Death of Servius Tullius

Servius Tullius, the sixth king of Rome, reigned from approximately 578 to 535 BCE and was known for his significant reforms in Roman society, including the census, class divisions, and expansion of the city. According to Roman tradition, his reign ended violently in a dramatic power struggle. Servius rose to power following the assassination of King Tarquinius Priscus, possibly with the support of the queen, Tanaquil. His rule was marked by political and social reorganization, most notably the Servian Constitution, which restructured Roman society into classes based on wealth rather than lineage, enabling broader military and political participation. However, his success bred opposition. His daughter Tullia, in collusion with her ambitious husband Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, plotted to seize the throne. Tarquinius entered the Senate with armed supporters, denounced Servius, and had him thrown down the Senate steps. As the wounded king attempted to flee, he was murdered, reportedly on Tullia’s orders. In one chilling version of the story, she drove her chariot over her father's body in the street—later named the Vicus Sceleratus ("Street of Crime"). Servius’s violent death marked the rise of Tarquinius Superbus, Rome’s final king, and foreshadowed the eventual fall of the monarchy. #ServiusTullius #AncientRome #RomanKings #RomanHistory #MoofLife_Moment #MoofLife #MomentsOfLife #TarquiniusSuperbus