Roman History
Part I: Monarchy to
Republic
Culture Unit for 1st and 2nd year
Prehistory: Aeneas, Rome’s Great Ancestor
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Aeneas: Trojan, son of Venus, survivor of Trojan War
Visits ancient Carthage, enrages queen Dido and creates
eternal enmity between Rome and Carthage
Comes to Italy, founds Lavinium (named for his 2nd wife,
Lavinia)
Prehistory: Iulus, Founder of a Kingly Line
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Iulus: son of Aeneas, sometimes called Ascanius
From Lavinium, sets out to found his own city, Alba Longa.
All the Alban kings descend from him.
Iulius Caesar claims him as the founer of the gens Iulii.
Ab Alba ad Romam
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Numitor and Amulius: Brothers,
rivals for throne of Alba
Rhea Silvia: daughter of
Numitor
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Numitor is rightful king, but
Amulius overthrows him.
Amulius places Rhea in the
order of Virgines Vestiales.
Ab Alba Ad Romam
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Mars, god of war, visits Rhea,
and she bears him two sons,
Romulus and Remus
Amulius has children carried to
Tiber to drown
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River floods, carrying boys
downstream and landing them
on the shore of what will be
Rome.
Found by a lupa, nursed by her.
Ab Alba Ad Romam
Bronze image of the “Capitoline Wolf” as would have been seen
in the Curia (Senate House) in the Forum Romanum
Ab Alba Ad Romam
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Later found by shepherd Faustulus, who raised them as his
sons.
In time, boys learn of their true heritage, return to Alba and
restore Numitor to the throne.
Urbem Aedificemus!
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Romulus and Remus return to the site of their landing, deciding to
found a city.
Romulus chooses what will be the Palatine hill to start the city; Remus
chooses what will be the Aventine hill.
Who is right? Well, we don’t call it “Reme” now, do we?
Signum Ex Deis
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Both pray for a sign about what to do
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Remus sees 6 vultures fly towards him.
Romulus then sees 12 vultures fly towards him. Declares his sign
the better of the two.
Mors! Caeds!
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Two versions of what happens next:
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I- Romulus and his followers fight Remus and his followers. Remus
dies in the scuffle.
II- Remus jumps over the wall of Romulus’ new city. Romulus kills
him for violating sacred space (pomerium).
Romulus Rex Est!
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With the death of Remus, Romulus’ city becomes THE city.
Early people declare Romulus king.
Cum Romulus Romam rexit…
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Rome is a rough town, mainly shepherds and outcasts.
Many men, few women. Romulus has a plan, though.
Invites neighboring tribe, the Sabini (Sabines) to a festival to
Neptune. At his signal, Romans snatch up Sabine maidens.
Romani Sabinas Rapiunt
“Rape of the Sabine Women” by Nicolas Poussin, 1635
Romani et Sabini
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Sabine men return in force to attack Rome.
Let into the city by a traitorous woman named Tarpeia.
Fighting ceases when Sabine women claim that they do not want
to be widowed and orphaned on the same day.
Romulus vixit!
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Romulus for a time co-ruled with a Sabine named Titus
Tatius.
Two stories about Romulus’ death:
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Rushed by people and killed in the Forum.
Taken to Olympus by Mars in a fiery chariot. Deified as Quirinus,
Romans then called “Quirites.”
Reges Romani
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Numa Pompilius
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Sabine origin
Established most of Rome’s
religious customs.
Tullus Hostilius
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Military focus
Conquered Alba Longa
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Died during a plague while
performing a sacrifice to Iupiter.
Ancus Marcius
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Descendant of Numa
Built walls, prison, bridge, and
port city (Ostia).
Reges Romani
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Tarquinius Priscus
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Came from Etruria
Elected king by fraud
Killed by Ancus’ sons.
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Servius Tullius
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Son-in-law of Priscus
Expanded Rome to cover 7 hills.
Began a census and assigned
Romans to classes based on
wealth and pedigree.
Reges Romani
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Tarquinius Superbus
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Killed Servius, his father-in-law
Built Templum Iovis Optimi
Maximi and the Cloaca Maxima
(Rome’s main sewer)
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Son, Sextus, raped Lucretia, his
cousin’s wife.
Told husband Collatinus and
friend L. Brutus (ancestor of M.
Brutus) what happened, then
killed herself.
Mors Lucretiae
“Rape of Lucretia” by Alessandro Botticelli
Regnum Non Iam!
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Brutus and Collatinus, along with others, move to overthrow Tarquin
the Proud and his family.
Last king’s rule ends in 510 B.C.
Following year, Brutus and Collatinus elected the first heads of the new
government, the Res Publica (Republic). This government lasts for
almost 500 years.
Reges Septem
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The Seven Kings in order, then:
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Romulus
Numa Pompilius
Tullus Hostilius
Ancus Marcius
Tarquinius Priscus
Servius Tullius
Tarquinius Superbus (the Proud)
Rome Now Hates A Tyrant, So They Say