Samnite Wars
The Atilii Reguli were the most illustrious of their gens. The surname "Regulus" is a diminutive of "Rex", a king. This family rose to prominence in the time of the Samnite Wars, and continued down to the interval between the First and Second Punic Wars, at which time it was supplanted by that of "Serranus" or "Saranus". The Atilii Serrani continued down to the time of Cicero, before fading into obscurity.