the famous Roman matron, wife of Collatinus, and the cause of the revolution in Rome from a monarchy to a republic: this lady being ravished by Sextus, the eldest son of Tarquin king of Rome, stabbed herself, 509 B.C. See the article Chastity. The bloody poinard, with her dead body exposed to the senate, was the signal of Roman liberty; the expulsion of the Tarquins, and abolition of the regal dignity, was instantly resolved on, and carried into execution. See Rome.