A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

1. Sp.LucretiusTriciptinus, the father of Lucretia, whose rape by Sex. Tarquinius led to the dethronement of Tarquinius Superbus and the

establishment of the republic. [Vol. III. p. 978b.] Triciptinus was a member of the senate under Tarquinius, and was appointed Praefectus Urbi by the king, when the latter left the city to prosecute the war against Ardea. After the dethronement of the king, and before the appointment of the consuls, Triciptinus, in virtue of his office of Praefectus Urbi, had the government of the city. He presided at the comitia, in which the first consuls were elected, and for this purpose was probably elected interrex by the patricians, as indeed is expressly stated by Dionysius (5.11), and might be inferred from analogy.

The two first consuls were L. Junius Brutus and L. Tarquinius Collatinus, B. C. 509; and after the death of Brutus in battle, in the course of the same year, Triciptinus was elected to supply his place; but worn out by age, he died a few days after entering upon the office. (Liv. 1.58, 59, 2.8; Dionys. A. R. 4.76, 82, 84, 5.11, 19; Tac. Ann. vi 11; Cic. de Rep. 2.31.)