Final answer:
Aeneas in Vergil's Aeneid bestows the quality of Romanitas upon the future Romans, which includes virtues such as civilization, strength, honesty, oratory, and warrior skill, alongside a theme of self-sacrifice for Rome's greater good.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Vergil's Aeneid, the most important quality that Aeneas bestows upon the people who would eventually become the Romans is his embodiment of Romanitas. This concept included virtues such as being civilized, strong, honest, a great public speaker, and a great fighter. However, it also emphasized the importance of self-sacrifice for the greater good of Rome. Aeneas, as a mythical progenitor of the Romans, exemplifies these virtues and sets a precedent for what it means to be Roman, influencing the values of the burgeoning Roman society.
References to Roman history, like the inclusion of different ethnic groups into the citizenship framework, following victories in war, and the cultivation of alliances and loyalty, further underline this quality. These actions, fostered by Aeneas's legacy, cultivated a powerful, expansive State that prized not only martial prowess and wisdom but also the incorporation and assimilation of various peoples and cultures, thereby strengthening Roman identity and influence.