Tarquinius Superbus is one of the most vivid figures of archaic Rome, and the dramatic accounts of his rise to power, and his expulsion, have shaped our perception of the late sixth century in central Italy.

This volume, the first substantial work on the subject, asks how reliable is this narrative? What is the archaeological evidence for the late sixth century and is it compatible with a model of a strong individual leader? Are there other models of power and authority which are appropriate? And what can we say about the broader social and economic transformations in this exciting period of central Italian history?

Combining sophisticated approaches to the literary evidence, up-to-date archaeological syntheses and new discoveries, this volume offers a comprehensive account of late sixth century central Italy, the Age of Tarquinius Superbus.