First king of ancient rome name. General notebook. Rome: Seven kings

Two estates - patricians (to know, they lived on those lands initially) and plebeians (who came, who got little land). Differences:

• - Plebeians owned a small allotment of land
• - did not participate in wars
• - Did not take part in the division of the conquered lands. All these lands were transferred to the public fund - ager publicus.

Royal period - 6th century BC It was 7 kings: Romulus, Numa Pompilius, Tullus Hostilius, Ankh Marcius, Tarquinius the Ancient, Servius Tullius, Tarquinius the Proud. About each in more detail:

Romulus

Together with his brother, Remus, he went down in history as the founder of Rome. Their mother, Sylvia, was a priestess of Vesta, which suggested her celibacy. When she gave birth to two sons, her uncle Amulius, who wanted to become king after the death of her father, decided to get rid of the girl and her children. The twins were placed in a basket and sent down the Tiber River, but they soon washed ashore and managed to survive. The children were fed by a she-wolf (which later became a symbol of Rome). Later, when they grew up, they returned to the city and killed Amulius. A few years later, Rem was killed by his brother during a quarrel - they could not decide where to establish a new colony (directly on a hill or in a lowland).

Romulus divided the city into three parts and left a ruler in each. He is also believed to have created the Senate.

Little is known about his death. Some sources claim that he simply ascended to heaven.

Didn't have any special powers.

After his death, his heir was chosen.

Numa Pompilius

He was chosen for his talents, since after the death of Romulus there was no legitimate ruler left (before the election of Numa, the powers of the patricians were daily transferred to each other) Reforms:

• - Establishment of an association of artisans
• - Ordering of religious life (the cult of the goddess Vesta and the god Janus).
• - Prohibition of human sacrifice
• - Introduction of a new calendar consisting of 355 days.

Tull Hostilius

Previously, he was a farmer, however, after becoming king, he began to wage numerous wars.

Conquered the neighboring city of Alba Longa. In one of the wars, the army of this city was in no hurry to help Rome, counting on getting rid of its pressure. Rome won everything, and Alba Longa was ordered to destroy.

During this time, the boundaries of Rome expanded significantly.

Ankh Marcius

Tull's grandson. As contemporaries noted, he was distinguished by a very quiet disposition, because of which neighboring cities (Etruscans and Latins, for example) began actions to capture Rome.

Continued conquest. He waged a successful war with the Latins: it ended in victory, and the Latins formed a layer of plebeians.

Ankh Marcius also captured a number of Etruscan cities.

Tarquinius the Ancient

Etruscan, who amassed a large fortune and went to Rome. He came to the throne by marrying the daughter of Ankh.

He continued the wars with the Latins and Etruscans.

Brought Rome out of the image of the village. Reforms:

• - paved the forums,
• - conducted a sewer ("Great cloaca"),
• - installed plumbing
• - initiated the construction of stone houses

Servius Tullius

He was a slave, but his masters loved him. He was predicted the fate of the king: contemporaries describe the appearance of a fiery crown on his head. Later he received a good education. Oddly enough, the prediction came true: he was enthroned by his wife Tarquinia. Reforms:

• Divided Rome into 21 arrondissements
• - Changed the principle of recruiting troops. Allowed to recruit plebeians. Divided society into 6 divisions a certain amount wars. First came the chariots, then the horsemen, and the poorest simply allocated money and a small number of wars.
• - Plebeians were introduced into the community. The king sometimes freed slaves, which earned people's love
• - Powerful city fortifications were built

Tarquinius the Proud

He overthrew Servius (brutally killed with the help of his wife) and made a coup d'état. Carried out a series of actions that led to the revolution.

In particular, he began repressive actions against the common people and surrounded himself with personal protection for complete safety. Reduced the powers of the authorities. The army began to be staffed from mercenary wars. at the same time, the rights of the lower classes were significantly reduced. Together with his sons, he was expelled and then killed during one of the uprisings.

In 510 he was overthrown. Thus ended the royal era.

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Today, most of our contemporaries, far from historical science, associate ancient Roman history with the names of such rulers as Caesar and Nero. Most Orthodox have not even heard the name of the emperor Tiberius, and they have heard about the era of his reign from the evangelical descriptions of the courts brought 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 in the era of "Reges Romae" - the period of rule of the first Roman kings, which lasted from 753 to 509 BC.

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 Sylvia, whose family can be traced back to the legendary hero of the Trojan Wars, Aeneas, whose adventures are described by Virgil in the poetic epic Aeneid.

The priestesses of the ancient Roman Vesta suffered a thirty-year celibate dinner. 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 a temple grove. The twins were thrown into the Tiber, and after their miraculous rescue and feeding (like Mowgli) by a 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 place where the city was founded - in the lowlands and on the hills. Not finding a mutually acceptable solution, the brothers quarreled, and Romulus killed Remus. To the deed 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 foundation 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 the vote of the Roman patricians. The reason for his promotion to the sole rulers was the undoubted talents shown by Numa Pompilius during the reign of Romulus.

To the undoubted advantages of the reign of the second Roman king, historians - researchers include:

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

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

Tull 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 royal city 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 of impotence gave rise to the Latins and Etruscans to start permanent wars with Rome, the purpose of which was to capture this city-state.

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

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

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

Servius Thulius came from a slave class, but became a freedman. Thanks to his closeness to the wife of Tarquinius the Ancient - Tanakvil, who created the legend of the divine omens that accompanied the birth of Sylvius, and his marriage to the daughter of Lucius Tarquinius Prisca, he was elected the sixth king of Rome. Servius Thulius is known for his administrative reforms:

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

Was killed Tarquinius the Proud , who committed a coup d'état and became the last ancient king of Rome.

The last king of ancient Rome

The father of the last Roman king was Tarquinius the Ancient, his wife was the youngest daughter of King Servius, who bore the name of Tulia. These two facts became the formal reason for Tarquinius' claims to the Roman throne. All its state, military and administrative reforms viewed 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 advantage from barbarian tribes;
• carrying out repressions against a wide range of Roman citizens.

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

Tradition invariably speaks of seven Roman kings, always calling them by the same names and in the same order: Romulus, Numa Pompilius, Tullus Hostilius, Ankh Marcius, Tarquinius Priscus (Ancient), Servius Tullius and Tarquinius the Proud.

Romulus, first king of Rome

Romulus was credited with strengthening the Palatine and organizing the Roman community. He created a senate of 100 "fathers", established the insignia of the supreme power (12 lictors), divided the people into 30 curiae by the names of Sabine women, established three tribes - Ramnov, Titiev and Lucerov, arranged a refuge for fugitives (asylum), so that in this way increase the population of the city, and so on. Under Romulus, a merger with the Sabine community took place. The legend tells about it in the following way. The Romans needed wives, and since none of the (neighbors wanted to give their daughters to their robber nest, Romulus decided to deceive. A feast was held in the city, to which the neighbors were invited. Many residents of the surrounding cities appeared, including the whole Sabine people with their wives and children. In the midst of the holiday, the Roman youth rushed at the girls and kidnapped them. Frightened and offended parents fled, complaining about the violation of the law of hospitality. Sabines, headed by King Titus Tatius. However, the Sabine women had already become accustomed to their husbands, and when a decisive battle began, they rushed between the ranks of the fighters and reconciled them. After that, the Sabines moved to Rome and formed one state with the Romans. Titus Tatius became co-ruler of Romulus. When he died, Romulus united in his hands a single supreme power. There were two versions about the end of Romulus: according to one - he was taken to heaven alive, according to the other - killed by the "fathers".

