Ilioneus, a ship commander of Aeneas {see planet  (1172)}, was the official spokesman for Aeneas’ band of wandering Trojans. He was the first to speak to strangers on behalf of Aeneas, and his soft words often preceded conflict. First he advised Dido {see planet  (209)}, the queen of Carthage, that the Trojans and Aeneas posed no threat to her realm /when, in fact, Aeneas would break her heart and drive her to suicide). Later he spoke to King Latinus, seeking permission for the Trojans to stay in Italy, and that request ultimately led to devastating war, when the Latins tried to drive Aeneas away. (M 22249) _ _.