First Etruscan King Of Rome example essay topic

ETRUSCAN MONARCHS The Etruscans were a very sophisticated people who controlled land roughly from Cumae (on the northern end of the Bay of Naples) to the Po River. They had great artistic skills and were skilled traders. Eventually, the Etruscans expanded their influence southward and conquered the Romans. The first Etruscan king of Rome was L. Tarquin ius Priscus (616-579 BCE).

Priscus chose and cleared the site for the great temple JUPITER OPTIMUS MAXIMUS (meaning "Jupiter best and greatest"), which would be located on CAPITOLINE, on one of the Seven Hills of Rome. In its later years, the civilization of Rome focused itself on CAPITOLINE. This was the temple dedicated to Jupiter who was the father of the gods and therefore most powerful. Priscus also allegedly built the CLOACA MAXIMA, or great sewer.

The 2nd Etruscan king, Servius Tullius (579-534 BCE), was said to have carried on the program of urban renewal begun by his predecessor. The final Etruscan monarch, Tarquin the Proud, was ejected by means of popular rebellion in 509 BCE. It began because his son Sext us rapped a chaste aristocrat named Lucretia who later committed suicide because of it. With the final king gone, the way was paved for the formation of the democratic republic.

The Etruscan military power fell and those who lived near Rome were absorbed into the new republic. CONSULS OF THE ROMAN REPUBLIC After the removal of the final Etruscan monarch, two men from the senate were elected by the members of the COMITIA CENTURIAL to take the position as consuls; the chief Magistrates of the Roman state who were elected annually. One colleague could veto (meaning forbid) the decision of the other thereby acting as a safe guard against abuse of power. GRACCHUS BROTHERS Tiberius Gracchus was elected to tribune of the people in 133 BCE. He believed he could solve the problems of the poor by redistributing the land.

He set up a land commission to distribute ten-hectare plots. He misused his authority when he announced that he would seek re-election as tribune. Such an act was unheard of in this time. This action in sighted a riot within the already angry land owning senators in Rome. 3000 people were killed, amongst them was Tiberius himself. Regardless, the land commission continued and some 80 000 people were resettled.

Gaius Gracchus was elected tribune in 123 BCE. He was an enthusiastic reformer who believed he had the answer to the conflicting interests of the population. He instituted a free monthly supply of grain to help the urban poor. Further more, to avoid offending the senate he proposed new colonies at Capua, Taranto, and Carthage - all cities destroyed during the Punic Wars. Finally, he put forth the idea of a package of moderate to give some rights to non-Roman peoples. Unfortunately, he was declared a public enemy in 121 BCE, and was killed by a mob along with 3000 of his supporters.

THE FIRST TRIUMVIRATE At this point in history, the Romans knew that any person backed by either a powerful army or band of ruthless thugs could usurp the constitutional government. Three men following in quick succession - Pompey the Great (Gna eus Pompieus Magnus, 106 - 48 BCE), Crassus (Marcus Licinius Crassus, 115-53 BCE), and Julius Caesar (Gaius Julius Caesar, 100-44 BCE) - rose to power. These men were all seasoned members of the military who cared nothing for the republican constitution by which they had prospered. They made their own arrangement and split the government of Rome amongst themselves in 60 BCE Forming the first triumvirate, the rule of the three men.

JULIUS CAESAR After the invasion of Italy in 49 BCE, the entire peninsula gained full Roman citizenship. He also subjugated the populations of modern day southern Germany, parts of Austria, France, and Switzerland. After the defeat of Crassus at the hands of the Parthian's, and his victory over Pompey after his betrayal, Caesar appointed himself dictator for ten years. In 45 BCE, his dictatorship was extended for life along with him becoming Pontifex Maximus, or chief priest.