Tarquin Superbus

(Lucius Tarquinius Superbus (the Proud) )

~ 535 BC

SHE CARRIED IN HER ARMS NINE BOOKS.

Tarquin Superbus was the seventh and last king of Rome. He gained the throne by the murder of his father-in-law, Servius Tullius. He then proceeded to consolidate power by murdering or exiling his enemies in the senate, and repealing the reforms of his predecessor. It was during his reign that the famous Sibylline books were given to him by a prophetess from Cumae. Tarquin Superbus made many enemies, and when his evil son Sextus violated Lucretia, he and his family were driven from the city. They continued to make trouble for Rome for many more years, by raising armies to try to regain their throne, until finally Sextus was killed at the Battle of Regillus.

Key events during the life of Tarquin Superbus:

Year	Event
535 BC	Ascended to throne after murdering Servius.
	Obtained Sibylline Books.
	War with Volscians; besieged city of Gabii.
	Built Temple of Jupiter on Capitoline Hill.
510 BC	Exiled with his entire family from Rome.
509 BC	Raised Etruscan army to restore him to the throne.
496 BC	Sextus killed in Battle of Regillus—Tarquin retires to Cumae.

Other Resources

Story Links	Book Links
Servius  in	Stories From Livy  by  Alfred J. Church
Life and Death Struggle  in	Stories from Ancient Rome  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
Story of the Temple of Saturn  in	Stories in Stone from the Roman Forum  by  Isabel Lovell
Cruel Deed of Tullia  in	The Story of Rome  by  Mary Macgregor
Books of the Sibyl  in	Historical Tales: Roman  by  Charles Morris
Battle of Lake Regillus  in	Historical Tales: Roman  by  Charles Morris

Image Links
She carried in her arms nine books.  in The Story of Rome

Contemporary	Short Biography
Tullia	Helped her husband Tarquin Superbus murder her father Sevius Tullus, and seize the throne of Rome.
Cumaean Sibyl	Legendary priestes who presided over the Oracle at Cumae. Presented the Sibylline Books to Tarquin Superbus.
Sextus Tarquin	Evil son of Tarquin Superbus.
Junius Brutus	First Consul of Rome; executed sons for plotting against the republic.
Lars Porsena	Etruscan king, and supporter of the Tarquins who raised an army to march against Rome.