Servius Tullius

nationality

• Servius Tullius in one legend was cited as being an Etruscan
• In another account, however, he is noted of being Latin in origin

Notable Achievemnts

• expanded the city
• created a new festival; the Compitalia
• he built new temples
• invented Rome's first coinage

Compitalia

• celebrated the household deities, Lares Compitalia
• these were the dieties of the cross roads

Fun Facts

• name is a corruption of the word for slave, this has led to people believing that he was once a slave
• Servius was chosen as king after people say they saw a ring of fire around his head
• this was considered to be an omen of great things

Biography

• has been cited as both the child of an Etruscan mercenary and the child of an enslaved Latin princess
• married the fifth emperor's daughter

Was he a good king????

• excelled in both military and political pursuits
• extended voting rights to the plebeians and minor land holders
• he instituted the census and social classes