Commentary Par VI 35-36

Roman imperial virtue begins with the death of Pallas, son of Evander.  Despite the special protection of Aeneas, Pallas is killed in battle by Turnus (Aen. X.479-489).  Thus the founding event of the empire is presented here as the death of Pallas, an event that seems to have the status of sacrifice.  For a discussion in this vein, see Rachel Jacoff (Jaco.1985.1).  The death of Cato has a similar resonance; he died for liberty, as Virgil tells Dante ([Purg I 71-72]; and see C.Purg.I.71-74).  Pallas dies in order to give virtue a homeland in Italy where, for a time at least, it prospered.  'His death led to that of Turnus, because Aeneas would have spared the latter's life, had he not seen the belt of Pallas, which [Turnus] was wearing ({Virg.Aen.XII.940-950}).  By Turnus' death Aeneas became possessed of Lavinia, and of the kingdom of Latinus.  Thus the death of Pallas ultimately caused the eagle to obtain the sovereignty' (DDP Tozer.Par.VI.35-36).

Of the death of Pallas, Dante (Mon.II.ix.14) has this to say: 'In this combat [with Turnus] the clemency of the victor Aeneas was so great that, had he not caught sight of the belt which Turnus had taken from Pallas when he killed him, the victor would have granted life as well as peace to the vanquished, as our poet's closing lines testify' (tr. P. Shaw).

Dante refers to Alba Longa, 'the most ancient town in Latium, built according to tradition by Ascanius, son of Aeneas' (Alba).  The Eagle would remain there some three hundred years until the defeat of the local Curiatii by the Roman Horatii.