L. Tarquinius Superbus

(reigning 534-510) L. Tarquinius Superbus (The Proud) was the son or grandson of the fifth king, L. Tarquinius Priscus, son-in-law of the sixth king, Servius Tullius, and married Tullia the younger after she killed his younger brother Arruns and he killed her older sister Tullia. [2]
Encouraged by his wife, Lucius began putting together a group of supporters, primarily from the lower classes, by arguing the illegitimacy of Servius' claim to the throne and how it could be better with the son of a king, (Lucius) on the throne, instead of the slave of a king. [2]
When he had enough support, Lucius walked straight into the Forum with his armed men and sat on the throne, summoning the Fathers by the crier 'into the prescence of King Tarquin'. He then proceeded to vilify Servius' claim to the throne. He stated that Servius was the son of a slave, who, after the foul murder of Tarquinius Priscus, Tullius had taken the throne as a woman's gift, without an assembly or a vote taken, or even the confirmation of the Fathers.[2]

Mid-speech, Servius Tullius entered. Whoever one this battle would be the future ruler of Rome. Desperate, Tarquin picked up Servus Tullius and threw him down the Senate stairs. Here, according to tradition, Tullia drove her cart over the body of her father to finish the job. [2]



And so, with no legitimate claim to the throne, no power over the people and no influence in Senate, Lucius was forced to continue his reign in tyranny.

It is believed that it this tyranny that finally led to the uprising of the people. Gradually, he became more and more powerful, according to Livy, He conducted his trials without any assessors and could therefore decide who to put to death, banish or fine, and not only peole he suspected or disliked, but those who he wanted to exploit for money, one such victim was the father of Julius Iulius Brutus, a name remembered throughout Roman history.[2]

To assert himelf with the Latins, he married his daughter to Octavius Mamilius of Tuscuum, the foremost man in Latin society. With his increasing influence he managed to include the Latins under the treaty made with the Albans, as all Latins traced their origins to Alba Longa. [2] This was the so-called 'Treaty of Ferentia'. [3]

However, most historians agree that despite his tyranny, Tarquinius was a great military leader. With the addition of the Latins to the Roman military he just about doubled the number of soldiers, and took advantage of these numbers against the neighbouring Volcians. [3]

Unfortunately for him, however, this was not enough to quell the people and in 510 he was overthrown by the Revolution that established the Republic, led by Julius Iunius Brutus. [1]