Titus Tarquinius

Titus Tarquinius was one of the sons of the last king of Rome, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus. According to Livy and fragments of the first Roman historian, Fabius Pictor, he was the eldest son;[1] however, Dionysius of Halicarnassus claims he was not.[2]

Dionysius claims that each of the brothers were regents of different towns: Titus was regent of Signia.[3] In spite of their duties, Livy and Dionysius record that Titus and his younger brother Arruns, along with his cousin Lucius Junius Brutus travelled to consult the Delphic oracle to have an omen witnessed by the king interpreted.[4]

After the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated to 509 BC, Livy reports that Titus went into exile with his father at Caere.[5] According to Dionysius, Titus is killed fighting for his father at the Battle of Lake Regillus.[6] According to Livy, Titus survived the battle, albeit with severe injuries. The date of the battle in Livy is unclear: Livy himself noted two traditions, which would date the battle to either 499 or 496 BC.[7]

  1. ^ Cornell 1995, p. 123, citing Livy, 1.56. The sons, according to Pictor, were – in birth order – Titus, Sextus, and Arruns.
  2. ^ Gantz 1975, p. 544.
  3. ^ That Titus was regent of Signia may be dubious: Dion. Hal. Ant. Rom. 5.20.1 and Plut. Pub. 76.2 report that Signia was founded by the consuls of 508 BC. Broughton 1951, p. 5.
  4. ^ Gantz 1975, pp. 544–45, citing Livy, 1.56; Dion. Hal. Rom. Ant. 6.11.
  5. ^ Livy, 1.60.
  6. ^ Gantz 1975, pp. 544–45, citing Dion. Hal. Ant. Rom., 4.11.
  7. ^ Broughton 1951, pp. 10–11, citing Livy, 2.19.3–20.13, 2.21.3–4.