Roman Kingdom

The history of the Roman Kingdom began with the city's founding, traditionally dated to 753 BC, and ended with the overthrow of the kings and the establishment of the Republic in about 509 BC. After Romulus, who among other things created the Senate, there were, according to legend, six more kings. The power of the kings was almost absolute, though the Senate had some influence. There was one big exception: kingship was not hereditary. The last king, Tarquinius Superbus,  was considered a tyrant and the people rebelled against him and drove him into exile, marking the end of the kingdom and the beginning of the republic.