How the Roman Republic Began | Part 1 - Horatius at the Bridge

This is the bloody story of how Rome exiled its last king and a man named Horatius stood against an army to preserve the new republic. ... at least according to the legends the Romans themselves told.

At this early stage in Rome's history, it's impossible to separate reality from myth and truth from legend. Even the ancient Roman writers admit as much.

So in today's video I'm taking a different approach. I've done my best to channel the ancient storytellers and share this story as I imagine they might have around a fire.

In Part 1 of this series:
The seven kings of Rome from Romulus to Tarquin Superbus
Lucretia dishonored
Collatinus and Brutus seek vengeance
Lars Porsena marches on Rome
... and Horatius Cocles at the Bridge

Thanks for watching!

I hope you'll join me soon for Part 2 of The Story of How Rome Became a Republic

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Intro
00:22 - Prologue: The Age of Kings
02:04 - Chapter 1: Roman Honor
08:45 - The republic is born
10:28 - Chapter 2: Fight or Die
10:57 - Horatius at the Bridge
15:33 - Epilogue
16:20 - Outro

SOURCES
Titus Livius, The History of Rome, Book 1, Chapter 56-Book 2, Chapter 11
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/t...

Polybius, Histories

Map of Clusium/Rome battle dispositions:
Coldeel & Marie Parsons/Wikimedia Commons

#ancienthistory #ancientrome #romanempire #romanrepublic #romanhistory #horatiusatthebridge #listenable