Tarquinius Superbus, Lucius

(Tarquin the Proud), according to Roman tradition, the seventh and last king of Rome, who reigned from 534/533 B.C. to 510/509 B.C. Tradition ascribes the characteristic qualities of a tyrant to Tarquinius, whose cruelty provoked a rebellion in Rome. The immediate cause of the revolt was the rape of Lucretia, wife of Tarquinius Collatinus (a relative of Superbus), by Tarquinius’ son. Tarquinius was banished from Rome. His expulsion coincides with Rome’s historical liberation from Etruscan domination.