The first king of Rome was Romulus, one of its two founders. Before the Republic and the Empire, Rome was ruled by kings. The last king was Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, who was expelled in 510 BC. The kings ruled for life and were elected by the people. Romulus was the exception, being founder of the city. The king had the exclusive right to read the special omens, known as auspices. These omens were a very important part of life in Rome at the time. The king was the chief augur or prophet. In antiquity, Romans believed the auspices showed the will of the gods. Special ceremonies were held involving tracing the patterns of birds in the sky. The people saw the king as a mediator between the gods and humanity, and thus viewed him with awe. The king was therefore also the religious leader. Romulus appointed the augurs, while his successor Numa Pompilius developed the basis of religious dogma in Rome.

The king held supreme military power as commander-in-chief of the Roman legions. He was also the chief justice of the city, as regards both civil and criminal cases. Thus, he had supreme power both in times of war and in times of peace.

Romulus built the city on Palatine Hill. He populated five of the city’s seven legendary hills by granting asylum to runaways slaves, criminals, exiles, and other people of that kind. He divided his people into those fit and those unfit for combat. The able-bodied men formed the legions. The others became the people of Rome. Of them, Romulus selected 100 nobles to serve as senators in the Roman Senate. They became known as the Patricians, and their descendands formed the elite classes of the later Republic. 

Romulus also established the Comitia Curiata assembly. He reigned for 38 years, during which he led a number of successful wars, spreading Roman authority over vast territories. After his death, he was deified in the image of the war god Quirinus, one of the three major Roman gods. 

His successor, Numa Pompilius, was a benign and wise man. He adjusted the Roman calendar for the solar and lunar year and added the months of January and February to make a total of 12 months. He instituted a number of religious customs, such as the Salii Festival. The Salii were the Roman priests of Mars. This body consisted of 12 young men of aristocratic descent. Their function was to protect Rome in battle.