Lavinia

After Aeneas died, Lavinia gave birth to his son Silvius. He was born after his father’s death and received the Alban name. Lavinia raised him in the woodland, as Anchises had foretold. Silvius became king and the father of kings.

Before this, Aeneas had defeated Turnus in single combat. Turnus had killed Pallas, and Aeneas had sworn to avenge him. He had also slain the warrior Lausus and Lausus’s aged father, Mezentius. Turnus’s death ended the war. A lasting peace followed with Latinus, and Aeneas married Lavinia, the daughter of the Latin king.

Aeneas ruled the Latins with Latinus and founded a city in Lavinia’s honour. He called it Lavinium, and it became the capital of Latium for a time. Through Aeneas and Lavinia, the Trojan and Latin peoples joined and formed the family line that led to the Romans. Their descendants included the Alban kings and the rulers of the Roman royal line.

Silvius ruled after Ascanius, who retained the rule of Alba and Latium. From Silvius came the house that held power in Alba Longa. Procas, Capys, Numitor and another Silvius followed in the line of Alban rulers. Silvius Aeneas later renewed Aeneas’s name and became known for goodness and arms.

Aeneas drove his sword into Turnus’s chest and killed him. Turnus had slain young Pallas, and Aeneas had sworn to avenge him. In his grief and anger, Aeneas had also killed Lausus and Lausus’s aged father, Mezentius, both allies of Latinus who had fought with great courage. Before the final fight, Turnus’s Latin allies had withdrawn their support because victory had seemed impossible. Turnus had gathered his remaining men and returned to battle. Juno had then asked Jupiter to let the Latins keep their name and language after peace and marriage joined the two peoples. Jupiter had agreed. Turnus’s sword had shattered against the heavy shield Vulcan had made for Aeneas. Turnus had called for his proper sword, but Aeneas had pinned him to the ground and driven his spear through his thigh. Turnus had begged Aeneas to return his body to his father for burial. Aeneas had hesitated and had considered sparing him. Then he had seen Pallas’s sword belt hanging from Turnus’s shoulder. His anger had returned, and he had killed Turnus. The war had ended, and Latins and Trojans had lived together in peace. A lasting peace had followed between Latinus and Aeneas. Aeneas had married Lavinia, Latinus’s daughter, and had founded Lavinium in her honour. Their marriage had joined the Trojan and Latin peoples, whose descendants had formed the family line of the Romans. Aeneas had ruled the Latins with Latinus. After Aeneas had died, Lavinia had governed as regent for her young stepson, Ascanius. She had protected his succession until he inherited the kingdom.