Introduction
The legend of Mucius Scaevola is a famous story of patriotism and bravery that has been reused and retold countless times. The legend goes that Mucius, a Roman youth, infiltrated an enemy camp and killed a man who he thought was the rival general. The man turned out to be only the secretary, and Mucius was brought before the general. In an attempt to show his bravery, Mucius thrust his right hand into a fire, astounding the enemy. Mucius was released back to the Romans, where he earned the nickname “Scaevola,” meaning “Left-Handed.” The only extant record of the event was written by the historian Titus Livius, otherwise known as Livy, in his first century B.C. record Ab Urbe Condita Libri, so the degree of embellishments is unknown.
In 509 B.C., the last king of Rome, Tarquinius Superbus, was deposed and the Roman nobles in the Senate began electing Consuls, beginning with Lucius Iunius Brutus and Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus. Shortly afterward, the Etruscan city of Clusium, believing that they would be better protected from Rome if it had a monarch in power, attacked Rome a year later in 508 B.C. The Etruscans, led by well-renowned general Porsenna, sent Rome into a panic, and the city was besieged.
In 509 B.C., the last king of Rome, Tarquinius Superbus, was deposed and the Roman nobles in the Senate began electing Consuls, beginning with Lucius Iunius Brutus and Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus. Shortly afterward, the Etruscan city of Clusium, believing that they would be better protected from Rome if it had a monarch in power, attacked Rome a year later in 508 B.C. The Etruscans, led by well-renowned general Porsenna, sent Rome into a panic, and the city was besieged.