This project explores the fundamental influence of Vergil, regarded in the Renaissance as the greatest of poets, in early sixteenth century Rome. Vergil was central to Renaissance cultural life and thought as a whole, since the intellectual program of the Renaissance humanists regarded the classics as key sources for human wisdom and virtue. Yet ubiquitous as Vergilian references were in Renaissance writings the specifics of his influence in Rome remain to be investigated. The main vehicle in which to study the over-arching influence of Vergil is to examine the extensive body of Latin literature directly inspired by Vergil or incorporating Vergilian themes in the period of instauratio (renewal) often described as "High Renaissance Rome". By considering this Latin poetry in Rome, that is, throughly examining the texts of a large number of humanists and placing them in their social and cultural context, one can discern the renewal of Roman thought and Latin literature at its apex.^Specifically, I examine the Latin poetry of Roman humanists and determine the Vergilian influence in their works. This influence will be evident in terms of Vergilain-style language as well as the reworking of Vergilian themes and episodes from the texts of the ancient poet (prophecies, visits to the underworld, pastoral themes). These themes and episodes generally follow the notion of renewal, which fits the character of papal ideology in the early sixteenth century. Since Roman humanists were in the service of the papacy the Verilian themes of renewal, Golden Age, an imperial Reome reborn, and Roman destiny in their works perfectly fit - and even became the language of - the prevailing discourse of papal Rome. A major topic of investigation, therefore, is the understanding of the religious, cultural, and even political uses of Vergil in the papal-influenced humanist literature of Renaissance Rome.^This literature, in which the typical Roman cultural outlook is evident, was based in the papal court and the intellectual circles linked to it. What I term Vergilianism, therefore, is crucial to understanding the cultural outlook of Renaissance Rome. The centrality of Vergilianism at Rome brings to light another aspect of Vergil's influence in the larger Renaissance world.