Etruscan Kings + Overthrow Of Kings Flashcards
(24 cards)
What were Lucius Tarquinius Priscus’ origins and rise to power?
• His father, Demaratus, fled from Corinth to the Tarquinii
◦ Created a trade empire there
◦ Brought Greek craftsmen, engineers and traders to Italy
• Lucomo (Priscus) couldn’t stand for office in Tarquinii because he was half Greek
• Traveled to Rome because:
◦ His wife (Tanaquil) told him to
◦ He knew Numa (a Sabine) had become king of Rome
• At the gates of Rome, an eagle snatched his cap; Tanaquil saw this as a good sign
• Lucomo sought an audience with Ancus Marcius
◦ Offered Ancus and the Romans lots of money
◦ Won the support of patricians and plebeians
◦ Ancus assigned him to one of the Curiae and gave him land
◦ Ancus said he should change his name to Lucius Tarquinius Priscus
◦ Priscus fought in Rome’s wars and funded them, winning support of the people
• When Ancus was near death, Priscus sent away his sons and made a speech outlining all he had done for Rome
• He was named the next king
What political contributions did Lucius Tarquinius Priscus make?
• Added 100 men to the senate
◦ Possibly to prop up his rule
• Built the Circus Maximus
◦ Increased the number of festivals and games
• Extended the forum and built lots of shops
• Constructed an open-air sewer
• Introduced the censors to carry out a census every year
◦ Determined what class each Roman belonged to
What religious policies did Priscus implement?
• Increased the number of Vestal Virgins
• Harsher punishments for Vestal Virgins who broke chastity
What military actions did Priscus take?
• Defeated several Latin cities
• Successful against Etruscan and Sabine cities
• Punished the Veii
• Strengthened walls around Rome
• Doubled the number of men in each century
• Added 1,200 horsemen as the first separate cavalry unit
What were Servius Tullius’ origins and rise to power?
• He was a slave whose head was surrounded by flames as he slept
• Tanaquil (Priscus’ wife) interpreted this as a sign he would save the royal family
• Priscus adopted Servius and let him marry one of his daughters
• When Priscus was killed by sons of Ancus, Tanaquil:
◦ Closed the palace
◦ Summoned Servius
◦ Told him to avenge Priscus and take the throne
◦ Pretended Priscus was wounded but alive
◦ Claimed Priscus wanted Servius to rule temporarily until he recovers.
• Servius married his daughters to Priscus’ sons to legitimise his reign because he was not chosen by the people
What political reforms did Servius Tullius enact?
• Made the census and a new voting system
◦ Poor did not pay taxes or serve militarily but got little help from the state
◦ Wealthy paid taxes, served in military, and gained political power
◦ Richest voted first; poorest last — most decisions made before poor could vote
• Introduced the equites
◦ Successful plebeians given horses by the state and joined cavalry
• Made a tribal system (divided Rome into 4 areas)
• Extended the city and built the Servian Walls
• Built the Temple of Diana to strengthen ties with Latin cities
What military achievements did Servius Tullius have?
• Fought a war against the Veii and other Etruscans
• Won the war, gaining support of both patricians and plebeians
How did Tarquinius Superbus come to power?
• Servius’ reforms made him unpopular with patricians
• Superbus gained patricians’ support through:
◦ Reminding them what his father (Priscus) had done
◦ Bribes and flattery
• Marched to the Senate and declared himself king with a speech
• Servius arrived and was thrown down the steps and killed by Superbus’ men
• Took the throne without the approval of the Senate
What political actions did Superbus take?
• Had bodyguards (because he was a tyrant)
• Judged all capital crimes
◦ Those who opposed him were accused and executed
• Stopped consulting the Senate
• Treated the plebs badly:
◦ Removed the census so plebs had to pay taxes and serve in the military
◦ Made plebs work in the Circus Maximus, Cloaca Maxima, and several temples
• Founded colonies such as Signia and Circeii
What religious actions did Superbus take?
• Banned religious ceremonies where groups of men could meet
◦ Possibly out of fear of rebel groups forming
• Built a number of temples
What military actions did Superbus take?
• Conquered the Gabii through his son (Sextus):
◦ Sextus pretended to desert to the Gabii
◦ Used Roman military knowledge to defeat Roman forces
◦ Rose to power in Gabii
◦ Murdered the leading men and took control of the city
• Conquered the Volsci
Reign Dates of Lucius Tarquinius Priscus
616 - 578
Reign dates of Servus Tullius
578 - 535
Reign dates of Tarquinius Superbus
535 - 509
When was the overthrow of the kings?
509
What led to Sextus Tarquinius’ assault on Lucretia?
• The sons of Superbus (including Sextus) and their cousin (Collatinus) were playing a drinking game to decide whose wife was the most virtuous
• They found Collatinus’ wife to be the most virtuous
• Sextus lusted after her
What did Sextus Tarquinius do after desiring Lucretia?
• He came to their house a few days later
• Was offered a room overnight
• Came into Lucretia’s room and demanded to sleep with her
• She refused
How did Sextus Tarquinius threaten Lucretia and what did she do?
• He threatened to kill her and a slave and put them in the same bed
• Then claim he found them together and killed them both
• This would ruin Collatinus’ reputation
• Alternatively, he said he would just rape her
• Lucretia allowed herself to be raped
• She summoned her father, husband, and Brutus after it was done
• She informed them of Sextus’ crimes
• Then she killed herself
What did Brutus do after Lucretia’s death?
• Swore revenge
• Used his position as tribune of the celeres to call an assembly
• At the assembly he outlined the crimes of Superbus
• Demanded his immediate exile
What happened when Tarquinius Superbus returned from Arden?
• He came to oppose Brutus
• The gates of Rome were shut to him
• Superbus and his family were exiled
Who became the first consuls of the Roman Republic?
• Brutus and Collatinus became the first consuls
Why did Collatinus step down as consul and who replaced him?
• Collatinus was a Tarquin
• People didn’t like his family and believed he may be corrupt as well
• So Collatinus stepped down
• Publius Valerius became a consul
What did Tarquinius Superbus demand regarding his property and how did Rome respond?
• Superbus demanded that his property be returned
• Rome knew if they did, he would be able to wage war on Rome
• But they couldn’t keep it either, as it would give him a valid reason for war
• So they gave it to the people so that they wouldn’t support Superbus
What conspiracy was discovered involving the Tarquins and what was Brutus’ response?
• Some patricians were found to be conspiring to restore the Tarquinius
• Publius Valerius discovered the plot and told Brutus
• Brutus had them killed
• Including his own sons