Numa Pompilius, second king of ancient Rome

Numa Pompilius was born on the day of the foundation of Rome (April 21, 753 BC) in the family of Pomponius, a Sabine by birth. Numa was the fourth son in the family, he was brought up in strictness - his father, although he held a high position in the Sabinian community, did not allow any luxury in his house. Numa spent his youth in the city of Evreux. He married Tatsia, the daughter of King Tatius, co-ruler of Romulus. Tatsia died shortly after the wedding, at the age of 13. Heavily mourning this loss, Numa withdrew towards the Alban mountains, into the valley of Aricia. There he met the nymph Egeria, who taught him lawmaking.

Numa had one daughter, Pompilius (according to one version, she was the child of Tatsia, according to another, of his second wife, Lucretia), who later married Marcius I and gave birth to the future king Ancus Marcius. In his “comparative biographies”, Plutarch mentions, among other options, the alleged four sons of Numa: Pompa, Pina, Kalpa and Mamerka, also citing the opinion of some historians that the noble Roman families of Pomponii, Pinarii, Calpurniev and Aemiliev descended from them. However, this option seems doubtful even to him, since all early family lists were destroyed during the first invasion of the Gauls, and, apparently, belongs to the hand of an unknown compiler of long aristocratic genealogies popular in the ancient world.
After the death of Romulus, the senate, which at that time consisted of a hundred "fathers", at first ruled without unity of command, each of the patricians ruled for a day, transferring his powers to another. But then it was decided that the native Romans would choose a king from among the Sabines, so that neither one nor the other would be offended. The devout Sabine Numa Pompilius was elected senators, as it was believed that this could strengthen the alliance between the Romans and the Sabines. At first, he refused a high honor, but his father and Marcius I convinced him that only his wisdom could teach the warlike people of Rome to achieve prosperity not only by war, but also by peace.
Of note are the following achievements and innovations made by Numa Pompilius:

• Under him, all the lands belonging to Rome were counted, the land was surveyed with stone pillars.
• He established craft workshops, establishing separate festivals for each of them. Here is what Plutarch says about this in his Comparative Lives:

• Numa Pompilius was the first to establish religious cults. He introduced among the people the veneration of Term (the god of boundaries) and Fides (the god of peace and the personification of honesty at work). Introduced the position of priests to serve Jupiter, Mars and Quirinus. Finally, he introduced the worship of the goddess Vesta and established the position of vestals to serve her.
• He also established the positions of fetials and pontiffs.
• The second Roman king built his palace on Veli, between the Quirinal and the Palatine, which symbolized the unification of the two communities: the Roman and the Sabines.
• He forbade human sacrifices and introduced bloodless ones (onions, hair, etc.)..
• Numa Pompilius introduced a new lunar calendar, each year of which consisted of 355 days. He is also credited with the division of days into ordinary and festas.

Unlike all other Roman kings who actively waged wars, under Numa Pompilius, the gates of the temple of Janus, which usually opened at the beginning of armed conflicts, never opened.
In the seventh year of the reign of Numa Pompilius, an epidemic broke out in Italy, as a result of which thousands of people died both in Rome itself and in its environs. According to legend, once the king was walking in the forest, preoccupied with the thought of saving the people, and suddenly, with thunder and lightning, a skillfully decorated shield fell at his feet. Immediately, the patroness of Numa Pompilius, Egeria, appeared and said that this shield was a gift from Jupiter, and described a special ritual with which you can avert any misfortune from Rome. Numa Pompilius followed the advice of the goddess and ordered 11 copies of this shield to be made, which he ordered to be hung and stored in the temple of Vesta. The king also established a special brotherhood of the Salii, who were to perform a sacred dance around the city every year in March, armed with these shields ( dance of the salii).
Upon the death of the king, the nymph, from tears, turned into a source.
Numa Pompilius carried out a serious reform of the calendar, on the basis of which it was subsequently introduced Julian calendar. Before him, the Romans divided the year into ten months, starting in 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:
Quintilis and sextilis were subsequently renamed July and August, respectively, after Julius Caesar and Octavian Augustus.
Numa Pompilius died from natural causes in 673 BC e. at the age of 80, leaving, according to legend, a great written heritage. He bequeathed to bury all his books with him. In 181 BC. e. on Janiculum, 2 stone caskets were accidentally found, with inscriptions in Greek and Latin, from which it turned out that in one casket lay the ashes of Numa Pompilius, and in the other his books - 7 books on pontifical law and 7 on Greek philosophy. The manuscripts turned out to be intact, but the city praetor decided to burn them, as he considered that they contained opinions that threatened the modern religious ideas of the Romans. Subsequently, among the alchemists, there was an opinion that some of the manuscripts of Numa Pompilius escaped fire, and they contained the secret of the philosopher's stone.

