Hello and welcome to the history of Rome.

Last week we discussed the transitional year of 509 BC when Rome went from being a typical

Italian kingdom to an A typical Italian republic.

Though the actual workings of the republic were not as democratic as they appeared on the

surface, the fact remained that the monarchy had been abolished and annual elections now

determined leadership.

The first years after the change would prove difficult for the new government for it face

both internal dissension and external invasion.

Those years would see the final defeat of the Tarquins, the risk of doing of Ladium,

and finally the extension of political rights to the plebs with the creation of the Office

of Tribion, the plebeian answer to the Petrician Consulship.

After his Viet Army was defeated, the ex-King Tarquin next took refuge in the Etruscan city

of Clusium under the protection of its king, Lars por Senna.

And beg por Senna to attack the Romans, repeating his line about the threat democracy posed

to royalty everywhere, and the necessity of returning a king to the throne.

Por Senna, like the Viet, no doubt took this argument under advisement, but when he agreed

to make war with the Romans he did so ultimately for his own reasons.

There are two accounts of what happened next.

Either Por Senna invaded and was successfully repulsed, or he invaded and captured the city.

The former is alleged by Roman folktales, the latter is supported by modern historical

analysis.

According to the legendary tradition Por Senna, in defense of his fellow Etruscan King Tarquin,

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