TARQUIN

flourished 6th century BC Latin in full Lucius Tarquinius Superbus traditionally the seventh and last king of Rome, accepted by some scholars as a historical figure. His reign is dated from 534 to 509. Tarquinius Superbus was, in legend, the son or grandson of Tarquinius Priscus and son-in-law of Servius Tullius. Tarquin supposedly murdered Tullius and established an absolute despotismhence his name Superbus, meaning the proud. In the reign of terror that followed, many senators were put to death. Eventually a group of senators led by Lucius Junius Brutus raised a revolt, the immediate cause of which was the rape of a noblewoman, Lucretia, by Tarquin's son Sextus. The Tarquin family was expelled from Rome, and the monarchy at Rome was abolished (traditionally 509 BC). The text of a treaty between a Tarquinprobably Tarquinius Superbusand the city of Gabii, 12 miles (19 km) from Rome, did actually exist and was preserved in the Temple of Semo Sancus in Rome until the 1st century AD. flourished 6th century BC Latin in full Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, original name Lucomo traditionally the fifth king of Rome, accepted by some scholars as a historical figure and usually said to have reigned from 616 to 578. His father was a Greek who went to live in Tarquinii, in Etruria, from which Lucumo moved to Rome on the advice of his wife, the prophet Tanaquil. Changing his name to Lucius Tarquinius, he was appointed guardian to the sons of King Ancus Marcius. Upon the king's death Tarquin assumed the throne. Eventually Ancus' sons had Tarquin murdered. Tanaquil then managed to put her son-in-law Servius Tullius in power. The legends maintain that Tarquin increased the number of persons of senatorial and equestrian rank. He is thought to have instituted the Roman Games and to have begun the construction of a wall around the city.