Lucius Tarquinius Superbus
Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, also known as Tarquin the Proud, was the last king of Rome, ruling from approximately 535 to 509 BC. He was the son of Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, the fifth king of Rome, and succeeded Servius Tullius through a violent coup.
Ascension to Power
Superbus's rise to power was marked by treachery and murder. He orchestrated the assassination of his predecessor, Servius Tullius, by having his men attack him in the Senate, after which he usurped the throne. This act set the tone for his rule, characterized by autocracy, tyranny, and the suppression of the Senate's power.
Reign
During his reign:
- He abolished many of the reforms of Servius Tullius, particularly those that empowered the lower classes.
- He relied heavily on military force to maintain his rule, engaging in numerous wars to expand Roman territory.
- Notably, he completed the construction of the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus on the Capitoline Hill, a project started by his father.
- He built the Cloaca Maxima, Rome's great sewer system, to drain the marshy land between the Capitoline and Palatine Hills.
Tyranny and Exile
The rule of Lucius Tarquinius Superbus is often cited as the epitome of tyranny:
Legacy
The legacy of Lucius Tarquinius Superbus is predominantly negative:
- His reign is considered the reason for the establishment of the Roman Republic, as the Senate and Roman people sought to prevent such tyranny from occurring again.
- His name became synonymous with oppressive rule, and his expulsion from Rome was celebrated in Roman history and literature.
- The event of his ousting was seen as a turning point in Roman governance, leading to the development of the Roman Republic's political structure.
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