Tarquinius

Tarquinius refers to two legendary kings of Rome, both from the Tarquin dynasty. The first, Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, was the fifth king of Rome, ruling from 616 to 579 BC. He was said to be of Etruscan origin, the son of Demaratus, a Corinthian exile who had settled in Tarquinii, an Etruscan city. Priscus is credited with introducing many Etruscan customs and institutions to Rome, including the fasces, the toga praetexta, and the triumph. He also undertook significant public works, such as the Cloaca Maxima, Rome's main sewer, and the Circus Maximus. His reign was marked by military successes and the expansion of Roman territory.

The second Tarquinius, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, was the seventh and last king of Rome, reigning from 535 to 509 BC. He was the son or grandson of Tarquinius Priscus. Superbus's reign is depicted as tyrannical and oppressive in Roman tradition. He is said to have overthrown his predecessor, Servius Tullius, and ruled without consulting the Senate. His aggressive foreign policy and arbitrary rule led to widespread discontent. The pivotal event that ended his reign was the rape of Lucretia by his son, Sextus Tarquinius. This outrage sparked a rebellion led by Lucius Junius Brutus, which resulted in the expulsion of Tarquinius Superbus and the establishment of the Roman Republic. The memory of his rule served as a powerful justification for the rejection of monarchy in Rome.