Assassination of King Tarquinius Priscus

King Tarquinius Priscus, the fifth King of Rome, ruled from approximately 616 to 579 BCE and was the first monarch of Etruscan origin. His reign marked a period of major development, including the construction of public works like the Cloaca Maxima (Rome’s great sewer) and the Circus Maximus. He also expanded the Senate and increased Rome’s military power. Despite his achievements, Tarquinius's rise and rule provoked jealousy and resentment among Rome’s noble families, particularly those aligned with his predecessor, Ancus Marcius. According to Roman tradition, this tension culminated in his assassination. Around 579 BCE, conspirators—believed to be the sons of Ancus Marcius—hired assassins to murder Tarquinius. He was struck down in the palace under the pretense of a petition. To prevent political instability, his wife Tanaquil, a skilled manipulator and prophetess, concealed his death and installed Servius Tullius, her son-in-law, as regent. Servius later assumed the throne, becoming Rome’s sixth king. The assassination of Tarquinius Priscus revealed the fragile and often violent nature of early Roman kingship, as well as the influence of elite families in royal succession. #TarquiniusPriscus #AncientRome #RomanKings #Etruscans #RomanMonarchy #MoofLife_Moment #MoofLife #MomentsOfLife