What is with the apparent obsession with creating (false) lineages for Royal families that trace ancestry to Troy?

by Goat_im_Himmel

The Romans wanted to be descended from the Trojans, Geoffrey of Monmouth made one for the British Royalty, and the Merovingians of France did too. I feel I've read of others, but they escape me. What was the appeal of descent from Troy for all these groups?

Searocksandtrees

FYI: this related thread is picking up answers; you may want to jump in https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/6i5jed/the_romans_claimed_that_they_were_descendants/