Latin kings

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See also: Latin kings (disambiguation)

Latin kings of Rome, Alban kings of Rome or kings of Alba Longa, series of legendary kings of Latium and Alba Longa who, in Roman mythology, fill the gap between Aeneas's foundation of Rome and Romulus's. It is suceeded by the series of kings sometimes called the Etruscan kings to distinguish it from this series (although only a few members of it are from Etruria in our sense).

Ascanius, the first of the dynasty, founded Alba Longa around the middle of the 12th century BC, some time after the destruction of Troy (which according to ancient scholars occurred in 1184 BC). However, his successor was Silvius, his half-brother, and so the dynasty's real founder may be accounted as Silvius' parents Aeneas and Lavinia, and Lavinia's father Latinus.

[edit] List

According to the accounts of Dionysius of Halicarnassus gives this list of the Latin kings:

Ascanius. A son of Aeneas and Creusa. Reigned for 38 years.
Silvius. A son of Aeneas and Lavinia, younger half-brother of Ascanius. Reigned for 29 years.
Aeneas. A son of Silvius. Reigned for 31 years.
Latinus. Possibly a son of Aeneas. Reigned for 51 years.
Alba. Possibly a son of Latinus. Reigned for 39 years.
Capetus. Possibly a son of Alba. Reigned for 26 years.
Capys. Possibly a son of Capetus. Reigned for 28 years.
Capetus II. Possibly a son of Capys. Reigned for 13 years.
Tiberinus Silvius. Possibly a son of Capetus II. Reigned for 8 years. Reportedly slain in battle near an unnamed river and his body was carried away by it. The river was renamed Tiber.
Agrippa. Possibly a son of Tiberinus. Reigned for 41 years.
Allodius. Possibly a son of Agrippa. Reigned for 19 years. Reportedly a tyrant and contemptuous of the Gods. He frightened the people by throwing thunderbolts at them, until he himself was murdered by one and his house was submerged in the Alban Lake.
Aventinus. Possibly a son of Allodius. Reigned for 37 years. The Aventine Hill was reportedly named after him.
Procas. Possibly a son of Aventinus. Reigned for 23 years.
Amulius. A younger son of Procas who reportedly usurped the throne. Reigned for 42 years. Slain by his grand-nephews Romulus and Remus.
Numitor. The older brother of Amulius. Reportedly succeeded him a year before the foundation of Rome. His successor is not named.