The Foundation of the Roman Republic

The Foundation of the Roman Republic

            The Roman Republic was formed after the overthrow of the last Roman King in 509 BC. The Roman Kings became very cruel under the reign of Tarquin the Proud. Tarquin was particularly cruel and detested, which caused him to be murdered and the Republic to be formed. The Roman Republic had three main offices in the beginning: the Consuls, the Senate, and the Chief Priest. These roles were important for managing the beginning of the Roman Republic. The Roman Republic was founded by Brutus, the same name as Julius Caesar’s killer- interesting, isn’t it…

The Tarquins were the original kings of Rome; however, they were overthrown. The Tarquins had cruelly understood their power and claim on the throne as their birthright. [1] The foundation of the Roman Republic came from the overthrow of the last of the seven Roman kings, King Tarquin. According to Livy, overthrowing any of the previous kings would have been a great mistake due to their skill in expanding Rome, lack of deadly unpopularity, and the need for Rome to grow.[2] However, King Tarquin the Proud was particularly cruel; so, Brutus killed him and founded the Roman Republic. King Tarquin was “universally detested.”[3]  The Roman Republic began with the election of two magistrates.

The first step towards building the Roman Republic was the creation of yearly elected dual consuls (who were magistrates).[4] In the beginning of the Roman Republic, the Consuls had the same powers as the previous kings; however, there were two of them, and they were in office only one year.[5]  Consuls led the army; they could veto their partner's decisions, were in charge of the Senate, and were in charge of foreign affairs. [6] The Consuls were extremely powerful but not singularly controlling over Rome’s decisions.

The Roman Senate went back as far as the Roman kings and had major power over the Republic's dealings. The next step was strengthening the Roman Senate and replenishing its numbers. The Roman Republic picked leading members of the equestrian class and made the Senate a grand total of 300 men. Rome swore not to have a king ever again. The Roman Senate’s members all came from elite Roman families.[7] Later on, the number of senators ranged from 300 to 600 senators at a time.[8] Senators were in office for life unless they committed a crime or were impeached.[9] Roman Senators were the hereditary Roman elites during the Republic.

The Romans created an office of the head priest. Afterward, the Romans created an office called the “king of sacrifice,” who was the main Roman priest.[10] They were called a Pontifex Maximus.[11] The Pontifex Maximus was the supreme priest of all of Rome. [12] They were the heads of the religious college of ancient Rome. This duty was the replacement for the duty of major religious ceremonies, which were conducted previously by the previous kings of Rome. [13] The Roman Republic’s founding laid the way for the creation of the United States and the creation of democracy throughout the world.

The Roman Republic’s creation changed the world forever. The United States was based on the foundation of the Roman Republic; it was founded specifically on the Roman Republic’s Senate body. The President was based on the Roman Republic’s consul, however slightly different. The United States Congress was based on ancient Greece’s congress. The Roman Republic was a bastion of Democracy and the uplifting of those in poverty in the ancient world. The Ancient Roman Republic was important because it uplifted the world, created an Italian identity culture, helped bring progress to Europe, uplifted people out of poverty, created a version of early democracy, created roads that are still used today, and finally because it led to the modern-day global world.

Bibliography

Livy, Titus. The Early History of Rome: Books I–V of The History of Rome from Its Foundation. Translated by Aubrey de Sélincourt. London: Penguin Classics, 2002.

Porter, Audrey. "Discover the History of the Roman Senate." PBS. November 14, 2024. https://www.pbs.org/articles/learn-about-the-roman-senate.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. "Consul." Encyclopaedia Britannica. Last modified March 20, 2025. https://www.britannica.com/topic/consul-ancient-Roman-official.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. "Pontifex." Encyclopaedia Britannica. Accessed July 23, 2026. https://www.britannica.com/topic/pontifex

[1] Titus Livy, The Early History of Rome: Books I–V of The History of Rome from Its Foundation, trans. Aubrey de Sélincourt (London: Penguin Classics, 2002), pg. 109

[2] Livy, The Early History of Rome Pg. 107

[3] Livy, The Early History of Rome pg. 109

[4] Livy, The Early History of Rome Pg. 108

[5] Livy, The Early History of Rome pg. 108

[6] The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, "Consul," Encyclopaedia Britannica, last modified March 20, 2025, https://www.britannica.com/topic/consul-ancient-Roman-official

[7] Audrey Porter, "Discover the History of the Roman Senate," PBS, November 14, 2024, https://www.pbs.org/articles/learn-about-the-roman-senate

[8] Porter, "Discover the History of the Roman Senate."

[9] Porter, "Discover the History of the Roman Senate."

[10] Livy, The Early History of Rome [g. 108

[11] The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica, "Pontifex," Encyclopædia Britannica, accessed July 23, 2026, https://www.britannica.com/topic/pontifex

[12] Encyclopædia Britannica, "Pontifex."

[13] Livy, The Early History of Rome Pg. 108