Lucius Tarquinius Superbus
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| - | [[Image:Lucrezia by Joos van Cleve.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''[[Lucrezia]]'' ([[16th century]]) by [[Joos van Cleve]]]] | + | {| class="toccolours" style="float: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 2em; font-size: 85%; background:#c6dbf7; color:black; width:30em; max-width: 40%;" cellspacing="5" |
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| + | "When [[Lucius Tarquinius Superbus |Tarquin the Proud]] caused one of his [[Niece and nephew|nephew]]s to be murdered in the hope of securing the [[Order of succession |succession]] for his own son, the other nephew [[feigned insanity]]; and it was upon him, in accordance with [[matriarchal]] law, that the duty of [[blood-revenge]] evolved, when his niece [[Lucretia]] was assaulted. As in all [[patriarchal]] society, the distinction between paternal and maternal [[uncle]]s was clearly drawn, the former being called ‘patruus’, the latter ‘[[avunculus]]’, a diminutive of avus ; that is, ancestor. Thus our word ‘uncle’, a corruption of avunculus, preserves a trace of the matriarchal order of succession." --''[[The Mothers]]'' (1927) by Robert Briffault | ||
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| - | '''''The Rape of Lucrece''''' ([[1594]]) is a [[narrative poem]] by [[William Shakespeare]] about the legendary [[Lucretia]]. | ||
| - | In his previous narrative poem, ''[[Venus and Adonis (Shakespeare poem)|Venus and Adonis]]'' ([[1593]]), Shakespeare had included a dedicatory letter to his patron, the [[Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton|Earl of Southampton]], in which he promised to write a "graver work". Accordingly, ''The Rape of Lucrece'' lacks the humorous tone of the earlier poem. | + | '''Lucius Tarquinius Superbus''' (''Unknown'' – 496 B.C.), more commonly known by his [[cognomen]] '''Tarquinius Superbus''', was the seventh [[King of Rome]], reigning from 535 until the [[Roman revolt]] in 509 B.C. which would lead to the establishment of the [[Roman Republic]], after his son [[Sextus Tarquinius]]'s [[rape of Lucretia]], who was an important [[noblewoman]] in the kingdom. |
| - | + | ==Career== | |
| - | ==Historical background== | + | Superbus was the seventh emperor of the [[Roman Kingdom]], and a member of the ''Etruscan dynasty'' of [[Rome]]. The historian [[Dionysius of Halicarnassus]] may have divided one historical figure named Tarquin into two separate kings because of problems with dating their legendary events. Superbus was also called ''Tarquin the Proud'' and ''Tarquin II'' among other titles / names. |
| - | ''Lucrece'' draws on the story described in both [[Ovid]]'s ''[[Fasti (poem)|Fasti]]'' and [[Livy]]'s history of Rome. In [[509 BC]], [[Sextus Tarquinius]], son of [[Lucius Tarquinius Superbus|Tarquin]], the king of Rome, raped [[Lucretia]] (Lucrece), wife of [[Collatinus]], one of the king's aristocratic retainers. As a result, Lucrece committed [[suicide]]. Her body was paraded in the Roman Forum by the king's nephew. This incited a full-scale revolt against the Tarquins led by [[Lucius Junius Brutus]], the banishment of the royal family, and the founding of the [[Roman republic]]. | + | |
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| - | ==Publication and title== | + | |
| - | ''The Rape of Lucrece'' was entered into the [[Stationers' Register]] on May 9, 1594, and published later that year, in a [[book size|quarto]] printed by [[Richard Field (printer)|Richard Field]] for the bookseller John Harrison ("the Elder"); Harrison sold the book from his shop at the sign of the White Greyhound in [[St Paul's Cathedral|St. Paul's]] Churchyard. The title given on the title page was simply ''Lucrece'', though the running title throughout the volume, as well as the heading at the beginning of the text, is ''The Rape of Lucrece''. (The Arden edition of Shakespeare's ''[The] Poems'', ed F.T.Prince, London and New York, Methuen & Co. Ltd, 1960), from which this information is taken, calls the poem ''Lucrece''.) Though not the enormous bestseller that ''Venus and Adonis'' was, ''[The Rape of ]Lucrece'' possessed an enduring popularity. Harrison published subsequent editions in [[book size|octavo]] rather than quarto format; the second edition (O1) appeared in [[1598]], with two editions (O2 and O3) in [[1600]] and a fifth (O4) in [[1607]]. Harrison's copyright was transferred to Roger Jackson in [[1614]]; Jackson issued a sixth edition (O5) in [[1616]]. Other octavo editions followed in [[1624]], [[1632]], and [[1655]]. | + | |
| - | ==Literary use== | + | |
| - | Shakespeare retains the essence of the classic story, adding that Tarquin's lust for Lucrece springs from her husband's own praise of her. Shakespeare later used the same idea in the late romance ''[[Cymbeline]]'' (circa 1609-1610). In this play, Iachimo bets Posthumus (her husband) that he can make Imogen commit adultery with him. He does not succeed, however is able to convince Posthumus he had using information about Imogen's bedchamber and body. Iachiamo has hidden in a trunk which has been delivered to Imogen's chamber under the pretence of safekeeping some jewels, a gift for her father King Cymbeline. The scene in which he emerges from the trunk (2.2) mimics the scene in ''The Rape of Lucrece.'' Indeed, Iachimo compares himself to Tarquin in the scene: "Our Tarquin thus, / Did softly press the rushes ere he waken'd / The chastity he wounded" (2.2.12-14). ''Lucrece'' is also closely related to the early Roman tragedy [[Titus Andronicus]] (circa 1590-94). In this [[revenge play]], when the raped and mutilated Lavinia reveals the identity of her rapists, her uncle Marcus invokes the story of Lucrece to urge