Ancient History/Rome/Republic

Early Republic

The Early Republic of Rome began with the overthrow of the monarchy.

The monarchs had ruled since the foundation of Rome. The 7 kings whom ruled Rome were elected for life by the Roman Senate. The last of the kings, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus "Tarquin the Proud" was overthrown in 509 BC because his son Sextus Tarquinius raped a noblewoman named Lucrece (Latin Lucretia), who several days later committed suicide by stabbing herself in the heart. The resulting scandal leads to an uprising against the ruling family, led by Lucius Junius Brutus (the king's nephew), Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus (the king's cousin and Lucrece's husband), Spurius Lucretius Tricipitinus (Lucrece's father), and Publius Valerius Poplicola (an influential friend).

During this, Tarquin the Proud was warring with the town of Ardea, but comes back to Rome on the news of the coup. Rome's gates are closed to him, however, with the revolutionaries convincing an army to join the cause. The king's sons are expelled.

Brutus and Collatinus become the first consuls, with Brutus giving an oath before all Romans never to allow another king to rule, and, to kill anyone who attempts restoring the monarchy. Brutus at this time proposes banishing all members of the gens Tarquin, which banishes Collatinus, leading to Poplicola becoming the new co-consul.