Editing Ascanius (section)

==Mythology==
In [[Greek mythology|Greek]] and [[Roman mythology]], Ascanius was the son of the Trojan prince [[Aeneas]] and [[Creusa of Troy|Creusa]], daughter of [[Priam]]. After the [[Trojan War]], as the city burned, Aeneas escaped to [[Latium]] in [[Italy]], taking his father [[Anchises]] and his child Ascanius with him, though Creusa died during the escape.

According to [[Dionysius of Halicarnassus]], Ascanius' original name was Euryleon and this name was changed to Ascanius after his flight from Troy.<ref>Dionysius of Halicarnassus, ''Roman Antiquities'' 1.65</ref> According to Virgil, Ascanius was also called Iulus or Julus. The [[gens Julia]], the clan to which [[Julius Caesar]] belonged, claimed descent from Ascanius/Iulus, his father Aeneas, and, ultimately, the goddess [[Venus (mythology)|Venus]], the mother of Aeneas in myth, his father being the mortal Anchises.

[[File:Amphora Aineias Ankhises 470 BC Staatliche Antikensammlungen.jpg|thumb|Aeneas carrying Anchises, with his wife leading the way and Ascanius between them ([[red-figure pottery|red-figure]] [[amphora]] from a Greek workshop in [[Etruria]], ca. 470 BC)]]
Dionysius however, identified Julus as a son of Ascanius who disputed the succession of the kingdom of Alba Longa with Silvius, upon the death of Ascanius.<ref>Dionysius of Halicarnassus, ''Roman Antiquities'' 1.70</ref>

According to another legend mentioned by [[Livy]], Ascanius may have been the son of Aeneas and [[Lavinia]] and thus born in [[Latium]], not [[Troy]]. Ascanius later fought in the Italian Wars along with his father Aeneas.

After the death of Aeneas, Ascanius became king of Lavinium and an Etruscan king named [[Mezentius]] took advantage of the occasion to besiege the city.<ref>Another tradition says that he was too young to reign and that Lavinia reigned in his stead for a number of years until he came of age, upon which, Ascanius founded Alba Longa and left Lavinia in charge of Lavinium, q.v. Dionysius of Halicarnassus ''Roman Antiquities'' 1.65</ref> Mezentius succeeded in making the city surrender and agree to pay a yearly tribute. Upon his retirement, Ascanius fell upon him and his army unaware and entirely defeated Mezentius and killed his son Lausus. Mezentius was forced to agree to pay a yearly tribute.  Subsequent to this, exactly thirty years after the founding of Lavinium, Ascanius founded the city of [[Alba Longa]] and became its first king. He left Lavinia in charge of the city of Lavinium. Ascanius was succeeded by [[Silvius (mythology)|Silvius]], who was either his younger brother or his son. Ascanius died in the 28th year of his reign.