Lucius Tarquinius Superbus (535 – 496 BCE) is the legendary seventh and final King of Rome, reigning from 535 BCE until the popular uprising in 509 BCE that leads to the establishment of the Roman Republic.
He is more commonly known by his cognomen Tarquinius Superbus (literally, Tarquin the Proud) and is a member of the so-called Etruscan dynasty of Rome.
According to Classical historians, he gained the kingship by ordering the assassination of his predecessor, Servius Tullius.
Tarquin's father, Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, was the fifth King of Rome, reigning 616-579 BCE.
His grandfather was said to be Demaratus the Corinthian, an immigrant from the Greek city of Corinth.
Priscus himself originated in the Etruscan city of Tarquinii.
Disgruntled with his opportunities there, Priscus migrated to Rome with his wife Tanaquil, at her suggestion.
On their arrival, Tanaquil interpreted an omen as predicting Priscus' future status as King of Rome.
However, Tarquin the Proud was not the immediate successor of his father Priscus, since Servius Tullius took the throne on Priscus' death.
Few surviving sources provide reliable accounts of Tarquin's reign, which is often described as a tyranny.
His kingship ended in 509 BCE, after his son Sextus Tarquinius raped Lucretia, a married noblewoman.
This outrage inspired an uprising led by the aristocrat Lucius Junius Brutus, which resulted in the expulsion of Tarquin and his family from Rome.
