Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, also called Tarquin the Proud (?-495 bc), and according to tradition the seventh and last king of Rome (reigned 534-510 bc), who was said to be the son of Lucius Tarquinius Priscus and the son-in-law of the sixth Roman king, Servius Tullius. On his accession he abolished recent constitutional reforms and tried to establish a despotic state. He is said to have purchased three prophetic books from the Cumaean Sibyl, and to have deposited them in the temple of Jupiter begun by his father. After his son raped the Roman matron Lucretia, who then committed suicide, a popular uprising dethroned Tarquinius and expelled his family from Rome. Lucius Junius Brutus, nephew of Tarquinius and leader of the revolt, proclaimed the Roman Republic in 509 bc.
Some scholars have suggested that Tarquinius Superbus and Tarquinius Priscus may have been the same person, and that later tradition was embellished by stories of Greek origin to distinguish two kings, but no compelling evidence has been presented for doubting the historicity of both.
Hotmail
Messenger
My MSN
MSN Directory
See all search results in Windows Live® Search Results