Tull Hostilius

After the death of Numa Pompilius, the choice of the Roman people fell on the brave Tullus Hostilius. By the conquest of Alba Longa he made big step to the rise of Rome. The hostility that existed between the metropolis of Alba Longoia and its rapidly developing colonial city of Rome led to frequent mutual raids. Now that the reconciling spirit of Numa Pompilius was no longer there, this dislike led to open war. Both armed troops were already facing each other, when ancient custom it was proposed to resolve the dispute by single combat of individuals selected from both troops, so that the side whose combatant was defeated would submit to the victorious side.
The proposal was accepted, and Fate itself seemed to help that for this duel three brothers were chosen from the Roman army, whose father was called Horace, and in Albanian - also three brothers from the Curiatii family. The Fetials confirmed the treaty with their sacred rites, and both troops, full of expectation, became spectators around the fighters.
In the first encounter, one Roman and one Albanian fell.
In the second collision, the second Roman was struck to the ground, while the other two Albans were only wounded. The Albanians perked up. But the surviving Roman deceived them with cunning. He took to flight, foreseeing that the Albanians would not be able to follow him with the same speed, since one was lightly wounded and the other badly. As soon as Horace noticed that they were at a great distance from each other, he unexpectedly turned back and struck down both Albanians one by one.
The Roman army greeted the winner Horace with joyful clicks. He returned to the city at the head of the Roman army, greeted by universal joyful exclamations. The armor of three slain Curiatii was solemnly carried in front. Only one soul was saddened amid this general rejoicing - Horace's own sister, who was betrothed to one of the Curiatii. At the news of the death of the groom and at the sight of his clothes, which she herself sewed for him, she fell into despair, let her hair down and called the name of the groom with weeping.
The soul of the young man was outraged by the cries of his sister, which darkened his joy and victory. Drawing his sword, he stabbed the girl, exclaiming at the same time: “Go to your beloved with your love that has come at the wrong time! Thus will perish every Roman woman who begins to mourn the enemy of her fatherland! All Rome was embarrassed by the act of Horace.
It seemed inhuman to punish the savior of the fatherland, but to leave unpunished the murderer of the sister was godless. Criminal judges sentenced Horace to death. But the people to whom he appealed rejected the verdict of the judges and declared the guilty man free, based on the fact that the fatherland should be valued above all family ties, in sympathy with the aged father of Horace, who lost three children in one day. But in order to propitiate the gods, angry because of the murder of a sister, and to cleanse the city from sin, propitiatory sacrifices were made. The guilty person himself, with his face covered, was led under a kind of gallows, that is, under a log lying on two pillars. (This method of humiliation was often used subsequently during wars against an enemy who had surrendered). By this they thought to satisfy the divine and human laws, and then again indulged in rejoicing on the occasion of the subjugation of the Albanians.
But the Albanians were very weary of their dependent position. Soon, by virtue of their obligations, they had to provide the Romans with an auxiliary army for the war with the fidenati and veii. On the advice of their leader Mettius Fufetius, they decided to use this opportunity to kill the Romans. The Albanians intended during the battle to go over to the side of the enemy and thereby destroy the Roman army.
But Fufetiy decided only on half measures. In order to leave himself a way out, although he retired from the Romans at the beginning of the battle, he did not immediately connect with the enemy, but stood aside, waiting to see which side the victory would turn to.
In the worst case, he expected to present his departure as a military ruse and explain that he wanted to go behind enemy lines. As a result, the courage and hope of the enemy did not increase, and the Romans, really embarrassed at first, soon recovered from their confusion. Tullus Hostilius, having learned about the departure of Fufetius, with the greatest presence of mind shouted to his people: “So it is necessary, I ordered him to do this: they surround the fidenates!” And the Romans, who fought more bravely, won.
Thus the Romans escaped the fate destined for them. But he did not escape his Fufetii. Seeing that the Romans were winning, and his plan was frustrated, Fufetius began to bravely pursue the fleeing fidenati. After the battle, he appeared to Tullus Hostilius, congratulated him on his victory and expected to receive gratitude from him for the devotion he had shown. But Tullus Hostilius understood his cunning and, outwardly maintaining his former friendly relations with Fufetius, adopted a quick, strong and therefore the surest means for punishing the Albans and their perfidious leader.
He secretly sent Horace with a select detachment to Alba Longa with instructions to take possession of the city and its inhabitants. At the same time, he ordered the city to be destroyed and razed to the ground, with the exception of temples, but forbade causing further disasters to citizens. He ordered to announce to the Albanians that they, with all their families, moved to Rome. While this was being carried out, Tullus Hostilius summoned the Albanian army to himself, as if wishing to praise the bravest for their service in the last battle, and ordered the Romans, each of whom had a sword hidden under his cloak, to surround the assembled crowd of Albanians. Then Tullus Hostilius ascended the platform and announced to the Albanians that he knew about their treachery and intended to punish them.
Any attempt at resistance was in these circumstances unthinkable. At the same time, Tullus Hostilius announced that the city of Alba Longa had already been destroyed by Horace.
He won over the poorest classes to his side by promising to give them plots of land when settling in Rome. He convinced some of the most distinguished by accepting them as patricians and into the senate, and for their meetings he ordered the construction of a huge building on the square - the Hostilian curia.

Ankh Marcius, 4th king of ancient Rome

The name Anka Marcia means "servant of Mars", which largely determined his fate. The king was similar in wisdom and peace-loving disposition to his grandfather. He patronized agriculture, crafts and trade. However, the neighbors of Rome, accustomed to seeing the Romans as brave conquerors, perceived his peacefulness as a weakness. Tribes of Latins and Sabines, Etruscans and Volsci rose to Rome. Ankh Marcius successfully started the war, took the cities of Politorium, Tellen and Ficani, defeated the enemy army at Medullia. The Latin population of all these cities was resettled on the Aventian Hill, becoming the ancestor of the plebeian class. Thus, the possessions of Rome were expanded to the very mouth of the Tiber. Then Ankh Marcius moved towards the Volsci, who were advancing in several detachments on Rome. He defeated them and with a strong army besieged their capital - Velitra. The Volsci were forced to conclude an offensive and defensive alliance with Rome. Ankom Marcius captured the Etruscan cities of Veii and Fiden.
Under Ancus Marcius, the future king of Rome, Tarquinius Priscus, arrived in Rome and received an honorary reception. For his abilities, he received the post of head of the cavalry and participated in the war against the Sabines.

Ankh 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, Ankh Marcius and Numa Pompilius are one and the same person. This is indicated by the second name of Anka Marcia - Numa Marcius. This bifurcation was made in order to emphasize the role of Numa as a bridge builder (pontiff).

Tarquinius Priscus, fifth king of ancient Rome

According to legend, the birthplace of the king was the Etruscan city of Tarquinia. His real name was Lukumon. The father of Lucius Tarquinius - Demaratus moved to Tarquinia from the Greek city of Corinth and belonged to the Bakchiad family. Born from a Tarquin woman, Lukumon, in his youth, made a great fortune for himself and married Tanakvil, an intelligent and ambitious woman. It was she who advised him to move to Rome, because in Tarquinia, due to the fact that Lukumon was not a purebred Etruscan, the path to higher positions was closed to him.
Lucumon with all the house and riches went to Rome. When he was already approaching Janiculum in his chariot, the eagle circled over the head of the future king, grabbed his helmet, lifted it into the air, and then again laid it on his head. Tanakvil saw this as a good omen and said that Lukumon would become king.
Arriving in Rome, Lucumon took a new name for himself: Lucius Tarquinius. Thanks to his wealth and wisdom, he soon became one of the most influential people in Rome. Tsar Ankh Marcius noticed Lucius Tarquinius, made him his close associate and appointed him head of the cavalry. After his death, Lucius Tarquinius convinced the National Assembly that it was he, and not one of the young children of Ancus Marcius, who should become the king of Rome.
Many historians, including Niebuhr and Mommsen, reject the tradition of the Etruscan origin of Lucius Tarquinius and believe that he belonged to the Lucer tribe. It should be noted that at the time of Lukumon, the Tarquinian family already existed.
After his election to the kingdom, Lucius Tarquinius was forced to continue external wars with the Latins, Etruscans and Sabines. Cities such as Apioli, Firuleia, Cameria and Nomentum were taken by attack. Those Latin cities that surrendered without a fight were to become Roman allies without diminishing their former rights. On the contrary, the city of Kornikul was destroyed to the ground for stubborn defense after the capture. Lucius Tarquinius managed to subjugate Etruria and the Sabines and took huge 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 Tarquinius carried out many reforms, came to grips with the arrangement of Rome. Under him, art began to develop in Rome. Here are the main milestones of his work:

• Under him, the Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus was built, a place was allocated for the Roman Forum. Lucius Tarquinius, according to legend, to withdraw Wastewater built the Roman sewer - the Great Cloaca. He also built the building of a large circus for regular races and festivities.
• Lucius Tarquinius enlarged the senate to 200 with new members from poor families. Among them were Octavia. Also, the centuriate commission was expanded to 1800 people.
• Lucius Tarquinius brought many Etruscan customs to Rome and, after victories over the Etruscans and Sabines, was the first to celebrate an Etruscan-style triumph in Rome.

