Born in the early 7th century BC, Lucius Tarquinius Priscus’s lineage can be traced back to the ancient city of Corinth. He was the son of Demaratus, a Corinthian noble. Despite his noble heritage, the political turmoil in his homeland led his family to emigrate to Etruria, a region in central Italy, when he was a young child.
Tarquinius spent his formative years in Etruria, adopting the native Etruscan name “Lucumo”. It was during this period that he absorbed the wealth of knowledge, political acumen, and military tactics of Etruscans, which would later prove instrumental in his rise to power.
As a young man, he accumulated substantial wealth and respect within the local community. His ambitions, however, could not be contained in Etruria. At the insistence of his wife, Tanaquil, he decided to move to Rome, after an auspicious omen allegedly predicted a grand destiny.
In Rome, Tarquinius impressed the reigning king, Ancus Marcius, with his intellect, charisma, and wisdom. He quickly ascended the ranks of Roman high society, earning the trust and respect of the king, who later appointed him as the guardian of his sons. This position would later lead to his ascendancy to the throne, changing the course of Roman history.
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