Chapter Red Sea to Regillus of R by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Regent Diamond (The). So called from the regent duke of Orleans. This diamond, the property of France, at first set in the crown, and then in the sword of state, was purchased in India by a governor of Madras, of whom the regent bought it for £80,000.

Regillus (The Battle of the Lake). Regillus Lacus is abou t twenty miles east of Rome, between Gabii (north) and Lavicum (south). The Romans had expelled Tarquin the Proud from the throne, because of the most scandalous conduct of his son Sex tus, who had violated Lucretia, and abused her hospitality. Thirty combined cities of Latium, with Sabin es and Volscians, took the part of Tarquin, and marched towards Rome. The Romans met the allied army at t he lake Regillus, and here, on July 15, B.C. 499, they won the great battle which confirmed their republican constitution, and in which Tarquin, with his sons Sextus and Titus, was slain. While victory was still doubtful, Castor and Pollux, on their white horses, appeared to the Roman dictator, and fought for the Romans. The victory was complete, and ever after the Romans observed the anniversary of this battle with a grand procession and sacrifice. The procession started from the temple of Mars outside the city walls, entered by the Porta Capena, traversed the chief streets of Rome, marched past the temple of Vesta in the forum, and then to the opposite side of the great “square,” where they had built a temple to Castor and Pollux in gratitude for the aid rendered by them in this battle. Here offerings were made, and sacrifice was offered to the Great Twin-Brothers, the sons of Leda. Macaulay has a lay called The Battle of the Lake Regillus.

Where, by the lake Regillus,
Under the Porcian height,
All in the land of Tusculum,
Was fought the glorious fight.
   —Macaulay: Lays of Ancient Rome (1842).

A very parallel case occurs in the life of Mahomet. The Koreishites had armed to put down “the prophet;” but Mahomet met them in arms, and on January 13, 624, won the famous battle of Bedr. In the Korân (ch. iii), he tells us that the angel Gabriel, on his horse Haïzûm, appeared on the field with 3000 “angels,” and won the battle for him.

In the conquest of Mexico, we are told that St. James appeared on his grey horse at the head of the Castilian adventurers, and led them on to victory. Bernal Diaz, who was in the battle, saw the grey horse, but fancies the rider was Francesco de Morla, though, he confesses, “it might be the glorious apostle St. James” for aught he knew.