The 7 Kings of Rome They started it all!

Focus This presentation will focus on the Monarchy and at the end of it you will be able to name the 3 periods of Roman history as well as each king and several facts about him.

Overview Generally Roman history is divided into 3 eras with each being defined by the type of government at the time. Thus, we have the following time periods: Monarchy (Kings) from 753BC – 509BC Republic (Consuls) from 509BC – 27BC The Republic is further divided During the Early Republic, the Romans conquered the rest of Italy. During the Late Republic, the Romans conquered several other lands outside of Italy. Empire 27BC-476BC

To Start with... Before we can get to the 7 kings of Rome, we need to go back in time just a bit. Virgil chronicles the origin of the Romans in the Aeneid as originating with Aeneas who was the son of Venus. His son, Ascanius, who was also called Iulus, became king of Alba Longa. Eventually, the 12th king after Ascanius was Numitor, who would become the grandfather of Romulus. Romulus would be the one to found Rome in 753 BC.

The Legend Begins Once upon a time, according to Plutarch, the king of Alba Longa was Numitor. Numitor had a daughter named Rhea Silvia and a brother named Amulius. Amulius wanted to be king, so he dethroned his brother and made Rhea Silvia a Vestal Virgin, hoping to keep her from having children who could lay claim to the throne. But, Rhea Silvia did become pregnant and the punishment for breaking the vow of chastity was being buried alive. Rhea Silvia maintained that Mars raped her and some Romans thought Amulius might be the father, so they refused to allow her to be killed. She gave birth to twins who where promptly exposed, by being thrown into a flooded Tiber River.

The Birth of Romulus Luckily, they were nursed by a she wolf until a shepherd, named Faustulus, found them and raised them as his own. One day, it so happened that Remus came into contact with Numitor, who realized that Remus could be his grandson. Numitor convinced Remus to join him in taking back his throne, while Romulus gathered men to go get his brother. Together, Romulus and Remus were able to defeat Amulius and get Numitor back his throne, but they decided to found their own city. But in doing so, Romulus killed his brother Remus, for jumping over the walls he was building to fortify their city.

Romulus 753-716 BC founded Rome (1st King) Stole women from the neighboring Sabines to populate Rome Is credited with establishing the Senate Is said to have not died as much as ascended to heaven during a thunderstorm (the other possibility is that he was murdered by senators, each taking a piece of his body) Known as Quirinus after his deification

Numa Pompilius 715-673 BC Reluctantly served after having been picked by the Romans because the Sabines stated it was their turn to have a king Credited with establishing religion, in that he formalized rites and rituals, brought over the Vestal Virgins from Alba Longa and created a priesthood Credited with a calendar reform which moved from 10 months to 12 months, to assist with keeping up with the religious rituals Built the temple of Janus, a 2 headed god of beginnings and doorways. The doors to his temple were open during war and closed during times of peace. (They were never opened during Numa’s reign.) Credited with establishing the boundaries of Rome

Tullius Hostilius 673-641 BC Was a Latin, since it was their turn again For as much as Numa was peaceful, Tullus was hostile He defeated the Albans and destroyed Alba Longa; Legend has it Curia that the dispute was settled by each side sending 3 brothers to fight for their city Is credited with building the Curia Hostilia, a larger senate house after the Albans were absorbed into Rome Turned to religion after being struck by the plague and in performing a religious ritual was struck by lightning

Ancus Marcius 641-616 BC Defeated the “Old Latins” (those who had not joined Rome with Tatius and Romulus) Added the Aventine and Janiculum hills by fortifying them and thus including them inside the city’s walls Is credited with building the first aqueduct Is credited with establishing the port Ostia Is credited with creating the manner in which the Romans declared war.

Tarquinius Priscus 616-579 BC Was an Etruscan (The Etruscans had been gaining power and were an up and coming civilization.) When he and his wife, Tanaquil, first came to Rome an eagle took the hat off his head and then replaced it. Tanaquil would later use this as an omen foretelling of his divine right to power. Had been a friend of Ancus Marcius and was considered to be “very honest”, but after convincing the sons of Ancus Marcius to go hunting he presented himself as candidate for the job of king and won it due to his honest rep. Doubled the size of the cavalry. Added 100 less wealthy noble seats to the senate. Defeated the Sabines, who had not joined Rome. Possibly started the Temple of Iupiter Capitolinus Was assassinated by the sons of Ancus Marcius

Servius Tullius 579-535 BC When Tarquinius Superbus was asassinated, Tanaquil claimed he was merely wounded and that Servius Tullius would act for him and should be treated as the king. (Servius was married to Tanaquil’s daughter and may have once been their slave.) He established that a citizen’s tribe is determined by where they lived and not family or amount of property. He created the census in which the liability for military service was determined by amount of property. Each group was a century of 100 members. The richest could provide a horse and could be cavalry; the poorest would serve as infantry since they could only bring sticks and stones with them. The highest ranking centuries or classes got to vote first and thus their vote was worth more. The first census numbered 80,000 capable of bearing arms. He added the Quirinal, Viminal and Esquiline hills to Rome. He is credited with building the Temple of Diana. He is credited with the first walls (The Servian Wall) but it was not built until much later.

Tarquinius Superbus 535-509 BC (The last king) Was married to Tullia who was the daughter of Servius Tullius and convinced him to dethrone Servius. Tarquinius Superbus went to the senate claiming that Servius was just a slave and physically threw the elderly king out of the Curia. Servius was killed in the streets. Made Rome the head of the Latin League. Finished or built the Temple of Iupiter Capitolinus or Iupiter Optimus Maximus which became the religious focal point. Built the Cloaca Maxima, a large sewer/drainage ditch. It allowed the forum as well as surrounding areas to be drained.

Down with the kings The downfall of Tarquinius Superbus was his son Sextus. Legend has it that Sextus and other nobles had been away fighting when they decided to go check on the wives. Only Lucretia, the wife of his cousin, was behaving appropriately. This caused Sextus to desire her and he forced her to have sex with him by threatening to ruin her pious reputation.

King is a four letter word! Lucretia killed herself and her suicide and Sextus’ crime were avenged by Lucius Junius Brutus. Lucius Junius Brutus pretended to be stupid after his father and uncle had been killed by Superbus. Thus, he had all the more reason to want to get rid of Superbus. Lucius Junius Brutus

A Republic is born The republic is born. Lucius Junius Brutus is credited with helping to shape the Roman constitution. In it, the office of consul was created. There would be 2 consuls elected by the Comitia Centuriata, each serving for only a year. Brutus and Lucretia’s husband were the first 2. Brutus added non-aristocrats to the emaciated senate, thus establishing the patricians and the plebeians.

Then What? The position of Ponitfex Maximus, or chief priest, was created to uphold the religious duties of the former kings. The office of king was forbidden. However, a dictator could be named in an emergency, but was supposed to resign after no more than 6 months. This is what eventually allowed the republic to become an empire ruled by emperors and not kings. Augustus as Pontifex Maximus