Tarquin the Elder

(Lucius Tarquinius Priscus)

d. 559 BC

TARQUIN AND THE EAGLE

Tarquin the Elder was elected the fifth king of Rome. He was from an Etruscan town, but had come to Rome as a young man, and served as an advisor to King Ancus. He undertook many great building projects during his reign, including a fortification on Capitoline Hill, the great sewer (Cloaca Maxima), and the Circus Maximus. He drained and paved the forum in the center of the city, and began building a wall around the city. He adopted the son of a slave and married him to his daughter. This angered the sons of Ancus, and they arranged for his murder.

Key events during the life of Tarquin the Elder:

Year	Event
616 BC	Elected fifth king of Rome, on death of Ancus Marcius.
	Drained swamp near forum, and built sewer Cloaca Maxima.
	Built Circus Maximus and instituted games.
	Raised the number of senators from 100 to 300
	Introduced lictors as bodyguards to the king.
578 BC	Assassinated by sons of Ancus Marcius.

Other Resources

Story Links	Book Links
Elder Tarquin  in	Stories From Livy  by  Alfred J. Church
Tarquin and the Eagle  in	The Story of the Romans  by  H. A. Guerber
King Outwitted  in	The Story of the Romans  by  H. A. Guerber
Tarquins  in	Famous Men of Rome  by  John H. Haaren & A. B. Poland
Faithless Friend  in	The Story of Rome  by  Mary Macgregor
Dynasty of the Tarquins  in	Historical Tales: Roman  by  Charles Morris

Image Links
Tarquin and the Eagle  in The Story of the Romans

Contemporary	Short Biography
Tanaquil	Prophetess, wife, and advisor.
Attis Navius	Chief augur and advisor to Tarquin.
Servius Tullius	Sixth king, built Servian Wall; helped plebians, murdered by daughter.