Horatius Cocles
a hero of ancient Rome. The Tarquins having, after their banishment, sought refuge with the Etrurian king Porsenna, the latter advanced against Rome (507 B. c.) to restore them. According to tradition Ho-tion with a sextant in observations on ratius Cocles, along with two companions, held the Sublician bridge against the enemy while the Romans broke it down behind them. When this was nearly finished he sent back his two companions, and as the bridge fell he plunged into the Tiber in full armor and safely reached the opposite bank.