Sextus Tarquinius
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Sextus Tarquinius was the son of the last legendary king of Rome, L. Tarquinius Superbus (Tarquin the Proud), and a rapist. He is mostly known for his rape of Lucretia, wife of Collatinus.
After an argument at night around the fire, Tarquinius and his men decided to go and spy on their wives to see which one was superior. So they ride off in the night and, upon arriving at the door of Collatinus' house, they see Lucretia behaving like a good Roman wife, unlike the other women they have seen. A few days afterwards, Tarquinius returns with the intention of sleeping with Lucretia, but she refuses. When he threatens to kill her and put a dead slave in her bed with her, thus giving the impression that she had been unchaste, she finally gives in.
Soon after, Lucretia sends a message to her father and her husband, telling them everything, then kills herself. The revolt brought about by her husband's friend, Lucius Junius Brutus, brought to an end the kingship of Tarquin the Proud and brought about the beginning of the Roman Republic, Brutus becoming the first consul together with Collatinus. Tarquinius fled to Gabii, where he made himself king, but he was eventually killed in revenge for his actions.
[edit] References
Livy, Ab Urbe Condita (From the Founding of the City), 1.58. Pages 98 - 104
