Main Page | See live article | Alphabetical index

Turnus

In Roman mythology, King Turnus of the Rutuli was an ancient king killed by Aeneas.

Latinus, the wise king of the Latins, hosted Aeneas' army of exiled Trojans and let them reorganize their life in Latium. His daughter Lavinia had been promised to Turnus, king of the Rutuli, but Latinus preferred to offer her to Aeneas; Turnus consequently declared war on Aeneas (at the urging of Hera). The outcome was that Turnus was killed and his people captured. Ascanius, the son of Aeneas, founded Albalonga and was the first in a long series of kings. Turnus' wife, Amata supported Aeneas, while his sister, Juturna, supported him, along with Mezentius.

He was a close ally of Queen Camilla of the Volsci, who helped him fight Aeneas.