The sons of Ancus Marcius, meanwhile, continued to bear a grudge against their father's favorite, who took away their royal power. As part of the conspiracy, they staged an ostentatious quarrel between themselves, and when Lucius Tarquinius came out to reconcile them, he was killed with a blow from a club. However, the conspirators did not gain anything from this murder and were expelled from the city: the curule seat was taken by Foster-son of the murdered king and favorite of Tanakvil - Servius Tullius.
Servius Tullius

Tarquinius left behind two minor sons and a son-in-law, Servius Tullius. But those rough and troubled times they did not allow the institution of guardianship to preserve the royal throne for young children, but demanded the immediate replacement of the king. Tanakvila immediately realized that she and the entire royal family would be doomed to death if the sons of Ancus Marcius succeeded in seizing the supreme power. At the same time, Servius Tullius seemed the only person capable of averting such a misfortune and at the same time worthy of owning the royal crown.
According to reliable sources, Servius Tullius came from a noble family in the Latin city of Carnicula and was born in Rome. His mother was a prisoner and a slave in the old Tarquinius's home during the capture of the city by the Romans, and his father, Tullius, was killed in battle. Queen Tanakwila fell in love with both mother and son. The boy was named Servius Tullius, received a good upbringing and showed great abilities. It was rumored that when Servius was still a child, one day during sleep, the hair on his head lit up with a fiery radiance, which disappeared upon awakening. Tanakvila, very well versed in Etruscan wisdom, explained this miraculous sign as an omen sent by the gods of the future glory of the child.
Tanakvila and the growing Servius did everything to make this divine omen come true. By courage and intelligence, Servius won for himself the high position and dignity of a senator and patrician.
Tanakvila and Tarquinius married their daughter to him, and Tarquinius handed over to him the management of important affairs. Thus, the people have long been accustomed to seeing this happy and worthy temporary worker next to the tsar and rewarded him with their full confidence. Therefore, Tanakvila and Servius himself had no doubt that the people, after the death of Tarquinius, would also willingly see him as their king. Therefore, Tanakvila, as soon as her husband was killed, ordered the house to be locked up and announced to the assembled and amazed people that Tarquinius was not killed, but only wounded, and before his recovery transferred the government of the state to his son-in-law, Servius Tullius.
The next day, Servius Tullius appeared in the town square under the protection of a strong escort of bodyguards and, in order to remove from his path the most dangerous enemies, the sons of Ancus Marcius, accused them of premeditated murder. He sentenced them, as one would expect, to exile and confiscation of all property. They fled, and their party, devoid of leaders, lost all meaning.
Now Servius Tullius, believing that he no longer had anything to fear, announced that the aged king had died of his wounds. Servius did not lay down his royal dignity and ruled for some time without the consent of the patricians and the senate. Only having secured the preliminary promises of the patricians, he called them to a meeting and persuaded him to approve him as king.
Servius Tullius, like Numa Pompilius and Ancus Marcius, was a friend of the world and waged war only with the Etruscans. Having forced them to recognize the supreme authority of Rome, he entered into an alliance with the Latins and arranged common sacrifices and festivities for the Romans and Latins in the temple of Diana on the Aventine Hill. Servius Tullius added Esquiline and Viminal to the Palatine, Capitoline, Quirinal, Caelian, Aventine hills that existed until that time, surrounded all this space with a wall and a moat, and thus became the founder of the "seven-hilled city."
He divided the whole Roman region into thirty districts (tribes), namely: the city itself into four tribes, and the region into twenty-six. This division into thirty tribes extended not only to the plebeians, but also to the patricians.
Servius Tullius eased the situation of the poorest part of the population by paying the debts of the poor and distributing among them small land from state land.
However, by these beneficent cares for the plebeians, he aroused the hatred of the patricians against himself.
But the greatest act of Servius Tullius was the division and organization of the entire Roman population in general, both patricians and plebeians, according to property into classes and centuries. The structure of the army and the composition of the newly established people's assembly were based on this division. Thanks to this measure, the tribes and curia of the patricians lost their power, and the merger of the patricians and plebeians into one equal state estate was prepared.
Regardless of origin, Servius divided the entire population into five classes, and the classes, in turn, into one hundred and ninety-three centuries. The patricians, as the richest, had to pay more taxes and bear the greater burden of military service. The plebeians, as people of lesser means, were burdened with lesser duties. While retaining their political rights, they were relegated to the background, but they had the opportunity to achieve a higher social position.
The five property classes were composed as follows. The first included those whose property amounted to at least 100,000 asses (then the Roman as was equal to one pound of copper). This class consisted of eighty centuriae, or, as the division into classes had an influence on the manner in which military service was carried out, eighty detachments of infantry. Of these, forty consisted of young people from 18 to 46 years of age who carried out military service in the field, while the remaining forty consisted of older people who were intended for the internal protection of the city. The armament of the first-class persons consisted of a shell, a legguard, a spear, a sword, a helmet and a shield.
Horsemen also belonged to this class; they were divided into eighteen centuries and consisted of richer and younger people.
Although the infantry and cavalry did not receive a salary, the horses and food for them were delivered to the state account. This whole class thus had ninety-eight centuries.
The second class consisted of those whose property was estimated at 75,000 asses. It was divided into twenty centuries, which, like the first class, were divided into two divisions, according to their age. Persons of the second class had the same weapons as the first, but without armor, and their shields were lighter.
A property of 50,000 asses gave the right to belong to the third class.

This class was also divided into twenty centuries, of which ten consisted of young, and ten of old warriors. The weapons appropriated by them did not include a shell and a legguard. The fourth class had the same number of twenty centuries, with their division according to age, the condition of belonging to which was property of 25,000 asses. The spear, shield and sword were the weapons of the persons belonging to this class.
In the fifth class, the number of centuries was thirty, with property of 12,500 asses. People of this class were armed with spears, slings and served in light troops.
All other citizens, whose property was less than the property of persons of the fifth class, and citizens who did not have any property, were called proletarians, that is, the owners of only children.
Despite the fact that there were a lot of them, they made up only one centuria. The proletarians were free from military service and from all taxes. Taxes were paid only by the rest of the classes according to their property.
Those who served in the army as buglers, trumpeters, gunsmiths and carpenters made up four special centuries.
From this division it can be seen that in the centurial comitia (meetings), in which voting took place by centuries, the first class, with its ninety-eight centuries, was predominant, its opinion was decisive, and all legislative power was concentrated in its hands.
In addition, the patricians still met in curial comitia and approved decisions on war and peace, on the election of a new king, etc. Moreover, they retained their ancient rights to be senators, priests, judges and patrons. Even the decision of the centurial comitia received force only when the curial comitia expressed their prior consent to it.
In gratitude to the gods for the happy accomplishment of such important deeds, Servius Tullius erected two temples to the goddess of fortune Fortuna. However, in spite of this, happiness finally changed Servius Tullius, and the members of his own family prepared for him a most shameful end. Servius Tullius gave his daughters in marriage to the sons of Tarquinius. One of them, Lucius, was an arrogant and power-hungry man. He looked with displeasure at how his father-in-law ruled on the throne, to which he, in his opinion, had great rights. Another son of Tarquinius, Aru, was not a peace-loving man. Tullia, eldest daughter Servia, who was married to Lucius, was of a gentle nature, full of love for her father, and anxious to curb the proud passions of her husband.
But the younger sister, who was married to Aruns and also had the name of Tullia, was distinguished by a heartless lust for power. Seeing that her husband, because of his character, could not serve as a suitable tool for her ambitious plans, she was not slow to get closer to her brother-in-law Lucius, who also sought this rapprochement. The immediate consequence of this rapprochement was the violent death of a brother and sister. This death destroyed the barrier between Lucius and his brother's wife. Converging both in characters and in their opinions, they united themselves by marriage.
Now they set about overthrowing the king. Lucius Tarquinius tried with money and promises to win supporters among the patricians and plebeians. At first, he hoped to oust his father-in-law by legal means, and for this, in the Senate and the people's assembly, he dismissed slander against his father-in-law, as descending from slave blood and the illegal holder of the throne. But the majority voted for the king, and Lucius Tarquinius was forced to postpone the execution of his plan until another time.
In the end, Lucius outwardly reconciled with his father-in-law, but secretly he was concerned about increasing his supporters. He waited for the time when the harvest kept away from the city part of the people and friends of Servius Tullius, and he himself was able to gather his adherents to the senate and the forum. Suddenly and unexpectedly, he appeared in the meeting of senators, adorned with signs of royal dignity. The aged king, informed of this, hurried to the senate. Reproaching his son-in-law for daring to appear in such a robe, Servius Tullius wanted to drag him from the throne. But Tarquinius, being younger and stronger, grabbed the royal elder, grabbed his body and threw him down from the stone stairs of the curia.
The unfortunate, bloody and exhausted king wanted to leave with the help of some friends, but at that time the assassins sent by Tarquinius arrived and put an end to the existence of Servius.
Filled with joy, Tullia arrived at the square to greet her husband as king. In this case, the character of this daughter was fully manifested. Returning home, she triumphantly rode in a chariot over the corpse of her father, and his blood spattered her clothes.

Tarquinius the Proud

He conquered the Latins and made Rome the head of the Latin region. Only the inhabitants of Gabia for a long time successfully repelled the attacks of Tarquinius. Then his son Sextus used a trick. He appeared before the gates of Gabiy and, complaining about his father's bad treatment, asked for hospitality. The Gabis received Sextus. He made several successful sorties and thus gained their confidence. Finally, the Gabians made Sextus the chief military leader.
Then he went to the messenger's father and ordered to ask what he should do now? The king led the messenger into the garden and, without saying a word, knocked off the head of the tallest poppy. Sextus understood. He ordered the death or expulsion of the chiefs of the city, and thus placed Gabii in the power of his father.
Then Tarquinius waged war against the powerful people - the Volscians and took their heavily fortified capital - Suessa Pometia.
He used the huge booty obtained here for the construction and decoration of the temple of Jupiter. For this purpose, Etruscan artists were invited by Tarquinius.
Once an unfamiliar old woman came to Tarquinius and offered him to buy 9 books from her, in which the prophetesses of the city of Kum, called sibyls, set out their prophecies. But since she, in the opinion of the king, demanded too much high price he refused to buy.
Then the old woman burned three books in his presence, and asked the same price for the remaining 6. Tarquinius laughed and took her for a madwoman. The old woman burned three more books and asked the original price again for the last three. Then the tsar caught himself, realizing the whole unusualness of the case, and bought the remaining three books for the appointed scene. These Sibylline books were placed in the Capitol, and two men were assigned to guard them. These books were later turned to for advice when the Romans were threatened by some kind of danger - war, plague and other disasters, and they tried to find in them instructions on how to propitiate the gods.
In order to further strengthen his power, Tarquinius intermarried with the most influential families of the Latin cities. So, he married his daughter to the ruler of the city of Tusculum, Octavius ​​Mamilius. Then Tarquinius established on the Albanian mountain a holiday of Latin frerii (vacations, vacations) in honor of Jupiter, the patron of the Latin union. All the Latin tribes took part in this festival.
However, with all the splendor of royal power, it was not destined to bring the Roman people to their intended goal. Noble families have long desired the destruction of royal dignity and lacked only an external reason for the latent discontent to turn into open indignation. At the time when the king was besieging Ardea, the main city of the Rutuli in Latium, his son Sextus forcibly dishonored the noble Lucretia, the wife of a noble Roman - Tarquinius Collatinus.
Lucretia could not endure the shame inflicted on her and, tenderly saying goodbye to her father Lucretius and her husband Collatin, she stabbed herself with a dagger. Collatinus' friend Junius Brutus, who had hitherto played the fool in order to deceive a suspicious tyrant, raised a dagger and, together with Lucretius and Tarquinius Collatinus, swore over the corpse of Lucretia to terribly avenge her. Brutus summoned the people to the city of Collatia and, showing the corpse of the deceased, aroused the strongest indignation among the people.
Then, with a detachment of armed men, Brutus went to Rome, convened a popular assembly and persuaded the people to decide on the expulsion of Tsar Tarquinius from Rome with his entire family. Thus, royal power was abolished forever. Instead, the government was entrusted to two consuls (advisers), who were originally called praetors, that is, leaders, and were elected annually by the people at the suggestion of the patrician senate.
The Senate again received its former importance and had to share with the consuls the work of governing the state. Of the honorary signs of the former rulers, only an ivory chair was preserved, on which the consuls sat in judgment, and 12 lictors (servants) with axes and bundles of rods (fascias), as signs of the dignity and power of the consuls.
When Tarquinius, having learned about the events that had taken place, hurried to Rome, he found the gates locked. The conspirators took advantage of the absence of Tarquinius and reported everything that had happened to the army in front of Ardea, and when Tarquinius returned to the camp, complete indignation reigned against him. Then Tarquinius with his two sons Titus and Aruns went to the Etruscan city of Cera. Sextus withdrew to Gabia, where he soon died.
The centuriate communities in Rome elected consuls: Lucius Junius Brutus and Caius Tarquinius Collatinus.
They restored the institutions of King Servius Tullius and increased the number of senators to three hundred.
The latest criticism places the history of the Tarquins, and especially the last of them, in the realm of myths, which transfer the history of Greek origin to Roman soil, just as it was repeated with the events that followed shortly after, for example, with the campaign of Persena.

In previous studies, we talked about the gradual transformation of republican Rome into an empire that first subjugated the lands of Italy, and then extended its influence to the entire Mediterranean. The time has come to remember the formation of Rome and the ancient period his state history.

