previous next

Albi'nus

1. A. Postumius Albus Regillensis, P. F., was, according to Livy, dictator B. C. 498, when he conquered the Latins in the great battle near lake Regillus. Roman story related that Castor and Pollux were seen fighting in this battle on the side of the Romans, whence the dictator afterwards dedicated a temple to Castor and Pollux in the forum. He was consul B. C. 496, in which year some of the annals, according to Livy, placed the battle of the lake Regillus; and it is to this year that Dionysius assigns it. (Liv. 2.19, 20, 21 ; Dionys. A. R. 6.2, &c.; V. Max. 1.8.1; Cic. de Nat. Deor. 2.2, 3.5.) The surname Regillensis is usually supposed to have been derived from this battle; but Niebuhr thinks that it was taken from a place of residence, just as the Claudii bore the same name, and that the later annalists only spoke of Postumius as commander in consequence of the name. Livy (30.45) states expressly, that Scipio Africanus was the first Roman who obtained a surname from his conquests. (Niebuhr, Hist. of Rome, i. p. 556.)

Many of the coins of the Albini commemorate this victory of their ancestor, as in the one annexed. On one side the head of Diana is represented with the letters ROMA underneath, which are partly effaced, and on the reverse are three horsemen trampling on a foot-soldier.

hide Dates (automatically extracted)
Sort dates alphabetically, as they appear on the page, by frequency
Click on a date to search for it in this document.
498 BC (1)
496 BC (1)
hide Display Preferences
Greek Display:
Arabic Display:
View by Default:
Browse Bar: