Only in the early period were there kings in ancient Rome. After the legendary regal period of Rome, men would sometimes take power, becoming dictators or emperors, but they were not kings. Only these men are the kings of Rome.
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1. Romulus 753-715 B.C.
Claire Campbell
- Romulus was the legendary founder of Rome. The Sabine king of Cures, Tatius, co-ruled with Romulus from the time of the rape of the Sabine women until his death in 648 B.C.
2. Numa Pompilius 715-673
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- Numa Pompilius is credited with many of the ancient religious conventions of ancient Rome.
3. Tullus Hostilius 673-642 B.C.
- Tullus Hostilius doubled the population of Rome, added Alban nobles to the Senate of Rome, and built the Curia Hostilia.
4. Ancus Martius 642-617 B.C.
- Ancus Marcius was a grandson of Numa Pompilius and a bridge builder. The bridge across the Tiber is credited to Ancus Marcius.
5. Servius Tullius 578-535 B.C.
- Servius Tullius was the son-in-law of Tarquinius Priscus. He divided the Roman citizens into tribes and fixed the military obligations of 5 census-determined classes.
Servius Tullius and the Power Structure of Early Rome
6. L. Tarquinius Priscus 616-579 B.C.
- The first Etruscan king of Rome, Tarquinius Priscus had a Corinthian father. Tarquin created 100 new senators and expanded Rome. He also established the Roman games.
7. Tarquinius Superbus (Tarquin the Proud) 534-510 B.C.
- Tarquinius Superbus or Tarquin the Proud was the last Etruscan or any king of Rome. He was forcibly ousted by Brutus.
Some of the ancient writers about the period of the Roman kings are Livy, Plutarch, and Dionysius of Halicarnasus, all of whom lived centuries after the events.
