The narrative begins with a bet between the sons of Tarquinius and their kinsmen, Brutus and Collatinus. As with Livy, Dionysius’ depiction of Lucretia separates her from the rest of Roman women in a story about the men returning home from a battle. While her husband was away at battle, Lucretia would stay at home and pray for his safe return. According to Livy, Lucretia was an exemplar of “beauty and purity,” as well as Roman standards. The marriage between Lucretia and Collatinus was depicted as the ideal Roman union, as both Lucretia and Collatinus were faithfully devoted to one another. Lucretia was the daughter of magistrate Spurius Lucretius and the wife of Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus. Photo courtesy Musée des Augustins, Wikimedia Commons A less common depiction of Lucretia weaving with her ladies. Willem de Poorter’s Lucrèce à l’ouvrage (1633). Much like the rape of the Sabine women, Lucretia’s story provides an explanation for historical change in Rome through a recounting of sexual assault against women. According to modern sources, Lucretia’s narrative is considered a part of Roman mythohistory. However, specific details are debatable and vary depending on the writer. The evidence points to the historical existence of a woman named Lucretia and an event that played a critical part in the downfall of the monarchy. Secondary sources on the establishment of the republic reiterate the basic events of Lucretia’s story, though accounts vary slightly between historians. Information regarding Lucretia, her rape and suicide, and the consequence of this being the start of the Roman Republic, come from the accounts of Roman historian Livy and Greco-Roman historian Dionysius of Halicarnassus approximately 500 years later. There are no contemporary sources of Lucretia and the event. As a result, the prominent families instituted a republic, drove the extensive royal family of Tarquin from Rome, and successfully defended the republic against attempted Etruscan and Latin intervention. The incident kindled the flames of dissatisfaction over the tyrannical methods of Tarquin’s father, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, the last king of Rome. Lucretia’s story provides an explanation for historical change in Rome through a recounting of sexual assault against women.Īccording to Roman tradition, Lucretia, anglicized as Lucrece, was a noblewoman in ancient Rome, whose rape by Sextus Tarquinius (Tarquin) and subsequent suicide precipitated a rebellion that overthrew the Roman monarchy and led to the transition of Roman government from a kingdom to a republic. Photo courtesy Fitzwilliam Museum, Wikimedia Commons ![]() ![]() A depiction of Lucretia’s rape by Sextus Tarquinius. Apparently, father wanted to watch the execution of his sons with his own eyes.Titian’s Tarquin and Lucretia (1571). Through his behavior, Brutus confirmed his stoicism and respect for the Republic. The secret plan, however, was revealed and the consul himself sentenced the conspirators to death. As it turned out, there were two brothers of the wife of Brutus – Vitellia and two of his sons: Titus Junius Brutus and Tiberius Juniusz Brutus. To this end, the ambassadors encouraged more important people from Roman society to support the conspiracy. In order to ensure the durability of the new state of affairs, a 300-person senate was introduced, in which they sat in the highest state of equites.ĭuring the Brutus consulate, the royal dynasty took steps to regain power in Rome. ![]() Rome’s contacts with Africa and Far EastĪfter the overthrow the last king of Rome in 509 BCE – Tarquinius Superbus, the first consuls were chosen by Lucius Junius Brutus, leader of the uprising against Tarquinius and Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus, who mourned after the suicidal death of his wife Lucretia, raped by son of Tarquinius Superbus.Īccording to the message of Titus Livius, one of the first edicts of Brutus was to order Roman citizens to swear that they would never again recognize royal authority.
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