5.3 Books 7–12: War in Italy

War begins

In Italy, Aeneas seeks to marry Lavinia, daughter of King Latinus. But Juno stirs war; Turnus, king of the Rutulians, becomes Aeneas's great rival and enemy.

Warriors

The later books portray fierce warriors: the maiden warrior Camilla, the devoted pair Nisus and Euryalus, and young Pallas, whose death Aeneas avenges.

The ending

The epic ends in Book 12 as Aeneas defeats Turnus in single combat. Seeing Pallas's belt on Turnus, Aeneas kills him in a burst of rage — a famously abrupt and troubling close.

Key terms

Turnus

Aeneas's great enemy in the Italian war

Lavinia / Latinus

the bride Aeneas seeks / her father, the king

Camilla

the maiden warrior of the later books

Nisus & Euryalus / Pallas

devoted friends / the youth Aeneas avenges

Book 12 ending

Aeneas kills Turnus in a rage — an abrupt close

Try an AP-style question

Aeneas's main Italian enemy is…

1. Mezentius only
2. Turnus
3. Evander
4. Latinus