Lucius Tarquinius Priscus

Lucius Tarquinius Priscus came from a noble Etruscan family called the Tarquinii. Actually, his wife was a Tarquin named Tanaquil, while his father Demaratus came from Corinth. Demaratus had married an Etruscan woman. His original name was Lucumo, but he changed it when he came to Rome. He was sometime called Tarquin the Elder.

Tarquinius Priscus (616-578 BC) succeeded Ancus Marcius and continued the war against the Sabines, also conquering the other Latin cities.

Tarquin was responsible for several public works buildings in Rome, and was the first to begin the construction of drainage systems which still exist today. Tarquin also established the Roman Games in honour of Jupiter.

Tarquin had two sons named Lucius and Arruns, and a daughter named Tarquinia, who was the mother of Lucius Junius Brutus. His son Lucius would later become known as Lucius Tarquinius Superbus.

The sons of Ancus Marcius murdered Tarquin because they believed that they had the right to succeed their father. Tarquin's cunning wife Tanaquil managed to help put their son-in-law in power. Tarquinius Priscus was succeeded by Servius Tullius.