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 Larthia Seianti, Etruscan, c. 200-150 BCE (sarcophagus) |
Tanaquil, daughter of an aristocratic Etruscan family, married the son of Damaratus, a refugee from Corinth, and an Etruscan woman. Strong, resourceful, and proud in character, Tanaquil saw her husband’s potential for leadership, but realized that as the son of an immigrant he had little chance of attaining high political position in Tarquinia. She urged him to emigrate to Rome, a city of growing power not dominated by a native aristocracy. On their journey Tanaquil saw and interpreted an omen fortelling Tarquin’s future kingship. In Rome, he assumed the Roman name Lucius Tarquinius Priscus while Tanaquil kept hers. His character and political acumen so endeared him to King Ancus Marcius that he was made guardian of the royal children. When the king died before his children reached adulthood, Tarquin used his popularity to become the fifth King of Rome (616-579 BCE), Rome’s first Etruscan royalty. Livy is neutral about Tanaquil’s “king-making,” but he later shows how the ruthlessly ambitious Tullia claims Tanaquil as a precedent for her aggressive behavior. |
| Chapter 34 (4) Lucumoni contra, omnium heredi bonorum, cum divitiae iam animos facerent, auxit ducta in matrimonium Tanaquil, summo loco nata et quae haud facile iis in quibus nata erat humiliora sineret ea quo innupsisset. |
| (5) Spernentibus Etruscis Lucumonem exsule advena ortum, ferre indignitatem non potuit, oblitaque ingenitae erga patriam caritatis dummodo virum honoratum videret, consilium migrandi ab Tarquiniis cepit. |
| (6) Roma est ad id potissima visa: in novo populo, ubi omnis repentina atque ex virtute nobilitas sit, futurum locum forti ac strenuo viro; regnasse Tatium Sabinum, arcessitum in regnum Numam a Curibus, et Ancum Sabina matre ortum nobilemque una imagine Numae esse. |
| (7) Facile persuadet ut cupido honorum et cui Tarquinii materna tantum patria esset. Sublatis itaque rebus amigrant Romam. |
| (8) Ad Ianiculum forte ventum erat; ibi ei carpento sedenti cum uxore aquila suspensis demissa leviter alis pilleum aufert, superque carpentum cum magno clangore volitans rursus velut ministerio divinitus missa capiti apte reponit; inde sublimis abiit. |
| (9) Accepisse id augurium laeta dicitur Tanaquil, perita ut volgo Etrusci caelestium prodigiorum mulier. Excelsa et alta sperare complexa virum iubet: eam alitem ea regione caeli et eius dei nuntiam venisse; circa summum culmen hominis auspicium fecisse; levasse humano superpositum capiti decus ut divinitus eidem redderet. |
| (10) Has spes cogitationesque secum portantes urbem ingressi sunt, domicilioque ibi comparato L. Tarquinium Priscum edidere nomen. |
Tanaquil made a momentous contribution to Rome within the royal palace while Tarquinius Priscus earned further popularity through successful wars and astute political decisions. Hearing of the miracle associated with the child Servius Tullius, who was perhaps born to a royal captive serving as a domestic slave, she persuaded her husband to have him educated in the palace as a prince; in this way she prepared for his marriage to their daughter and succession to the throne.
| Chapter 39 (1) Eo tempore in regia prodigium visu eventuque mirabile fuit. Puero dormienti, cui Servio Tullio fuit nomen, caput arsisse ferunt multorum in conspectu; |
| (2) plurimo igitur clamore inde ad tantae rei miraculum orto excitos reges, et cum quidam familiarium aquam ad restinguendum ferret, ab regina retentum, sedatoque eam tumultu moveri vetuisse puerum donec sua sponte experrectus esset; |
| (3) mox cum somno et flammam abisse. Tum abducto in secretum viro Tanaquil "Viden tu puerum hunc" inquit, "quem tam humili cultu educamus? Scire licet hunc lumen quondam rebus nostris dubiis futurum praesidiumque regiae adflictae; proinde materiam ingentis publice privatimque decoris omni indulgentia nostra nutriamus." |
| (4) [ferunt] Inde puerum liberum loco coeptum haberi erudirique artibus quibus ingenia ad magnae fortunae cultum excitantur. Evenit facile quod dis cordi esset: iuvenis evasit vere indolis regiae nec, cum quaereretur gener Tarquinio, quisquam Romanae iuventutis ulla arte conferri potuit, filiamque ei suam rex despondit. |
| (5) Hic quacumque de causa tantus illi honos habitus credere prohibet serva natum eum parvumque ipsum servisse. Eorum magis sententiae sum qui Corniculo capto Ser. Tulli, qui princeps in illa urbe fuerat, gravidam viro occiso uxorem, cum inter reliquas captiuas cognita esset, ob unicam nobilitatem ab regina Romana prohibitam ferunt servitio partum Romae edidisse Prisci Tarquini in domo; |
| (6) inde tanto beneficio et inter mulieres familiaritatem auctam et puerum, ut in domo a parvo eductum, in caritate atque honore fuisse; fortunam matris, quod, capta patria in hostium manus venerit, ut serva natus crederetur fecisse. |
Tanaquil took charge of the situation after the fatal attack made on Tarquinius by assassins hired by Ancus Marcius’ two sons, whom Tarquinius had outmaneuvered for the kingship. By giving careful instructions to Servius and calming the populace with lies about her husband’s condition, she made it possible for Servius to assume leadership and then win the kingship. Her reported speech to the gathered citizens is her last appearance in Livy’s history.
| Chapter 41 (1) Tarquinium moribundum cum qui circa erant excepissent, illos fugientes lictores comprehendunt. Clamor inde concursusque populi, mirantium quid rei esset. Tanaquil inter tumultum claudi regiam iubet, arbitros eiecit. Simul quae curando volneri opus sunt, tamquam spes subesset, sedulo comparat, simul si destituat spes, alia praesidia molitur. |
| (2) Servio propere accito cum paene exsanguem virum ostendisset, dextram tenens orat ne inultam mortem soceri, ne socrum inimicis ludibrio esse sinat. |
| (3) "Tuum est" inquit, "Servi, si vir es, regnum, non eorum qui alienis manibus pessimum facinus fecere. Erige te deosque duces sequere qui clarum hoc fore caput divino quondam circumfuso igni portenderunt. Nunc te illa caelestis excitet flamma; nunc expergiscere vere. Et nos peregrini regnavimus; qui sis, non unde natus sis reputa. Si tua re subita consilia torpent, at tu mea consilia sequere." |
| (4) Cum clamor impetusque multitudinis vix sustineri posset, ex superiore parte aedium per fenestras in Novam viam versas—habitabat enim rex ad Iovis Statoris—populum Tanaquil adloquitur. |
| (5) Iubet bono animo esse; sopitum fuisse regem subito ictu; ferrum haud alte in corpus descendisse; iam ad se redisse; inspectum volnus absterso cruore; omnia salubria esse; confidere propediem ipsum eos visuros; interim Ser. Tullio iubere populum dicto audientem esse; eum iura redditurum obiturumque alia regis munia esse. |
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