The period from 753 BC is called the ancient Roman kingdom. - the date taken for the founding of Rome - until the overthrow of the last king Tarquinius the Proud and the establishment of a republic in 509 BC, also called the "epoch of the seven kings." In the history of many states there is a so-called "mythological period", about which very little is known due to the antiquity of events retold many centuries later. We can judge the era of the seven kings only from sources created during the years of the Roman Republic and even a much later empire. However, how can one imagine ancient Hellas without the heroic epic of Homer, which tells us about ancient times, and the royal period of Ancient Rome is an integral part of its history: an unexpected change in the socio-political structure from a monarchy to a republic has become a sacred legend that unites the people of Rome for all subsequent centuries.

How it all began

Apennine peninsula, located in the very center mediterranean sea, from time immemorial has attracted people with its convenient location and mild climate. According to Greek legends, the famous Hercules visited the Italian lands, and historians talk about the Mycenaean colonization of the peninsula as early as the 13th century BC. It is believed that the first state on the peninsula was founded by the Etruscan civilization, which actively adopted the culture of its neighbors - the Greeks and Phoenicians. In the end, the dominant position in the region was occupied by the Italic tribes, including the Latins.

According to Roman mythology, after the events of the famous Trojan War, the ships of the fleeing Trojans, led by the hero Aeneas, landed on the coast of the Apennines. This is where one of the legends about the founding of Rome originates - the Trojans, tired of long wanderings, settled in the Italian lands next to the Latins, and one of the local kings even married his daughter to Aeneas. As a result of such a profitable marriage, Aeneas becomes the next king of the Latins, as well as the new settlers. His son Ascanius-Yul moved the capital of the united state to the new city of Alba Longa (the ruins of which can still be seen southeast of Rome) and rallied the Latin Union around it.

Mars and Rhea Sylvia. Painter Peter Paul Rubens, c. 1616

In those distant times, war was the most common, almost everyday thing, especially the war for the throne. It is not at all surprising that the fourteenth king of Alba Longa, Numitor, was overthrown by his own younger brother Amulius. The newly-made ruler, wanting to secure his power, killed his nephew, and made his niece Rhea Sylvia a priestess of the goddess Vesta. From a political point of view, this was a very wise move, since, on the one hand, the Vestal Virgins enjoyed great respect and had immunity, and on the other hand, they were obliged to maintain virgin purity for thirty years. Violation of the vow of chastity was punished very severely, up to burial alive.

Further, in full accordance with the traditions of ancient myths, the young Sylvia was visited by the god Mars, a violent passion flared up between them, and after the due date, twins, Romulus and Remus, were born to the Vestal Virgin. In general, this story is not unusual, since the gods of Olympus repeatedly descended to Earth and entered into communication with mortal women. But in this case, it should be remembered that the very fact of pregnancy of a vestal for the ancient society is a terrible scandal, and divine paternity still had to be proved: you wouldn’t personally invite Mars to the priestly court to testify?!

However, there was a more significant complication. As we remember, Rhea Sylvia became a vestal not of her own free will, but on the orders of her usurper uncle, so as not to leave offspring that could one day overthrow the king. Enraged, Amulius ordered the twins to be thrown into the Tiber, thus hoping to put an end to potential contenders for the throne. The subsequent development of this story can be known to the respected reader since the time of the school curriculum: the twins survived, were fed by a she-wolf and raised by the shepherd Fastul. When the brothers grew up, they got even with Amulius and returned the throne of Alba Longa to their grandfather Numitor. The old king sent them to found a new colony, as a result of a dispute about the most suitable place for the settlement, Romulus killed Remus on the Palatine Hill, built the city of Rome there and became its first king.

As is usually the case with the founding of new colonies (remember the history of the development of America by Europeans!), Initially, the population of Rome was made up of criminals and exiles from neighboring Italic and Greek states. Indeed, why should a person who has a profitable farm on the coast of a warm sea leave his great-grandfather's farm and go in search of happiness in a newly built city? As we have already said, the war in those days was the most common thing, and therefore the diverse and marginal inhabitants of young Rome began to actively expand their sphere of influence at the expense of their neighbors: the Sabines, Latins and Etruscans. Even the former metropolis of Alba Longa was captured and destroyed by the young state.

Rome adopted a lot from its neighbors, including the tradition of royal power. However, in Rome, the powers of the monarch were initially limited, the throne was not initially inherited, and the king was elected. This semi-republican way of life subsequently led to the emergence of endless intrigues, conspiracies and quarrels, which ultimately influenced the emergence of the Roman Republic.

Romulus

Romulus, grandson of Numitor, king of Alba Longa, son of the Vestal Sylvia and the god Mars himself, fed by a she-wolf and killing his own brother - a rich pedigree and a dubious biography, which, however, did not prevent Romulus from becoming not only the founder of great Rome, but also his most famous king. According to Roman legend, he reigned from 753 to 716. BC. In the time of Romulus, some Etruscans and Sabines joined Rome; it is believed that it was he who created the Senate of the "hundred fathers" and divided the population of Rome into three main parts - tribes headed by elected tribunes: Latins, Sabines and Etruscans. Each of the tribes, in turn, was divided into another ten curiae, while the curiae elected the most worthy and fearless men for government positions.

Romulus, conqueror of Akron, brings rich gifts to the temple of Jupiter. Artist Jean Auguste Ingres, 1812 Akron was the ruler of the Sabines during the war because of the Sabine women abducted by the Romans

Noble Romans, famous for their valor and wealth, were called "fathers" (and their descendants - "patricians"), unknown and poor - plebeians. The patricians occupied political, priestly and judicial positions, while the plebeians were left with agriculture and crafts. Such social stratification persisted for many centuries, although during the late Republic, the boundaries between estates became more of a formality.

There are several legends about the death of Romulus, up to his divine ascension to Olympus. However, ancient historians are much more prosaic. Let's give the floor to Plutarch:

“For thirty-seven years Romulus ruled the Rome he founded. On the fifth of July, on that day, which is now called the Capratine nonas, Romulus offered a sacrifice outside the city, in the Goat's Marsh, for the whole people in the presence of the Senate and most of the citizens. Suddenly a great change took place in the air: a cloud descended to the earth, accompanied by a whirlwind and a storm. The rest of the people fled in fear and scattered in different directions, while Romulus disappeared. He was not found alive or dead. A strong suspicion fell on the patricians. The people said that they had long been weary of royal power and, wanting to take control of the state into their own hands, they killed the king, since for some time he began to deal with them more severely and despotic. The patricians tried to dispel this kind of suspicion by ranking Romulus among the gods and saying that he "did not die, but was awarded a better share." Proculus, a respected person, swore that he saw how Romulus ascended in full armor to heaven, and heard his voice, ordering him to be called Quirinus.

Plutarch does not say anything directly, making do with hints, which, however, are quite clear - the highest aristocracy was unhappy with Romulus, and, most likely, the son of Mars became a victim of a conspiracy. The beautiful legend about sending Romulus directly to Olympus probably appeared later to avert suspicion from the patricians.

Numa Pompilius

The second king of the ancient Roman state, chosen by the patricians for wisdom and piety, ruled from 715 to 673. BC. Numa Pompilius was born in the year of the founding of Rome in a Sabinian family, he was married to the daughter of the Sabinian king. According to legend (however, almost all the events described can be considered a myth with a very small historical component), after the death of his wife in the Alban Mountains, he met the nymph Egeria, who taught him lawmaking. Subsequently, his daughter Pompilius gave birth to the future king Ancus Marcius.