an oath to revenge the crime: "And swear with me--as, with the woeful fere / And father of that chaste dishonoured dame, / Lord Junius Brutus swore for Lucrece' rape-- / That we will prosecute by good advice / Mortal revenge upon these traitorous Goths, / And see their blood, or die with this reproach" (4.1.89-94).The rapist Tarquin is also mentioned in Macbeth's soliloquy from Act 2 Scene 1 of [[Macbeth]]: "wither'd Murther . . . With Tarquin's ravishing strides, towards his design / Moves like a ghost" (2.1.52-56). Tarquin's actions and cunning are compared with Macbeth's indecision - both rape and regicide are unforgivable crimes. In [[Taming of the Shrew]] Act 2, Scene 1, Petruchio promises Baptista, the father of Katherine (the Shrew), that once he marries Katherine "for patience she will prove second [[Griselda (folklore)|Grisel]], / And Roman Lucrece for her chastity" (3.2.288-89). | + | |
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| - | ==The raped woman== | + | |
| - | Lucrece is described as if she were a work of art, objectified in as if she were a material possession. Tarquin's rape of her is described as if she were a fortress under attack -- conquering her various physical attributes. Although Lucrece is raped, the poem offers an apology to absolve her of guilt (lines 1240-46). Like Shakespeare's other raped women, Lucrece gains symbolic value: through her suicide, her body metamorphoses into a political symbol. | + | |
| - | <!-- needs details of how Shakespeare treats story: debate over Lucrece's chastity dating back to St Augustine; Paining/tapestry scene. Tarquin's use of chivalric language; metaphor interchange and developing imagery of seas and streams, as if heading to source of problem; Lucrece's metamorphosis and how this links in with Ovid; PHILOMEL - link to Titus Andronicus. --> | + | |
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| - | == Analysis and Criticism == | + | |
| - | *[[Joel Fineman's analysis of The Rape of Lucrece]] | + | |
| - | *[[Jane Newman's analysis of The Rape of Lucrece]] | + | |
| - | ==See also== | + | |
| - | * [[1594 in poetry]] | + | |
| + | Superbus' father, [[Lucius Tarquinius Priscus]], was the fifth King of Rome reigning from 616-579 B.C. Priscus came from the [[Etruria|Etruscan]] city of [[Tarquinii]]. Livy claims that his first name ''Lucius'' was a Latinization of his original Etruscan name ''Lucumo'', but since ''Lucumo'' ([[Etruscan language|Etruscan]] ''Lauchme'') is the Etruscan word for "King", there is reason to believe that Priscus' name and title have been confused in the official tradition. Disgruntled with his opportunities in Etruria, he migrated to [[Rome]] with his wife [[Tanaquil]], at her suggestion. It is said that Superbus killed the preceding king, [[Servius Tullius]] to make himself king of Rome. | ||
| + | There are few surviving sources on Superbus' reign, and he is described as a [[tyrant]] and [[dictator]] when ruling the [[Monarchy|kingdom]]. He directed much of his attention to ambitious [[war plan]]s and he eventually annexed various [[Latin League|Latin]] neighbouring [[city states]]. In 509 B.C. the people revolted as a result of his son [[Sextus Tarquinius]]' [[rape]] of [[Lucretia]], who was an important [[noblewoman]] in the kingdom. | ||
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"When Tarquin the Proud caused one of his nephews to be murdered in the hope of securing the succession for his own son, the other nephew feigned insanity; and it was upon him, in accordance with matriarchal law, that the duty of blood-revenge evolved, when his niece Lucretia was assaulted. As in all patriarchal society, the distinction between paternal and maternal uncles was clearly drawn, the former being called ‘patruus’, the latter ‘avunculus’, a diminutive of avus ; that is, ancestor. Thus our word ‘uncle’, a corruption of avunculus, preserves a trace of the matriarchal order of succession." --The Mothers (1927) by Robert Briffault |
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Lucius Tarquinius Superbus (Unknown – 496 B.C.), more commonly known by his cognomen Tarquinius Superbus, was the seventh King of Rome, reigning from 535 until the Roman revolt in 509 B.C. which would lead to the establishment of the Roman Republic, after his son Sextus Tarquinius's rape of Lucretia, who was an important noblewoman in the kingdom.
Career
Superbus was the seventh emperor of the Roman Kingdom, and a member of the Etruscan dynasty of Rome. The historian Dionysius of Halicarnassus may have divided one historical figure named Tarquin into two separate kings because of problems with dating their legendary events. Superbus was also called Tarquin the Proud and Tarquin II among other titles / names.
Superbus' father, Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, was the fifth King of Rome reigning from 616-579 B.C. Priscus came from the Etruscan city of Tarquinii. Livy claims that his first name Lucius was a Latinization of his original Etruscan name Lucumo, but since Lucumo (Etruscan Lauchme) is the Etruscan word for "King", there is reason to believe that Priscus' name and title have been confused in the official tradition. Disgruntled with his opportunities in Etruria, he migrated to Rome with his wife Tanaquil, at her suggestion. It is said that Superbus killed the preceding king, Servius Tullius to make himself king of Rome.
There are few surviving sources on Superbus' reign, and he is described as a tyrant and dictator when ruling the kingdom. He directed much of his attention to ambitious war plans and he eventually annexed various Latin neighbouring city states. In 509 B.C. the people revolted as a result of his son Sextus Tarquinius' rape of Lucretia, who was an important noblewoman in the kingdom.
