Siege of Rome (508 BC)

Siege of Rome
Part of the Roman-Etruscan Wars
Date 508 B.C. Location Rome Result Roman victory
Belligerents
Roman Republic	Etruscians
Commanders and leaders
Publius Horatius Cocles	Lars Porsenna Lucius Tarquinius Superbus

In Etruscan and Roman mythology, the Siege of Rome was waged against the Republic of Rome by the deposed king Lucius Tarquinius Superbus and Lars Porsenna after Superbus was overthrown by the Roman people. The war is among the most important events in early Roman and Etruscan mythology or history. It is unknown if the siege ended in failure or was successful, which is one of the reasons why historians and modern scholars alike commonly believe that the siege is totally fiction.

The Ancient Romans thought the Siege of Rome was a historical event that had taken place. By modern times the war was widely believed to be a non-historical event. Whether there is any historical reality behind the Siege of Rome is an open question. Many scholars believe that there is a historical core to the tale, though this may simply mean that Superbus was overthrown by the Roman people earlier that year. Those who believe that the stories of the Siege of Rome derive from a specific historical conflict usually date the siege around 470 B.C. or even later then 450 B.C.

History

Background and aftermath

The seventh and last king of Rome Lucius Tarquinius Superbus ruled Rome as a tyrant. Superbus was of Etruscan birth, under his rule the Etruscanss reached their apex of power. Supberbus used violence, murder and terrorism to maintain power in Rome and changed much of the Roman constitution at that time. Because of this, his unpopularity grew which eventually led to the birth to the Republic of Rome. Superbus survived the overthrowing of his government and left for Etrusca were he had many supporters thanks to his Etruscan descent. Superbus then turned to Lars Porsenna the Etruscan king of Clusium, gathered supporters, and besieged Rome from the hill top of Janiculum near the city.

Porsenna was prevented from occupuying the city of Rome by Publius Horatius Cocles who held the bridge of Pons Sublicius. This act of Roman heroism persuaded Porsenna to not attack the city of Rome, but instead against the Latin city of Aricia led by his son Arruns. Porsenna withdrew and Superbus enlisted aid from Octavus Mamilius, his son-in-law. Mamilius eventually mobilised the Latin League and led a revolt against the Roman Republic. There is also one other version of the siege were Porsenna was successful and Rome was invaded by the Etruscan army in 508 BC instead of Porsenna leaving the battle field.

External links

Bibliography

Primary sources

Livy. From the Founding of the City  – via Wikisource. (print: Book 1 as The Rise of Rome, Oxford University Press, 1998, ISBN 0-19-282296-9)

Secondary sources

• Michael Grant, The History of Rome, Faber and Faber, 1993, ISBN 0-571-11461-X