Roman History: Tarquinius and Porsena

Tarquinius and Porsena

• Tarquinius fled to Lars Porsena, the king of Clusium, to regain his kingdom.
• He convinced Porsena not to allow a king of Etruscan descent to be stripped of his rule.

Porsena's Siege on Rome

• Porsena arrived in Rome with a hostile army, instilling great fear in the Senate.
• The power of Clusium and Porsena's reputation added to the Senate's anxiety.

Defense of the City

• With the enemy near, people migrated from the countryside into the city to fortify it with garrisons.
• Some areas appeared secure due to the protective walls, others by the River Tiber's natural defenses.

Horatius Cocles at the Sublican Bridge

• The Sublican bridge was nearly breached by the enemy, but Horatius Cocles stood guard.
• The Clusini seized the Janiculum hill in a surprise attack, rushing quickly to the river.

Horatius' Brave Stand

• As his comrades fled, Cocles urged them to stay and destroy the bridge.
• He vowed to defend against the enemy as much as one man could.

Encounter with the Enemy

• Horatius advanced to the center of the bridge, intimidating the enemy with his boldness.
• Two renowned men, Spurius Laricus and Titus Herminius, felt shame and joined him in battle.

Holding the Line

• Together, they managed to withstand the initial assault temporarily.
• Cocles ordered his companions to retreat while he alone faced the attack.

Etruscans' Reaction

• The Etruscans, spurred by shame, united to throw weapons at Horatius.

Escape and Recognition

• Just as the bridge was close to destruction, Cocles leaped into the Tiber and swam to safety.
• The citizens honored Cocles for his heroism; a statue was erected, and he received land equal to what he could plow in a day.