Interesting Facts

• Turnus was the king of Bibentu.
• Upon hearing praise of Jania’s beauty and wisdom, Turnus also sent messengers to Chittim to request her as his wife.
• His request for Jania was rejected by the people of Chittim because they had already agreed to give her to Angeas, the king of Africa.
• In response to this rejection, Turnus assembled his entire army with the intention of going to war against Angeas.
• Turnus was ultimately defeated and killed in battle by Angeas.
• He was buried in the same place as Niblos, the son of Lucus, on the highroad between Alphanu and Romah, with their graves facing each other.

Genealogy

• Turnus was the king of Bibentu.
• The provided sources do not offer any information regarding Turnus’s parentage, ancestry, other familial connections, or offspring. His only mentioned relationship is his role as king of Bibentu and his unsuccessful attempt to marry Jania.

Historical Context

Turnus’s reign as king of Bibentu occurred in a geopolitical landscape where the land of Chittim and the kingdom of Africa under King Angeas held significant influence. The intense interest of both Angeas and Turnus in marrying Jania, the daughter of Uzu, highlights the perceived value of her beauty and intelligence in this cultural context. The decision of the people of Chittim to favor Angeas’s proposal, primarily out of fear of his military strength, suggests the power dynamics at play between these regions. Turnus’s immediate mobilization of his army upon being rejected indicates a readiness to engage in military conflict to achieve his objectives and uphold his royal prestige. The ensuing battle took place in the valley of Canopia and involved the forces of Turnus against Angeas and his brother Lucus, the king of Sardunia, revealing a network of alliances and rivalries in the region.

Narrative

Turnus’s personal story, as presented in the sources, is centered around his desire to marry Jania, the daughter of Uzu. Upon hearing reports of her exceptional qualities, Turnus sent messengers to Chittim to seek her hand in marriage, arriving shortly after Angeas, the king of Africa, had already made the same request. The people of Chittim, fearing the potential wrath of Angeas, refused Turnus’s messengers and affirmed their commitment to Angeas. This rejection incited Turnus to gather his army and prepare for war against Angeas, intending to pass through Sardunia to attack Angeas’s brother Lucus before confronting Angeas himself. However, Angeas, having been informed of Turnus’s intentions by the people of Chittim, assembled his own forces and allied with his brother Lucus. The two armies met in the valley of Canopia, where a fierce battle ensued. Despite his initial intentions, Turnus was ultimately defeated and killed in this confrontation with Angeas. His narrative concludes with his burial in the same location as Niblos, a casualty from the opposing side of the conflict, marking the end of his ambition and his kingdom’s challenge to Angeas’s power.