La leggenda di Enea (1962)

1177 BC, seven years after the Greeks’ victory in the Trojan War: the surviving Trojans, led by Aeneas, who became their forefather after the previous conflict and the destruction of the city of Troy, arrive in Italy, in Latium, and make camp near the Tiber. One morning, while the Trojans are watering themselves at the river, the horsemen of Turnus, prince of the Rutulians, cross the Tiber with their horses, sparking a minor conflict that is resolved by an apparent truce between Aeneas and Turnus. The Rutulian advises Aeneas to leave those lands, but the Trojan replies that not only does he have no intention of doing so, he will also ask King Latinus for permission to take refuge in the city of Laurentum. The next day, Turnus tries to drive the Trojans away by asking shepherds to stampede a herd against them, but Aeneas sees through him and foils the plan. Soon afterward, he is received in Laurentum by Latinus and his wife, Queen Amata, in the presence of their daughter, Princess Lavinia, Turnus himself, and the horsemen Camilla and Pallas. Lavinia, initially promised in marriage to Turnus even though she is not in love with him, shows that she has loved Aeneas from the very beginning. Although Amata does everything she can to oppose their relationship, urging Latinus not to go back on his earlier promise, the king offers Aeneas hospitality and does not announce his daughter’s marriage to the Rutulian. A few days later, a cavalry tournament is held in Laurentum, with Camilla, Turnus, and Pallas taking part. Turnus wins, but his victory is tainted by his unsportsmanlike conduct toward Pallas, so Aeneas decides to compete as well. He wins and gives the belt—the tournament prize—back to Pallas. Everyone appreciates Aeneas’s gesture, but at that very moment several Rutulian officers burst in, having arrested two Trojans accused of killing a priest and his son during a hunting expedition. The Trojans say they acted in self-defense and that some of their own men were killed in turn, but no one listens to them, and an all-out fight breaks out. Turnus, with Camilla still on his side despite her not sharing his hatred of Aeneas’s people, lays siege to the Trojans, who in turn appeal to the Etruscans. Pallas, however, remains loyal to Aeneas, since Turnus’s scheme was intended to turn the Latin peoples against Aeneas himself. During the battle, though, Camilla is mortally wounded by an arrow. Despite fierce resistance, the Trojans manage to hold out thanks to their archers, the palisade protecting their camp, and the help of Pallas and the Etruscans. After securing the Etruscans’ help, Aeneas asks them not to attack Laurentum. That same night, Aeneas and Turnus make an agreement in the presence of Latinus, Amata, and Lavinia: their swords will decide the outcome of the war. Latinus accepts the agreement, and the duel between the two princes takes place the following morning. Meanwhile, Lavinia arrives at the Trojan camp, gives Aeneas one last word of encouragement, and decides to wait there with Iulus for the outcome of the duel. Iulus is the son of Aeneas and Creusa, born the day after the end of the Trojan War. The battle is evenly matched and begins with spears, before moving on to hand-to-hand combat, sword against sword. After an uncertain duel, Aeneas finally prevails. Thus begins the legend of Aeneas, who will be regarded as the true forefather of the founding of the city of Rome.