Ascanius
Ascanius (tentless) In Roman mythology, the son of Aeneas and his wife, Creusa. He escaped with his parents and his grandfather, Anchises, from burning Troy. Later Roman mythology makes him the son of Lavinia, a Latin princess.
Ascanius succeeded his father as second king and moved the kingdom from Lavinium to Alba Longa, where he and his descendants reigned for 420 years, until the reign of Numitor, son of the Alban king Procas. Ascanius was also called Iulus or Ilus, as well as Julus. The family of Julius Caesar claimed descent from him. Vergil’s Aeneid (book 1) tells part of his tale.
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SOURCE:
Encyclopedia of World Mythology and Legend, Third Edition – Written by Anthony S. Mercatante & James R. Dow– Copyright © 2009 by Anthony S. Mercatante
