LATINUS (king in Greek and Roman mythology)

An elderly ruler, Latinus governed peaceful valleys and towns, holding a hereditary throne and possessing a spacious palace where his daughter resided.^7,6 He claimed his people were descendants of Cronus and lived in freedom without statutory compulsion.⁶ He recalled seers saying Dardanus was born in their land and now had a throne among the stars.⁶ Latinus welcomed the Trojans into his halls, stating his people's freedom and lineage.⁶

He discovered a sacred laurel tree in his royal enclosure and consecrated it to the grace of Phoebus.⁷ Latinus sacrificed a hundred sheep according to the olden rite and lay upon the skins of the offered flock to await a vision.⁸ A voice from the forest warned him against marrying his daughter to a Latin lord, stating that sons from afar would bear their name and rule the world.⁸ Despite having previously promised his daughter's hand in marriage to Turnus, Latinus remained resolute in his decision to reject the proposal, even as his wife pleaded with him.^9,10 He summoned a foreign son to inherit his kingdom, repelling Turnus's noble wooing.¹⁰

Latinus was deprived of all reason by the goddess Alecto, though he was described as wise.¹⁰ He was warned that he would learn Turnus's military power too late, as the warrior was ordered to break peace and attack Latinus.^10,11 The warrior planned to join forces with Latinus to fight the Teucrians and intended to drive the enemy out of Italy.¹¹ The aged king refused the task of opening the gates of war and fled to solitary shades.¹² He fled from the battle scene and stopped guiding his realm.^13,2

Latinus used his military forces to help Aeneas fight the neighboring Rutuli and achieved a victory over them in the first battle.¹⁴ He built a city near the battlefield and named it after his daughter Lavinia.¹⁴ Aeneas vowed to grant Latinus inviolable power as if he were his father, promising he would retain his sword and authority over the land.¹⁵ Latinus received a renewed name along with the ancient sceptre.¹⁶ He tore his robes and placed dust on his gray hair to show his distress at the news of his wife's death.¹⁷ The kingly name and glory of Latinus was said to rest in Turnus.¹⁸