On This Day In Roman History, February 24
The Roman festival known as Regifugium (the King's flight) is commemorated on February 24. This holiday supposedly celebrates the fleeing of the legendary seventh king of Rome from the city. This king was known as Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, the final king of Rome. There are conflicting accounts on the actual meaning of this festival, with Plutarch stating it meant the flight of a priest known as the rex sacrorum (king of the sacred). This priest was also known as rex sacrificulus (one who makes offerings made by the king) which may give some clues to contemporary or modern confusion on the holidays meaning. This priest was not allowed to visit the Roman comitium (open-aired meeting place for political purposes) except in the annual case of a sacrifice made on behalf of the king. Upon this sacrifice being completed, the priest would flee the comitium; this symbolical flight may be the actual meaning behind the Regifugium.
Did you know?
Lucius Tarquinius Superbus would attempt to once again take back Rome after his exile in 509 BCE. This battle would come sometime between 496 - 489 BCE and would be known as the Battle of Lake Regillus. This battle would represent the Roman Republic's first steps at becoming the more dominant force over the Latin League and other Latin Kings/Dictator city-states.
Pictured: Tarquinius Superbus by Lawrence Alma-Tadema, depicting the king receiving a laurel (1867). Via Wikimedia Commons.
I have decided to leave a larger passage from Ovid's Fasti II today, as it is his personal take on the story "The Flight of the King".
"Now I have to tell of the Flight of the King: The sixth day from the end of the month has that name. Tarquin the Proud held the last kingship of the Roman people, A man of injustice, but powerful in might. He had taken cities, and overthrown others, And made Gabii his, by base trickery. For the youngest of his three sons, Sextus, clearly a child Of Tarquin, entered the midst of his enemies in the still of night. They drew their swords: he said: `Don't kill the unarmed! That's what my brother, and father, Tarquin, desire, He who lacerated my back with a cruel scourge.' So he could make his plea, he had suffered a beating... It was night, and the whole house was without light: He rose, and drew his sword from his gilded scabbard, And, chaste wife, he entered your bedroom. As he touched the bed, the king's son said: `Lucretia I have a blade, and I, a Tarquin, speak!' She said nothing: she'd no voice or powers of speech Nor any capability for thought in her whole mind. But she trembled like a little lamb, caught straying From the fold, brought low by a wolf's attack. What could she do? Fight? In battle a woman loses. Cry out? But the sword in his right hand restrained her... What she could, she told. The end she suppressed: She wept, and a blush spread over a wife's cheeks. Her husband and her father forgave her being forced: She said: `I deny myself the forgiveness that you grant.' Then she stabbed herself with a blade she had hidden, And, all bloodied, fell at her father's feet. Even then she took care in dying so that she fell With decency, that was her care even in falling... Brutus, with a shout, Gathered the Quirites, and told of the king's evil act. Tarquin the Proud and his children fled, a consul took up the rule For the year: That day was the last day of kingship. Am I wrong, or has the swallow come, herald of the Spring: Does she not fear lest winter should turn back, return again? Often, Procne, you'll complain that you've been too swift, And your husband, Tereus, rejoice in the cold you feel.."
Opinion
Welcome to my daily opinion! Today I really think that both of these stories influenced the festival Regifugium. I believe that while the original notion or ceremony of fleeing may have loosely coincided with the actual fleeing of the final king of Rome. However, the rex sacrificulus probably had his ceremonial fleeing based off of the mentioned flight of the king. The king had very important roles in religious ceremonies for ancient Romans, and after he was gone these duties simply couldn't just stop. When the rex sacrificulus took these duties over, it was still forced upon him to flee from the comitium for the sake of tradition/remembrance. I think this helps to explain why Ovid and Plutarch mention two different individual's flights; simply due to the fact that they represent the same flight, the Flight of the King, and in some ways the birth of the republic.
Sources
Franzero, C. M. (1961). The life and times of Tarquin the Etruscan. New York: John Day.
Rüpke, J., & Gordon, R. (2009). Religion of the Romans. Cambridge: Polity Press.
Smith, W., Wayte, W., & Marindin, G. E. (1901). A dictionary of Greek and Roman antiquities. London: J. Murray.
Further Reading:
Special Thanks: Nick Ellison
P.S. Congrats on your CFI Checkride, Nick!
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