Roman Republic, Regal Rome, Traditional Story, Etruscan Kings of Rome (616-509 BC): Fall of the Monarchy (509 BC)

When Tarquinius seized power, a certain Marcus was among the richest men in Rome. He married the sister of the tyrant and died not long thereafter, leaving his fortune to his young sons. Tarquinius had the older son murdered and seized the estate, the younger son Lucius ⁰¹Junius Brutus (cos.509 BC) is said to have been too simple-minded and unable to object. 

While Tarquinius was away besieging the Rutulian town of Ardea, his son Tarquinius Sextus threatened Lucretia, the wife of his cousin Lucius ⁰²Tarquinius Collatinus (cos.509 BC), that unless she surrendered herself to him he would kill her together with one of her slaves and swear that he had taken the pair in adultery. Lucretia submitted, but revealed the truth to her father Spurius ⁰¹Lucretius Tricipitinus (suffect, cos.509 BC) and also to her husband, then committed suicide.

Led by Brutus, the leading citizens, angered at the rape of an innocent woman and at the cruelty of Sextus’ father, closed the gates of Rome against the royal family. When Tarquinius returned from Ardea the rebel leaders brought the soldiers over as well. While Sextus fled to Gabii, where he was killed, his father and two brothers found refuge in Caere.

Henceforth the Romans were to elect their leaders by an assembly of the whole army. As a protection against further tyranny the person elected would rule for only one year, and with a colleague. Brutus was one of the first; the other was Collatinus. But although Collatinus was a leader of the liberation he was also a Tarquin. For the sake of Rome, Brutus persuaded him to surrender his office and leave the city. He was replaced by Publius ⁰¹Valerius Poplicola (suffect, cos.509 BC).

In 509 BC, a treaty of friendship was signed between Rome and Carthage in which the differences in the interests of the two states are quite clear: Carthage would regulate Roman trading within the Carthaginian sphere, and in return Carthage promised not to interfere with Roman towns.

Also that year, ambassadors arrived at Rome requesting the return to the royals of their personal effects. In secret while the Senate debated the request, the ambassadors sought to form a conspiracy to re-admit the royal family into the city. However, a slave named Vindicius witnessed a meeting of the conspirators in his master’s house and immediately alerted the 

consuls. The ambassadors were released but the traitors including two sons of Brutus were condemned to death.

Tarquinius persuaded the Etruscans of Veii and Tarquinii to attack Rome on his behalf. The forces met in an indecisive battle at Silva Arsia, when Brutus and Superbus’ son Arruns killed each other. Brutus was replaced by Lucretius, but the leadership went to Valerius. The Etruscans withdrew from the battlefield during the night to avoid further losses. Valerius rode to the Capitol in a chariot, an act that is supposedly the origin of the Roman triumph.

In 508 BC the Etruscans under Lars Porsena of Clusium put Rome under siege. Porsena was so impressed with the heroism of the Romans – such as that of Publius ⁰¹Horatius Cocles, who held the Sublician Bridge against the invading army until it could be demolished, and of Gaius ⁰¹Mucius Scaevola (‘left-handed’), who when captured and brought before Porsena placed his right hand on live coals to show that the Romans would never surrender – that he ended the siege.

There is an alternative tradition that says the Romans surrendered to Porsena and that he imposed a humiliating treaty on them. Also, since Tarquinius was closely associated with Porsena’s enemies it is more likely that he abolished it, and the Republic emerged after his withdrawal. This unflattering version would have been unacceptable to the Romans.

Porsena’s stay in Rome would have been brief. Other Latin cities, encouraged by Rome’s example to seek freedom from the Etruscans, sought help from Aristodemus of Cumae. In 506 BC at Aricia, their combined forces defeated the army sent by Porsena and led by his son Arruns (3). With all hope of further aid from the Etruscans ended, Tarquinius sought refuge with his son-in-law ⁰¹Octavius Mamilius (d.496 BC) of Tusculum. Mamilius turned to the cities and towns of Latium. Some towns formerly allied with Rome went over to him, while others joined the Romans. The two sides met at Lake Regillus. The consul ⁰¹Aulus Postumius Albus won the day. Tarquinius is said to have died in Cumae, where Aristodemus had granted him final refuge, in 495 BC.