Is the tale of Lucretia Tarquinia mythical or historical? Probably a heady brew of each, like most of early Roman history. The Rape of Lucretia may have been adapted from a Greek story about a homosexual affair that led to the demise of tyranny—and rise of democracy—in Athens. But whether authentic or apocryphal in origin, Lucretia’s story would be immortalized in the paintings of Titian, Botticelli, and Rembrandt, and the literature of Ovid and Shakespeare. Helen may have launched a thousand ships, but Lucretia birthed the Roman Republic. 

In 509 BC, during the reign of Tarquin the Proud, Lucretia was regarded as the most virtuous of all Roman princesses. Sextus Tarquinius, the king’s son, became infatuated with her and sexually coveted Lucretia. One evening, with her husband Collatinus away, Sextus contrived a visit to Lucretia’s home, where he was received as an honored royal guest. After dining with his gracious hostess, he bid the household good night and retired to his chamber.   

Until all was still.   

Sextus crept with sword in hand to Lucretia’s bed, cupped her breast, and said that unless she gratified his lust, he would kill her. But even with the tip of a sword at her throat, Lucretia refused to be unfaithful to Collatinus. The desperate Sextus then threatened to kill not only Lucretia, but a slave as well, and to lay their naked bodies side by side. “I will say I discovered your adultery and killed you both to defend the honor of your husband.”   

Lucretia could not tolerate the shame her husband would suffer from such a slanderous act. She yielded to Sextus, who ravished her in their marital bed. He departed satisfied and confident that her fear of disgrace would prevent her from disclosing his crime. But it did not.  

She summoned her father, her husband, and Collatinus’s friend, Brutus, to her side. She told them that Sextus took advantage of her hospitality and defiled her. After recounting the details of his vile scheme, Lucretia made them promise to punish Sextus for what he had done. They vowed vengeance and assured her that her honor was intact, as she had not willingly given herself to Sextus. But for Lucretia, such honor could only be reclaimed by the purification of death. She withdrew a blade hidden in her robes and plunged it into her heart, dying within moments. 

Her father and husband stood frozen by their shock and despair. Not so Brutus. He pulled the knife from her chest and swore he would drive Tarquin the Proud, his son Sextus, and their entire family from power. “If this is what kingship begets, let no man ever be King of Rome again!” The revolt Brutus incited led to the assassination of Sextus and the overthrow of Tarquin the Proud. Two magistrates were elected to replace him—Collatinus and his friend Brutus, the first consuls of Rome. The core principles that evolved around the consulship remained the bedrock of the Roman Republic throughout its 482 years of existence: the separation of powers, representative assembly, citizenship, and the rule of law. 

And the story of Lucretia?  Timeless.