Roman History: Tarquinius and Porsena

Who did Tarquinius flee to in order to recover his kingdom?

What did he persuade Porsena not to allow?

What type of army did Porsena bring to Rome?

What seized the senate in Rome when Porsena approached?

What did the people do since the enemy was present?

Why did some places seem safe?

Who was positioned at the Sublican bridge?

What did the Clusini do with a sudden attack?

What did Cocles do when he saw his men fleeing?

What did Cocles promise to do?

What did Cocles do to the enemy at the bridge?

Who were the two men held by shame to assist Cocles?

What did Cocles do after sustaining the first attack?

What motivated the Etruscans to attack Cocles?

What did Cocles do after the bridge was almost cut down?

How was Cocles honored by the citizens?

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.

Explore the dramatic events of Tarquinius seeking refuge with King Porsena of Clusium and the siege on Rome. Discover the courageous stand of Horatius Cocles at the Sublican Bridge as he faced the advancing enemy. Test your knowledge on this pivotal moment in Roman history.