Servius Tullius

d. 535 BC

TULLIA DRIVING OVER HER FATHER'S BODY IN A CHARIOT

Servius Tullius was the son of a slave. He was adopted by Tarquin the Elder, and married his daughter. When the elder Tarquin was assassinated, Servius contrived with his mother-in-law Tanaquil to secure the throne. He was a competent king who reorganized the army and divided the citizens into classes. He increased the size of the city, and completed building the Servian Wall. He favored the rights of the poor over the rich, and thereby became unpopular with the patrician class. He was finally murdered by his daughter and son-in-law.

Key events during the life of Servius:

Year	Event
	Servius marries the daughter of Tarquin the Elder.
579 BC	Gained the throne when Tarquin was murdered through the contrivance of his mother-in-law.
	Gained a victory over Veii.
	Instituted the census, and divided citizens into five classes for tax purposes.
	Completed the Servian Wall.
	Tarquin Superbus attempts to usurp the throne.
535 BC	Servius is murdered by his daughter and son-in-law.

Other Resources

Story Links	Book Links
Servius  in	Stories From Livy  by  Alfred J. Church
Ungrateful Children  in	The Story of the Romans  by  H. A. Guerber
Tarquins  in	Famous Men of Rome  by  John H. Haaren & A. B. Poland
Slave Becomes a King  in	The Story of Rome  by  Mary Macgregor
Dynasty of the Tarquins  in	Historical Tales: Roman  by  Charles Morris

Image Links
Tullia driving over the body of her father  in Stories From Livy	Tullia driving over her father's body, Zick  in Famous Men of Rome	Tullia Driving over her Father's Body (From a fragmental Bas-relief)  in Greatest Nations - Rome

Contemporary	Short Biography
Lucius Tarquinius	Cruel and violent son of Tarquin the Elder.
Aruns Tarquinius	Gentle and quiet son of Tarquin the Elder.
Tullia	Helped her husband Tarquin Superbus murder her father Sevius Tullus, and seize the throne of Rome.