The rise and fall of one of the greatest empires known to man, the Roman Republic, was caused by several key factors. Three of which were the decline of the monarchy within the empire, foreign conquests and expansion of the growing empire, and political battles between powerful officials. The decline of the monarchy that caused the rise of the republic was caused by the expulsion of the last Etruscan king. An ancient Roman tale tells of how the last Etruscan king, Tarquin the Proud, was driven from his land. The story tells of how his son, Sesto, raped a beautiful and virtuous woman, Lucretia. After being raped she told her husband what had happened, after which she took her own life, rather than even allow force to excuse the dishonor. The fact that Lucrezia killed herself outraged almost all Romans. The Romans rebelled against Tarquinius Superbus and, led by Lucius Junius Brutus, managed to drive him away from the spear. Now that the last Etruscan king had fallen it was time for the Roman republic to come to power. The republic arose when the Senate handed over power to two consuls, originally called praetors, after the revolt against Tarquin the proud. The consuls had power in the Senate for one year, the new consuls were elected by the Comitia Centuriata and confirmed in their Imperium by the Comizi Curiata. The consuls, like the kings before them and by custom, were advised by the Senate, the assembly of Rome's notables. The consuls were assisted by minor magistrates, they were appointed by the consuls themselves until their tasks became more independent from the consuls and politically more important so much so that they were soon only elected. In some cases functions administered only by consuls could be assigned to n... half of the map... at Actium, off the coast of northwestern Greece. Mark Antony and Queen Cleopatra then fled to Egypt where, in 30 BC, they both committed suicide. The rise and fall of the great Roman Republic was caused largely by corruption and political unrest. For example, during the decline, when Julius Caesar, Marcus Licinius Crassus, and Pompey the Great fought for power over the Senate and citizens of the Roman Republic, the republic began to splinter and crumble. Even during the rise in which Tarquinius Superbus and the city rebellion led by Lucius Junius Brutus competed for power over the city. Another factor, Rome's expansion and foreign conquests, played a key role in the decline of the Republic. Ultimately the decline of the monarchy contributed to the rise by creating the need for a new system of government which was quickly satisfied by the Senate and consuls.