116- The Reign of King Firehead

Servius Tullius is on the throne! We had an exciting start last time, but today it's all a bit slower-paced with tax reform, property classes and admin. Still, let's watch the first census be conducted, discuss Roman money, and examine quite why Servius hates tortoises. **Time period**: 578- 534 BCE **Relevant individuals**: - Servius Tullius, 6th King of Rome **Sources for this episode**: - Appian (1972), Appian's Roman History in Four Volumes (Volume I). London and Cambridge, Massachusetts: William Heinemann Ltd. and Harvard University Press. - Carr, J. L., Riedle, D. J., Munscher, E., Pearson, L. S., Kessler, E. J. and Dreslik, M.J. (2025), *Macrochelys temminckii*. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species2025: e.T232775771A507158. - Casale, P. and Tucker, A. D. (2017), *Caretta caretta*. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T3897A119333622. - Cassius Dio (1961), Dio's Roman History (Volume I). Translated by E. Cary. London and Cambridge, Massachusetts: William Heinemann Ltd. and Harvard University Press. <!--THE END--> - Dionysus of Halicarnassus (1960), The Roman Antquities of Dionysus of Halicarnassus (Volume II). Translated by E. Cary. London and Cambridge, Massachusetts: William Heinemann Ltd. and Harvard University Press. - Eutropius (1760), Eutropius: Epitome of the Roman History. London: Printed for W. Johnston *et al.* - Livy (1971), The Early History of Rome. Translated by A. de Selincourt. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltd. - Luiselli, L. (2024), *Testudo marginata*. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2024: e.T21653A2777760. - Luiselli, L. (2024), *Testudo hermanni* (errata version published in 2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2024: e.T21648A268511652. - Luiselli, L., Capula, M., Di Vittorio, M., Marrone, F. and Vamberger, M. (2024), *Emys trinacris*. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2024: e.T158469A778721. - Marks, A. and Tingay, G. (date unknown), Romans. London: Usborne Publishing. <!--THE END--> - Matyszak, P. (2008), Chronicle of the Roman Republic: The Rulers of Ancient Rome from Romulus to Augustus. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd. - Moldowan, P. D. and van Dijk, P. P. (2025), *Chelydra serpentina*. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2025: e.T163424A251347989. - Orosius (1936), History Against the Pagans. Translated by I. W. Raymond. Available at Attalus. <!--THE END--> - Sextus Aurelius Victor (1825), Galerie Romaine, ou les Hommes Illustres de Rome et les Cesars. Translated by A. Caillot. Paris. - Tortoise & Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (1996), *Emys orbicularis*. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 1996: e.T7717A97292665. - Tortoise & Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (1996), *Testudo graeca*. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 1996: e.T21646A9305693. - van Dijk, P. P., Harding, J. and Hammerson, G. A. (2011), *Trachemys scripta*. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2011: e.T22028A97429935. - Wallace, B. P. and Broderick, A. C. (2025), *Chelonia mydas*. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2025: e.T4615A285108125. <!--THE END--> - Wallace, B. P., Tiwari, M. and Girondot, M. (2013), *Dermochelys coriacea*. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013: e.T6494A43526147. - Author unknown, British Army (date unknown), Pay, Salaries & Benefits (online) (Accessed 26/07/2026). - Author unknown, IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (online) (Accessed 15/09/2026). - Author unknown, Wikipedia (date unknown), Solidus (online) (Accessed 15/09/2026). Sound Effect by freesound\_communityfrom Pixabay