With the end of kingship in ancient Rome, the system of government established was the Roman Republic. This transformation occurred in 509 BCE when the last king of Rome, Tarquin the Proud, was overthrown. The Republic instituted a system characterized by elected officials and a complex structure of checks and balances, primarily through the Senate and popular assemblies. Power rested with the citizenry, although it was often limited to the patrician class, and significant influence was wielded by consuls and other magistrates. The transition to the Republic set the foundation for Roman political and legal innovations that would influence future systems of governance.