Lucius Junius Brutus feigned idiocy for years under Tarquinius Superbus's tyranny, biding his time until the rape of Lucretia gave him cause to raise Rome against its last king and drive the Tarquins into permanent exile.
Lucius Junius Brutus drew the bloody knife from Lucretia's body and swore by her blood that he would drive the Tarquins from Rome, transforming a family tragedy into the founding oath of the Roman Republic.
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