The Battle of Lake Regillus was a legendary early Roman victory, won over either the Etruscans or the Latin League. It has been dated at various years, including 509 BC, 496 BC and 493 BC. See also Roman Republic (18th century) and Roman Republic (19th century) The Roman Republic (Latin: Res Publica Romanorum) was the republican government of the city of Rome and its territories from 510 BC until the establishment of the Roman Empire, which sometimes placed at 44 BC the year of Caesar... The Etruscan civilization existed in Etruria and the Po valley in the northern part of what is now Italy, prior to the formation of the Roman Republic. ... The Latin League was an alliance of Rome and the many other cities and villages in and around the area of Latium. ... Centuries: 7th century BC - 6th century BC - 5th century BC Decades: 550s BC - 540s BC - 530s BC - 520s BC - 510s BC - 500s BC - 490s BC - 480s BC - 470s BC - 460s BC - 450s BC Events and Trends 509 BC - Foundation of the Roman Republic 508 BC - Office of pontifex maximus created... Centuries: 6th century BC - 5th century BC - 4th century BC Decades: 540s BC 530s BC 520s BC 510s BC 500s BC - 490s BC - 480s BC 470s BC 460s BC 450s BC 440s BC Years: 499 BC 498 BC 497 BC - 496 BC - 495 BC 490 BC 489 BC 488 BC... Centuries: 6th century BC - 5th century BC - 4th century BC Decades: 540s BC 530s BC 520s BC 510s BC 500s BC - 490s BC - 480s BC 470s BC 460s BC 450s BC 440s BC Years: 498 BC 497 BC 496 BC 495 BC 494 BC - 493 BC - 492 BC 491 BC...

The location of the lake is unknown, but according to Livy it was in Tusculum, and the battle was fought against the Latins, with help from Tarquinius Superbus, the former Etruscan king of Rome. Aulus Postumius was dictator for the year and Titus Aebutius was master of the horse. The Latins were led by Octavius Mamilius, Tarquinius, and his son Sextus; the presence of Tarquinii caused the Romans to fight more passionately than in any previous battle. Tarquinius was injured at the beginning of the battle when he attacked Postumius; Aebutius meanwhile attacked Mamilius, but was injured in the arm, while Mamilius suffered a minor wound to the chest. Tarquinius' troops, made up of exiled Romans began to push the Romans back, and Marcus Valerius was killed by a spear when he tried to attack Sextus. Postumius then brought fresh troops from his own bodyguard into the battle. Mamilius was killed in the ensuing fight by Titus Herminius, who was subsequently killed by a javelin. Postumius ordered the equites to dismount and attack on foot, and soon the Latins were forced to retreat. The Latin camp was also captured. Postumius and Aebutius returned to Rome in triumph. (Livy, Ab urbe condita 2.19) Bust of Livy Titus Livius (around 59 BC - 17 AD), known as Livy in English, wrote a monumental history of Rome, Ab urbe condita, from its founding (traditionally dated to 753 BC). ... Tusculum, an ancient city of Latium, situated in a commanding position on the north edge of the outer crater ring of the Alban volcano, 18 km (11 miles) north-east of the modern Frascati. ... Lucius Tarquinius Superbus (also called Tarquin the Great or Tarquin II) was the last of the seven legendary kings of Rome, son of Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, and son-in-law of Servius Tullius. ... There were seven traditional Kings of Rome before the establishment of the Roman Republic. ... Dictator was a political office of the Roman Republic. ... The Master of the Horse was (and in some cases, is) a historical position of varying importance in several European nations. ... An Equestrian (Latin eques, plural equites) was a member of one of the two upper social classes in the Roman Republic and early Roman Empire. ...

The battle may be entirely legendary, due to the scarcity of records from this early date in Roman history. A popular Roman legend had the Dioscuri (Castor and Pollux) helping in the victory, transfigurated as two young horsemen, and Postumius ordered a temple built to them on the Forum. In the 19th century it was celebrated in the Lays of Ancient Rome by Thomas Macaulay. Quotes His imagination resembled the wings of an ostrich. ...