in 509 BCE a pivotal moment in history unfolded the Roman monarchy was overthrown and the Roman Republic was born after years of dissatisfaction with the tyrannical rule of King tarwin The Proud the Roman people led by figures like Lucius Junius Brutus Rose in Rebellion the monarchy was abolished and the idea of a republic where power was in the hands of elected officials took its place the early Roman Republic was governed by two cils elected annually who shared power and avoided any one individual from becoming too dominant this new system laid the foundation for Roman law political structure and governance that would influence Civilizations for centuries to come the shift from monarchy to Republic marked the beginning of Rome's rise to becoming a dominant force in the ancient world this set the stage for the eventual expansion of the Roman Empire