Founding of Rome: Notes
I. Aeneas (Trojan War)
-Fled Troy after the Greeks sacked the city in 1184 BC
-Fated to found a “NEW TROY”
-Sailed to Italy and founded a city in the region of Latium
-Aeneas’ son, Ascanius, founded the town closer to the Tiber River in the same
region, called Alba Longa
-The descendants of Aeneas and his son Ascanius would found the city on the
bank of the Tiber that would later be known as Rome
II. Romulus and Remus
-Romans believed that Romulus and Remus were born of a mortal mother (Rhea
Silvia) and MARS (god of war)
-Numitor and Amulius (brothers) – descendents of Romulus and Remus
-Amulius was EVIL and killed his brother Numitor who was the rightful
king of Alba Longa
-Amulius also killed Numitor’s sons and forced their sister, Rhea Silvia, to
become a priestess so that she would not bear any children
-Rhea Silvia was loved by Mars and she gave birth to twin sons, Romulus
and Remus
-Romulus and Remus -- were concealed from their wicked uncle and placed in a
basket to float down the Tiber river
-A mother wolf came along (sacred to Mars) and found the babies and
raised them
-Later they were found by a sheperd and his wife: Faustulus and Larentia
-Their identity was discovered by the evil king Amulius—Romulus and Remus
drove him out of Alba Longa
-Romulus and Remus went to found a new settlement where they grew up
-Remus-6 vultures
-Romulus-12 vultures
-Romulus is victor (753BC) and built his city on the Palatine Hill
Traditional Date of the founding of Rome is April 21, 753B.C.
ROME AS A MONARCHY (rule of kings) from 753BC –
III. SEVEN KINGS OF ROME
1. Romulus 753-715: Romulus was the legendary founder of Rome.
The Sabine king of Cures, Tatius, co-ruled with Romulus from
the time of the rape of the Sabine women until his death in
648 B.C.
2. Numa Pompilius 715-763: Numa Pompilius is credited with
many of the ancient religious conventions of ancient Rome.
3. Tullus Hostilius 673-642 B.C.
Tullus Hostilius doubled the population of Rome, added Alban nobles to
the Senate of Rome, and built the Curia Hostilia.
4. Ancus Martius 642-617 B.C.
Ancus Marcius was a grandson of Numa Pompilius and a bridge
builder. The bridge across the Tiber is credited to Ancus Marcius.
5. L. Tarquinius Priscus 616-579 B.C.
The first Etruscan king of Rome, Tarquinius Priscus had a Corinthian
father. Tarquin created 100 new senators and expanded Rome. He
also established the Roman games.
6. Servius Tullius 578-535 B.C.
Servius Tullius was the son-in-law of Tarquinius Priscus. He divided the
Roman citizens into tribes and fixed the military obligations of 5
census-determined classes.
7. Tarquinius Superbus (Tarquin the Proud) 534-510 B.C.
Tarquinius Superbus or Tarquin the Proud was the last Etruscan or any
king of Rome. He was forcibly ousted by Brutus.