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Tarquinius (LUCIUS surnamed PRISCUS)

LUCIUS, surnamed PRISCUS (the first or the elder), in Roman tradition the 5th King of Rome.

The family of Tarquinius was said to have been of Greek extraction, his father Demaratus being a Corinthian who settled in Tarquinii, one of the chief cities of Etruria. Having removed with a large following to Rome, Tarquinius became the favorite and confidant of the Roman king, Ancus Martius, and at his death was unanimously elected his successor. According to Livy he made war with success on the Latins and Sabines, from whom he took numerous towns.

Tarquinius also distinguished his reign by the erection of the Cloaca Maxima, the Forum, the wall round the city, and, as is supposed, he commenced the Capitoline Temple. After a reign of about 36 years he was killed by assassins employed by the sons of Ancus Martius in 578 B. C.