Tarquinius Superbus, Lucius, was the last of seven kings of Rome. He was the son of another king, Tarquinius Priscus. Tarquinius Superbus probably reigned from 534 to 510 B.C. He gained the throne after he murdered his father-in-law, Servius Tullius. The name Superbus means the proud.
Tarquinius fought wars against neighboring tribes. He completed construction of Jupiter’s temple. Legend tells that Tarquinius received the Sibylline Books of prophecy at Rome. The Sibyl of Cumae brought him nine books. A sibyl was a fortuneteller. When he refused to buy them, she burned three. When he refused a second time, she burned another three. He was forced to buy the remaining three books for the original price of nine.
Tarquinius Superbus’s son, Sextus Tarquinius, committed a crime against a noblewoman named Lucretia. The people then drove Tarquinius Superbus from Rome and established the Roman Republic.
See also Rome, Ancient (The regal period) ; Servius Tullius ; Sibyl ; Tarquinius Priscus, Lucius .
