Lucius Tarquinius Priscus 5th King of Rome Lucius Tarquinius Priscus 616 B.C. to 579 B.C.

According to Livy he and his wife Tanaquil were from Etruria According to Livy he and his wife Tanaquil were from Etruria. The Etruscans had a powerful kingdom up north of Rome. Even though he was very wealthy he was denied political office because his father was Greek. So he and his wife migrated to Rome.

Upon his arrival in Rome an eagle swooped down and removed his cap from his head and then returned it. His wife Tanaquil, who was skilled in the art of prophecy, said this was a sign to greatness.

In Rome he earned respect through his courtesy and the king, Ancus Marcius, appointed him guardian to his sons. At this time Rome was not a hereditary monarchy. When Ancus died his sons were away and Tarquinius convinced the people to elect him king.

Tarquinius increased the number of senators by 100 and more Equites to help him with his many wars. It is said that he built the first Circus Maximus, drained the swamped lands below Rome and built the Cloaca Maxima, a great sewer.

He ruled for 38 years. The sons of his predecessor believed that the throne was theirs. They arranged his assassination during a riot where he received a fatal blow to the head. His queen Tanaquil stated though that it was merely a minor wound.

She established Servius Tullius as regent and when the king’s death was confirmed he became king instead of Ancus’ sons. Servius had been a slave in the palace and while sleeping one night the other slaves found a ring of fire around his head.

Tanaquil quickly kept the other slaves from killing the boy interpreting the sign to mean one of greatness. She raised him to be king favoring him over her own children.

Servius married the king’s daughter Tarquinia to link the two families Servius married the king’s daughter Tarquinia to link the two families. He married his two daughters, Tullias, to the sons of Ancus trying to appease them.