Scheme of the settlement of the Italic tribes in the era of the seven kings

It is difficult to overestimate the successes of the second Roman king: it was he who “put things in order” in the young state, trying to accustom the Romans not only to constant battles, but also to peaceful life. Under Numa Pompilius, a description of all the lands belonging to Rome was created, craft workshops and a calendar for 355 days were established. He also banned human sacrifice (which the Romans still resorted to in difficult times, for example, during the second Punic War), and during the years of his reign, Rome did not conduct conquest campaigns at all. Numa Pompilius died at the age of 80, was cremated, and the ashes were buried on Janiculum Hill.

Tull Hostilius

The third king of Rome, Tullus Hostilius, chosen by the patricians, like his predecessor, ruled from 673 to 641. BC. Before his election, Tullus was engaged in agriculture, but with his accession to the throne, ambition and, perhaps, the “call of blood” woke up in him, since he was the grandson of the bravest Roman warrior Hostius Hostilius. As a result of the war with his neighbors, Tullus Hostilius was able to finally conquer Alba Longa and defeat the Sabines, expanding the territory of Rome and doubling its population. Subsequently, Alba Longa was razed to the ground. However, if the destruction of Alba Longa is recognized as a historically reliable fact, then the death of Tullus Hostilius is mythologized: carried away by wars and forgetting about serving the gods, he angered Jupiter and was killed by lightning.

Ankh Marcius

The fourth king, Ankh Marcius, who ruled from 640-616. BC, was the grandson of Numa Pompilius. In wisdom and peacefulness, he was in many ways like his grandfather, during his reign he patronized crafts, trade and agriculture, but, unlike his grandfather, he had to get involved in a war with his neighbors. The tribes of Latins, Sabines, Etruscans and Volscians who rebelled against Rome were defeated in the battle of Medullia, the army of Marcius captured the cities of Politorium, Tellen and Ficani.

Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, or Tarquinius the Ancient

Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, better known as Tarquinius the Ancient, was the fifth king of Ancient Rome, who ruled from 616 to 579. BC. By origin he was a Greek, his homeland was the Etruscan city of Tarquinia. Later, he moved to Rome and, thanks to his wealth and wisdom, became one of the most influential people in the city. Tsar Ankh Marcius appointed him the commander of the cavalry and made him his entourage. After the death of the king, Tarquinius was able to convince the people of Rome that he should take the throne. Under the new king, Rome continued its wars with its neighbors and soon became the center of the Latin Union. Tarquinius also patronized the development of art, expanded the Senate by introducing representatives of poor families, paved the Forum, built the temple of Jupiter Capitoline, now better known as simply the Capitol, and conducted the first Roman sewer.

Servius Tullius

However, the sons of Ancus Marcius from childhood held a grudge against the chosen king, because they believed that the throne should have gone to them. Following the example of Romulus and Remus, who overthrew the illegitimate king, they jointly killed Tarquinius, causing outrage from both the aristocracy and the plebeians. The sons of Marcius were expelled from Rome, and the throne was taken by the adopted son of the murdered king, Servius Tullius, who became the sixth king of Rome, who ruled in 578-535. BC. Servius was born in Corniculum, destroyed by the Roman troops of Tarquinius the Ancient, his father died in battle, and his mother was captured by the invaders and became the approximate wife of the Roman king. Servius was a slave in the royal house, but received a good Greek education, participated in the military campaigns of Rome, and Tarquinius married his second daughter to him. Here it must be noted that in such ancient times the institution of slavery looked completely different than under the late Roman Republic or Empire - personal dependence was not something shameful, slaves were more like junior family members, and not “speaking instruments”.

Etruscan warriors. Modern illustration

The new ruler celebrated the beginning of his reign with another victory over the Etruscans and the construction of the temple of Diana on the Aventine Hill. The city has grown so strong that the neighbors were in no hurry to fight with Rome, and the new king had enough time to carry out reforms. Servius Tullius introduced representatives of the plebeians into the Roman community, divided the population into five classes according to the property qualification and replaced the tribal tribes with territorial tribes: four urban and seventeen rural. The new king redeemed the poor from slavery and in every possible way contributed to the growth of the welfare of the people of Rome, for which he was especially honored by the plebeians, but disliked by the patricians and the Senate.

Lucius Tarquinius

The seventh and last king of Rome, Lucius Tarquinius, nicknamed "The Proud", was the son of King Tarquinius the Ancient. When his father was killed, he was still a baby. Servius Tullius, in order not to repeat the fate of his predecessor, tried in every possible way to win over Lucius and his brother Arun to himself and gave his daughters as descendants of Tarquinius. However, Lucius, in collusion with the Senate, first killed his brother and his wife, and then dealt with Servius, declaring himself king of Rome.

He began his reign with repressions against the supporters of Servius. The Senate was halved, many patricians were expelled as a result of intrigues and denunciations, and the remaining members of the council new king he was in no hurry to collect, preferring to resolve all issues on his own or with the help of his associates.

In the sphere of foreign policy, Tarquinius the Proud broke a lot of wood, preferring the whip method and completely forgetting about the gingerbread - the Latin cities remained in the sphere of influence of Rome, but the suppression of any attempts by the Sabines and Etruscans to show minimal independence led to an increase in discontent. Cruel rule, unwillingness to reckon with the Senate and aristocratic families, abuse of power and outright tyranny turned all sections of society against Tarquinius. The last straw that overflowed the patience of the Romans was that the youngest son of the king, Tarquinius Sextus, inflamed with passion for Lucretia, the wife of the patrician Tarquinius Collatinus and the daughter of the consul Spurius Lucretius Tricipitina, and, threatening, committed violence against her. Lucrezia told her husband about this and stabbed herself. Relatives of Lucretia, Lucius Junius Brutus and Publius Valerius Publicola brought her body to the Forum and persuaded the citizens to expel the cruel king.

Lucretia and Tarquinius. Painter Peter Paul Rubens, c. 1609–1611

Tarquinius the Proud, together with his sons, was expelled from Rome, and they had to flee to Etruria. The exiled king enlisted the support of the Latins and raised an uprising against Rome, but lost at the Battle of Lake Regil in 496, where all his sons died. Tarquinius himself took refuge in the Greek lands, where he died in obscurity a year later.

A republic was established in Rome, which in the early stages brought the state unprecedented prosperity and formally existed from 509 to 27 BC. It is curious that two consuls elected for a year had truly royal powers, but the term of their reign was severely limited, and an article was added to Roman laws stating that any person who desired to become king of Rome should be killed without trial ...

Before a republic was established in ancient Rome, it was ruled by kings. The last of them, Tarquinius the Proud, was expelled in disgrace in 509 BC. e., and his name has forever become synonymous with a dishonorable and unjust tyrant. This happened thanks to a woman named Lucretia, whose fate turned out to be key to the early history of the Eternal City.

