Rome's Early Kings (Illustrated History of Ancient Rome

Rome's Early Kings

The early history of Rome has always been an interesting mixture of heroic legend and fact. According to Archaeological evidence there were people living on the Palatine and nearby hills prior to 1000 BC. The Palatine is where one of the earliest Latin settlements grew up that later became the city of Rome. According to tradition, Rome was founded in 753 BC by Romulus, who became the first Roman king and gave his name to the city.

A monarchy was established in Rome under the Etruscan rulers, who gradually extended their power over the other Latin peoples inhabiting the surrounding territories. Alba Longa, once the leading Latin city, disappeared under Etruscan aggression. According to later tradition several building projects and new techniques in the crafts to this period of Etruscan control, during which Roman culture became essentially Etruscan, even though Latin speech and Latin consciousness remained. Rome was ruled by seven legendary kings from 753 BC until 509 B C when Tarquin the Proud was overthrown by the Roman people and a republic was established.

Around 500 BC, the Etruscan tyranny provoked these Latin peoples to active opposition and in then a revolt, the Etruscan king and his followers were driven into exile. Thus, there was ushered in a new era of Roman history.

Romulus

Because of the abuses of the Tarquins, Romans have always hated the very idea of a king and royalty. Even after the time of Augustus and other First Century AD emperors, none of these rulers dared call himself "King" for fear of raising the wrath of the Roman people. They simply went by the title of Princeps, meaning First Citizen or Pater Patriae, meaning Father of His Country.

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