Aborigines

Troy burned around Aeneas as he carried his father Anchises on his back and held the household gods of Troy. His son Ascanius, also called Iulus, followed him. In the confusion, Aeneas lost his wife. He searched the streets, but found only her ghost. She told him that he had to travel to the land where the Tiber River flowed, where a kingdom and a royal bride awaited him.

Aeneas sailed from Troy and made a long voyage. He stopped at Thrace, Delos, Crete, Carthage and Sicily before he reached the mouth of the Tiber. Latinus, king of the aboriginal inhabitants of central Italy, welcomed him. Other people in the region resented the Trojans, and war broke out between them.

Aeneas fought Turnus, who disputed his marriage to Lavinia, the daughter of Latinus. The war brought losses on both sides. Turnus killed Pallas, and Aeneas vowed to avenge him. Aeneas then killed many warriors, including Lausus and his aged father Mezentius, who had fought as allies of Latinus. At last, Aeneas and Turnus met on the battlefield. Aeneas defeated Turnus and killed him.

The war ended, and Latinus made a lasting peace with Aeneas. Aeneas married Lavinia, and together they united the Trojan and Latin peoples. In concert with Latinus, Aeneas ruled the Latins and founded Lavinium, named in honour of Lavinia. The combined people shared the settlements of Latium, and their family line became the Roman race.

Turnus attacked Lavinium for the third time. The Aborigines under King Latinus joined Aeneas against Turnus and the Rutuli. The Trojans opened the gates and charged the Rutulian soldiers with rocks and spears. Turnus rode into the city alone and cut down the Trojan soldiers before him. His appearance frightened the defenders, and they fled until one soldier reminded them that they faced only one man. They turned and attacked. Turnus retreated towards the Tiber and jumped into the river in his armour.

Aeneas gathered a large force of Etruscans and the men of King Evander. He returned to the fighting and saw Turnus pursuing Pallas, Evander’s son. Turnus killed Pallas, and Aeneas vowed to avenge him. Aeneas then killed many warriors. Among them were Lausus and his aged father, Mezentius, two allies of Latinus who had shown great courage. The fighting continued for a long time. The Aborigines and the Trojans fought beside Aeneas against Turnus and the Rutuli.

At last, Aeneas and Turnus met in single combat. They struck each other with swords and shields, and blood flowed from their wounds. Turnus raised his sword for a final blow, but Aeneas caught it on his shield, and the weapon broke. Aeneas hurled his spear. It pierced Turnus’s shield and entered his thigh. Turnus fell defeated, and his death ended the war.

A lasting peace followed between Aeneas and Latinus. Aeneas married Lavinia, Latinus’s daughter, and ruled the Latins with Latinus. He founded a city and named it Lavinia after his bride.