Servius Tullius was the sixth king of Rome, credited with bringing many significant legal and territorial changes to the Roman kingdom. His reign, supposedly from 578 to 535 B.C., was marked by vast expansion of the city and by reforms of Rome’s political, military, and social structures. His ascension to the throne was not by lineage, as the son of a captive princess and a god, but through metaphorical and literal fires, passing through them unscathed, to claim his place. During his reign, Servius Tullius introduced the census, a system of compulsory military service based on wealth, and expanded the Roman territory. His reign was marked by a level of political manipulation and force leading to the solidification of Rome’s class system – the patricians and the plebeians. Tullius believed in bringing the plebeians onto his side, eventually giving them a voice in government. This was viewed as a betrayal by the patricians, leading to his tragic end. Despite his death, Servius’s laws and policies had a profound impact on the growth and governance of Rome, making him an important figure in early Roman history.
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