following the links:

According to one legend, the angry Romans threw the tyrant into the Tiber, where a