The first king of ancient Rome was its founder - Romulus. He did not create a dynasty, and after his death, royal power was transferred to the one who was recognized as worthy by the Roman Senate, which included the most respectable citizens. The fifth of these elected kings was Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, nicknamed the Ancient One, an Etruscan by birth. Some historians believe that Tarquinius was not elected, but he seized power by force. But there is no reliable evidence for this.

Tarquinius Priscus had a son, whose name was the same - Lucius Tarquinius. At the end of the VI century BC. e. he ruled Rome for 25 years. And he went down in history under the name of Tarquinius the Proud. It ended the royal period, after which the era of the Republic began, which lasted almost five centuries. There are many legends about exactly how this happened. But they all boil down to the fact that the last king on the Roman throne lost his crown through his own fault.

Father-in-law killer.

Tarquinius the Proud did not become king immediately. After all, power was not inherited. According to the established tradition, after the death of his father, the Senate chose the experienced courtier Servius Tullius, who was a close friend of the deceased king, as ruler. He feared that the sons of Tarquinius the Ancient would sooner or later try to take the throne from him. And so he married them to his daughters. So Lucius Tarquinius and his brother Arun had wives with the same names - Tullia. The eldest of them was meek and affectionate - she married Arun. But the younger Tullia was distinguished by waywardness and irrepressible craving for power. And becoming the wife of Lucius, she immediately started talking about a coup d'état. Tarquinius did not have to be persuaded for a long time - the position of the eternal prince did not suit him at all.

To begin with, the criminal couple decided to get rid of competitors. They plotted and killed Arun with the elder Tullia. Now only Servius Tullius stood between them and the throne. By the way, he turned out to be a good king and led a rather wise policy. Apparently, therefore, the Senate did not like him very much, but the common people adored him. Lucius Tarquinius did not take this into account when he first tried to overthrow his father-in-law. The patricians were ready to support the coup. But the simple ones stood up for their beloved king, and so actively that Tarquinius had to flee.

After some time he returned to Rome, choosing a moment when most of the people were busy working in the fields. Then Lucius Tarquinius announced that he was convening an urgent meeting of the Senate. In fact, only the king had such a privilege. But the patricians came to the troublemaker's call. Tarquinius delivered a fiery speech before them, arguing that he, as the son of his father, should take the royal throne. The Senate, dissatisfied with the reforms of the ruler, was ready to agree with this, but then Servius Tullius himself appeared on the forum. Despite the fact that by that time he was already a very old man, the tsar was not going to cede the throne to an impostor, who, moreover, repaid the goodness with black ingratitude. Servius Tullius did not suspect how far the lust for power could lead Tarquinius. And therefore, without any fear, he turned to him with an angry speech, demanding to leave Rome forever. Tarquinius, in response, did not start a discussion, but silently pushed the old man, throwing him off the steps onto a stone platform. There he was finished off by supporters of the newly-minted usurper. And to top it all off, the body of Servius was run over by the chariot of the younger Tullia, who from that day began to be called the queen of Rome.

An apple from an apple tree.

Very soon, the senators bitterly regretted that they had allowed Tarquinius to overthrow the rightful ruler. First of all, the new king surrounded himself with armed guards - lictors - and began a purge in the ranks of the patricians. Severe punishment overtook everyone who could be suspected of sympathy for the deposed Servius Tullius. The composition of the Senate was soon reduced by almost half. Now the senators most time was spent not at meetings, but at home, shaking with fear. All state issues began to be resolved by a close circle of close associates of the king.

It soon became clear that Rome alone was not enough for Tarquinius the Proud. He began to wage active wars of conquest. At the same time, he did not spare anyone - the Roman troops walked with fire and sword through the lands of his Etruscan ancestors.

The story of the conquest of a city called Gabia, which did not want to submit to the tyranny of Tarquinius, is indicative. Convinced that the walls of the city were too high, long and strong, so that it would not be possible to take it by attack, the king of Rome resorted to tricks. His youngest son was sent to the city, who told the inhabitants that he was asking them for shelter from the fury of his father. This did not cause any surprise among those - the cruelty of Tarquinius was already legendary throughout the Apennine Peninsula. The fact that the murderer of a brother and father-in-law could raise a hand against his own child seemed completely natural to everyone. Therefore, the son of a tyrant was received with honor in Gabia. He lived there for quite a long time, actively taking part in city affairs. He even commanded detachments of warriors during sorties against his father's troops. And then, having achieved a high position, he killed several noble citizens and opened the gates in front of the Romans. So the children of Tarquinius were worth their father.

Good Lucrezia.

The son who showed such "valor" in the war was called Sextus Tarquinius. He was the third, youngest offspring of the king and at the same time had the most indefatigable temper. When he and his friends indulged in revelry, respectable Romans preferred to lock themselves in their homes, so as not to encounter a cheerful company in any case. Well, those who did not have time to hide could only pray.

Once the attention of Sextus Tarquinius was attracted by a woman named Lucretia. She was famous throughout Rome for her integrity and good upbringing. Most often, she was called that - "the virtuous Lucretia." And everyone envied her husband, the patrician Lucius Tarquinius Collatin. He was a relative of Tarquinius the Proud, but this did not save him from trouble. Sextus Tarquinius, carried away by the beauty and meek disposition of Lucretia, attacked her in the absence of her husband and raped her. This woman could not survive. Sobbing, she told her husband about everything, and then, in front of his eyes, she pierced herself with a sword.

This overflowed the cup of patience of the Romans. The body of the dishonored Lucretia was carried through the streets of the city in her arms. And Tarquinius the Proud with his sons barely managed to escape from Rome. The royal power was declared deposed, and from now on two consuls, elected for a year, began to rule the city. The first Roman consuls were Tarquinius Collatinus and Lucius Junius Brutus. It's time for the Republic.

Meanwhile, the exiled Tarquinius the Proud suddenly remembered his roots and turned to the Etruscans for help. The Etruscan king Lare Porsenna at first did not want to fight the powerful city. But Tarquinius deceived him, saying that the consuls wanted to overthrow all the kings in Italy and spread the republican form of government everywhere. Porsenna could not stand this and moved his troops to Rome.

He won several but eventually backed off. It is said that Porsenna made this decision after a Roman spy sent to kill him was caught. This scout's name was Gaius Mucius.
He was threatened with torture. In response, demonstrating the fortitude and fortitude of the Romans, Gaius Mucius put right hand into the fire and kept it there until it was charred. This impressed the Etruscan king so much that he released the young man to freedom, and then made peace with Rome. This youth later became known as Mucius Scaevola ("left-handed").

As for Tarquinius the Proud, disappointed in the Etruscans, he turned to the Latins for help. In 496 BC. e. a battle took place near Lake Regil. Poorly organized Latins, led by the cruel, but not endowed with military talent Tarquinius, were utterly defeated by the Romans. former king was forced to flee again - this time to one of the Greek colonies. There he died a year later.

And all his sons fell in the battle of Regil. All except Sextus Tarquinius. He did not go to war with his father, but tried to hide in the very city of Gabia, which he had once captured in such a dishonorable way. It was there that he was killed by the rebellious townspeople, who did not forget and did not forgive his deceit.