Tullia

Tullia is a feminine given name of Latin origin that appears in Roman legend and literature. It is most closely associated with a figure connected to the early Roman kings and the overthrow of the monarchy.

In the traditional account, Tullia was the daughter of Servius Tullius, the sixth king of Rome. She is said to have married Tarquinius Superbus (Tarquin the Proud). According to these legends, she and Tarquinius plotted to seize the throne after Servius Tullius’s rule. In some versions of the story, after Servius’s death or ousting, Tullia is associated with a notorious episode in which she is said to have urged Tarquinius to claim the kingship, and she is described as having driven a chariot over her father’s body as part of the political overthrow. The tale is widely cited as a dramatic example of tyranny, but ancient sources differ on details, and many historians regard it as myth or embellishment rather than verifiable history.

Beyond this legend, the name Tullia has appeared in later literature and has been used as a personal name in various periods. In modern times, Tullia is occasionally given to girls in Western cultures, sometimes drawing on the historical and legendary associations of ancient Rome.

See also: Servius Tullius, Tarquin the Proud.