Servius Tullius - according to legend, the sixth of the kings of Ancient Rome, who ruled in 578-535 BC. e. He is credited with reforms of the political system and large construction activities.
Servius Tullius was born on August 13 in the city of Corniculum, which was subsequently destroyed by Roman troops under the leadership of Tarquinius Priscus. The father of the future king, Spurius Tullius, died in the battle, and his mother Okrisia, a woman of noble birth, perhaps even a queen, was captured by the Romans. There she fell in love with Tanaquil, the wife of the Roman king. The birth of Servius Tullius is surrounded by legends. According to mythological legend, already in childhood his divine origin manifested itself. One day, when the boy was sleeping in the atrium, a bright flame engulfed his head like a crown. The servants wanted to put out the fire, but Tanaquil saw a sign in this event and stopped them. The flame went out only when the child woke up and did not cause him any harm. Roman annalists claim that Servius, although a slave, was a favorite in the royal house, received a good Greek education and, at a young age, supplemented it with military victories. Tarquinius Priscus gave him his second daughter as his wife. After the murder of Tarquinius Priscus by the sons of Ancus Marcius, Tanaquil managed to bring Servius Tullius, her favorite, to power.
The beginning of the reign of Servius Tullius was marked by successful wars against the city of Veii and the Etruscans. In order to establish Rome's dominance over the Latin cities, he built the Temple of Diana on the Aventine Hill and established allied holidays. The Sabines also did not wage wars against Rome during the reign of Servius Tullius: according to legend, one Sabine named Curiatius managed to raise a mighty bull. One day, a wandering prophet appeared to this cattle breeder and predicted that the one who sacrificed this bull to Diana would become king of the Sabines. Curiatius immediately led his bull to the new temple in Rome. There he told the Roman priest what made him come to the altar, but the priest began to reproach Curiatius for not washing his hands in the Tiber before the sacrifice. While Curiatius was running to the river, the efficient priest managed to make a sacrifice. Thus, all the consequences of this sacrifice went to Rome. The unfortunate cattle breeder was given the head of a bull, and with it he went to his city to beg his compatriots not to attack Rome.
Thus, most of the reign of Servius Tullius was peaceful, and the king had a lot of time to carry out government reforms.
Roman tradition associates the name of Servius Tullius with reforms that contributed to the establishment of the political system of Rome; the so-called Servian legislation. The most important of the reforms was the centuriate reform, according to which clan tribes were replaced by territorial ones. With this, Servius Tullius divided the entire population of Rome into 4 urban and 17 rural tribes.
According to legend, under Servius Tulia the construction of the city wall of Rome (Servian City Wall) was completed, which encircled five hills that already had their own fortifications, and also included the Quirinal and Viminal hills. Thus, Rome became a city on seven hills.
Servius Tullius is credited with the monetary reform (he was the first in Rome to mint silver coins). He contributed in every way to the growth of the welfare of society: following the example of Solon in Athens, he redeemed the poor from slavery and freed clients from patronal dependence - this procedure was called nexum. Therefore, Servius Tullius was considered the “people’s” king. The plebeians especially honored his memory.
The dissatisfaction of the patricians with the reforms of Servius Tullius led to the fact that the king lost the support of the Senate. Lucius Tarquinius took advantage of this, convened the Senate into a curia and proclaimed himself king. When Servius Tullius (by that time already a very old man) appeared at the Senate in order to drive out the impostor, Tarquinius threw him down the steps onto a stone platform. Servius Tullius tried to escape, but was killed in the street by Lucius' followers. His body was immediately run over in a chariot by his youngest daughter Tullia. Since then, this street has been called “Dishonest” in Rome.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru