Tarquinius

Etymology

Tarquinius is the Latin form of Tarquin, a name of uncertain origin, possibly Etruscan. The Roman gens Tarquinia (Tarquinia family) was a plebeian family, its most famous members being Lucius Tarquinius Priscus and Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, the fifth and seventh Kings of Rome (according to tradition, 616–509 BC). The name likely derives from the Etruscan city of Tarquinii (modern Tarquinia), where the family was said to have originated.

Historical Context

The legendary origin of the Tarquin dynasty begins with Demaratus, a Greek from Corinth who settled at Tarquinii in Etruria and married an Etruscan woman. His son Lucius Tarquinius Priscus later moved to Rome and became its fifth king, followed by his descendant Tarquinius Superbus, the last king of Rome. Their rule marked a period of Etruscan influence on early Rome, including architectural projects (the Cloaca Maxima) and military expansion. After the deposition of Superbus, the Tarquinii survived as a noble family, appearing in Roman records into the late Republic and early Empire.

Cultural Significance

The name Tarquinius has become emblematic of tyranny in Roman history, especially due to the overlord Tarquinius Superbus and the story of his son Sextus Tarquinius, whose rape of Lucretia sparked the revolution that established the Roman Republic. The family name is also commemorated in the Tarquinia gens, a subject of Roman genealogical study and inscriptions as late as the 4th century AD.

Notable Bearers

• Lucius Tarquinius Priscus (r. 616–579 BC) — fifth King of Rome
• Lucius Tarquinius Superbus (r. 535–509 BC) — seventh and last King of Rome
• Arruns Tarquinius — brother of Tarquinius Priscus