Roman Kingdom

Quick Facts: Who was Roman Kingdom?

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Roman Kingdom

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The earliest period of Roman history, ruled by kings from c. 753 to c. 509 BC.

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Origins & Early Life

The Roman Kingdom, also known as the Roman monarchy and the regal period of ancient Rome, was the earliest period of Roman history, when the city and its territory were ruled by kings. According to tradition, the Roman Kingdom began with the city's founding c. 753 BC, with settlements around the Palatine Hill along the river Tiber in central Italy, and ended with the overthrow of the kings and the establishment of the Roman Republic c. 509 BC. Little is certain about the kingdom's history as no records and few inscriptions from the time of the kings have survived. The accounts of this period written during the Republic and the Empire are thought largely to be based on oral tradition and debated as to their historicity. The site of the founding of the Roman Kingdom (and eventual Republic and Empire) included a ford where one could cross the river Tiber in central Italy.

Career & Major Achievements

The Palatine Hill and hills surrounding it provided easily defensible positions in the wide fertile plain surrounding them. Each of these features contributed to the success of the city. The traditional version of Roman history, which has come down principally through Livy (59 BC – AD 17), Plutarch (before 50 – after AD 120), and Dionysius of Halicarnassus (c. 60 BC – after 7 BC), recounts that a series of seven kings ruled the settlement in Rome's first centuries. The traditional chronology, as codified by Varro (116 – 27 BC) and Fabius Pictor (c. 270 – c. 200 BC), allows 243 years for their combined reigns, an average of almost 35 years. Since the work of Barthold Georg Niebuhr, modern scholarship has generally discounted this schema.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The Gauls destroyed many of Rome's historical records when they sacked the city after the Battle of the Allia in 390 BC (according to Varro; according to Polybius, the battle occurred in 387 or 386), and what remained eventually fell prey to time or to theft. With no contemporary records of the kingdom surviving, all accounts of the Roman kings must be carefully questioned. The kings following Romulus, the city's founder, were elected by the people of Rome to serve for life, and did not rely upon military force to gain or keep the throne. The only king to break fully with this tradition was Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, the final king, who according to tradition seized power from his predecessor and ruled as a tyrant. In reality, most kings of Rome seem to have been leaders of armed bands who through persuasion or force acquired the support of the Roman aristocracy.

Notable Quotes by Roman Kingdom

“There was probably only a thin dividing line between the band chief called in to help an existing rex and a band chief called in to replace him and therefore to rule in his stead.”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Roman Kingdom

True or False: “The Roman kings were always elected by the people of Rome without relying on military force.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While initially elected, later kings, such as Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, are traditionally believed to have seized power through force rather than election.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Roman Kingdom