I will kill you first, then cut the throat of the slave and lay his naked body by your side. 'If death will not move you,' Sextus cried, 'dishonor shall. But all in vain not even the fear of death could bend her will.

Sextus urged his love, begged her to submit, pleaded, threatened, used every weapon that might conquer a woman's heart. I am armed- if you utter a word I will kill you.' Lucretia opened her eyes in terror death was imminent, no help at hand. Laying his left hand on her breast, 'Lucretia.' he whispered, 'not a sound! I am Sextus Tarquinius. Here he waited till the house was asleep, and then, when all was quiet, he drew his sword and made his way to Lucretia's room determined to rape her. A few days later Sextus, without Collatinus's knowledge, returned with one companion to Collatia, where he was hospitably welcomed in Lucretia's house, and, after supper, escorted, like the honored visitor he was though to be, to the guest-chamber. It was at that fatal supper that Lucretia's beauty, and proven chastity, kindled in Sextus Tarquinius the flame of lust, and determined to debauch her. While the king was away on a campaign, the conspirators barred the gates of Rome and declared Collatinus as the legitimate King of Rome, soon after this, Collatinus set about the defense of the city.With all courtesy Lucretia rose to bid her husband and the princes welcome, and Collatinus, pleased with his success, invited his friends to sup with him. They were supported by Lucius Junius Brutus, the king's nephew, and others who had suffered various cruelties at the hands of the king and his sons. Despite their entreaties and protests of her innocence, Lucretia then plunged a dagger into her breast in expiation of her shame.Įnraged by his cousin's deed, Collatinus and his father-in-law brought news of the crime before the people. After his departure, Lucretia sent for her husband and father, and recounted the events to them. Forcing himself upon Lucretia, Sextus threatened to kill her, together with a slave, and tell her husband that he had caught her in the act of adultery with the slave, unless she should accede to his desire. While Collatinus was away from home, his cousin, Sextus Tarquinius, son of the king, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, came to his house by night.

The surname Collatinus was derived from this town.Ĭollatinus married Lucretia, the daughter of Spurius Lucretius Tricipitinus. Through an accident, Arruns had been born into poverty, but when his uncle subdued the Latin town of Collatia, he was placed in command of the Roman garrison there. He would die in 283, having no children or grandchildren.Ĭollatinus was the son of Arruns Tarquinius, better known as Egerius, a nephew of Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, the fifth King of Rome. Collatinus would live out the remainder of his life in exile in a Villa in the countryside, only disturbed when the during the secession of the plebs that occurred in 274 he was offered the kingship by the plebs, he refused and negotiated a compromise. In 269, he readmitted an unnamed Tarquinian relative, to Roma, causing uproar among the Senate, and Brutus seized this opportunity and dethroned Collatinus. His wife, Lucretia, was assaulted and sexually exploited by Sextus Tarquinius (the son of the current King, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus), resulting in Superbus being deposed in a popular uprising and Collatinus becoming King.During his reign as king, he defeated an army led by Superbus to overthrow him in 245, reformed several aspects of governance relating to the plebeians, and created a new office, known as the praetor, with future king, Lucius Junius Brutus holding the office. The son of Arruns Tarquinius, better known as Egerius, a nephew of Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, the fifth king of Rome. He seized the kingship after overthrowing Superbus in a popular uprising. He reigned from 245 until he was pressured to retire in 269, leaving the throne to Lucius Junius Brutus. Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus (Unknown - 283), sometimes referred to as Lucius III, was the eight King of Rome.

Sextus and collatinus tarquinus