Livy About Rome's Early Kings (Illustrated History of Ancient Rome

Livy About Rome's Early Kings

The Roman Historian Livy describes Rome's first kings. Here are some brief quotes:

(753-715 BC)

"Go," he said, "and tell the Romans that by heaven's will my Rome shall be capital of the world. Let them learn to be soldiers. Let them know, and teach their children, that no power on earth can stand against Roman arms." Having spoken these words, he was taken up again into the sky.

Livy, History I, xvi

Numa Pompilius

(715-673 BC)

Once Rome's Neighbors had considered her not so much as a city as an armed camp in their midst threatening the general peace; now they came up to revere her so profoundly as a community dedicated wholly to worship, that the mere thought of offering her violence seemed like sacrilege.

Livy, History I, xxi

Tullus Hostilius

(673-641 BC)

In his view, Rome had been allowed to lapse into senility, and his one object was to find cause for renewed military adventure.

Livy, History I, xviii

Ancus Martius

(641-616 BC)

His fame as both soldier and administrator was unsurpassed by any previous occupant of the throne.

Livy, History I, xxxv

Tarquinius Priscus

(616-579 BC)

In most ways he was a man of outstanding character and ability; nevertheless. . .he was something of a schemer.

Livy, History I, xxxiii

Servius Tullus

(579-534 BC)

In most ways he was a man of outstanding character and ability; nevertheless. . .he was something of a schemer.

Livy, History I, xxxiii

Tarquinius Superbus

(534-509 BC)

However lawless and tyrannical Tarquin may have been as monarch in his own country, as a war leader he did fine work. Indeed, his fame as a soldier might have equaled that of his predecessors, had not his degeneracy in other things obscured its luster.

Livy, History I, xxxiii

The History of Rome - Part One 743 - 136 B.C.