The Defeated Varus (2003), a sculpture by Wilfried Koch in Haltern am See, Germany.

Publius Quinctilius Varus (ca. 46 BC – AD 9) was a Roman politician and general under Augustus, mainly remembered for having lost three Roman legions and his own life when attacked by Germanic leader Arminius in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (960x1280, 285 KB) de: Beschreibung: Der gescheiterte Varus, Haltern am See, Deutschland Quelle: selbst fotografiert, am 21. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (960x1280, 285 KB) de: Beschreibung: Der gescheiterte Varus, Haltern am See, Deutschland Quelle: selbst fotografiert, am 21. ... Haltern (also: Haltern am See - Haltern on the lake) is a town and a municipality in the district of Recklinghausen, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. ... Centuries: 2nd century BC - 1st century BC - 1st century Decades: 90s BC 80s BC 70s BC 60s BC 50s BC - 40s BC - 30s BC 20s BC 10s BC 0s BC 0s Years: 51 BC 50 BC 49 BC 48 BC 47 BC 46 BC 45 BC 44 BC 43 BC... For other uses, see 9 (disambiguation). ... Ancient Rome was a civilization that grew from a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula circa the 9th century BC to a massive empire straddling the Mediterranean Sea. ... For other uses, see Augustus (disambiguation). ... The Roman Legion (from Latin , from lego, legere, legi, lectus — to collect) is a term that can apply both as a transliteration of legio (conscription or army) to the entire Roman army and also, more narrowly (and more commonly), to the heavy infantry that was the basic military unit of... The Hermannsdenkmal Arminius (also Hermann, Armin, 16 BC–AD 21) was a war chief of the Germanic tribe of the Cherusci who defeated a Roman army in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest. ... Combatants Germanic tribes (Cherusci, Marsi, Chatti, Bructeri and Chauci) Roman Empire Commanders Arminius (Hermann) Publius Quinctilius Varus † Strength Unknown 3 Roman legions, 3 alae and 6 auxiliary cohorts, probably 20,000 - 25,000 Casualties Unknown; but far less than Roman losses 15,000-20,000 The Battle of the Teutoburg...

Life

His paternal grandfather was senator Sextus Quinctilius Varus. Varus was a patrician, born to an aristocratic but long-impoverished and unimportant family in the Quinctilius gens. His mother was a daughter from Gaius Claudius Marcellus Minor's first marriage. His father was Sextus Quinctilius Varus, a senator aligned with the conservative republicans in the civil war against Julius Caesar. Sextus survived their defeat, but it is unknown whether he was involved in Caesar's assassination. He committed suicide after the Battle of Philippi (43 BC). This article is about the social and political class in ancient Rome. ... The Quinctilii were a Roman gens, of which the most famous member was Publius Quinctilius Varus. ... GENS is an open source emulator for the Sega Genesis (Sega Megadrive). ... See Gaius Claudius Marcellus for other men of this name, or Gaius Claudius Marcellus Major for his cousin, consul of 49 BC. Gaius Claudius Marcellus Minor, Roman consul in 50 BC, husband of Octavia Minor, and friend of Cicero. ... Combatants Julius Caesar and supporters, the Populares faction, Roman senate, the Optimates faction, Commanders Julius Caesar Mark Antony Pompey†, Titus Labienus†, Metellus Scipio†, Cato the younger†, Gnaeus Pompeius† Sextus Pompeius The Roman civil war of 49 BC, sometimes called Caesars Civil War, is one of the last conflicts within... Gaius Julius Caesar [1] (Latin pronunciation ; English pronunciation ; July 12 or July 13, 100 BC or 102 BC – March 15, 44 BC), was a Roman military and political leader and one of the most influential men in classical antiquity. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Centuries: 2nd century BC - 1st century BC - 1st century Decades: 90s BC 80s BC 70s BC 60s BC 50s BC - 40s BC - 30s BC 20s BC 10s BC 0s BC 0s Years: 48 BC 47 BC 46 BC 45 BC 44 BC 43 BC 42 BC 41 BC 40 BC...

Despite his father's political allegiances, Varus became a supporter of Caesar's heir, Octavian, later known as Caesar Augustus. He was married to Vipsania Marcella, daughter of Octavian's lieutenant Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, and became a personal friend of both Agrippa and Octavian. Vipsania Marcella was a grandniece of Caesar Augustus. When Agrippa died, it was Varus who delivered the funeral eulogy. Thus, his political career was boosted and his cursus honorum finished as early as 13 BC, when he was elected consul junior partner of Tiberius, Augustus' stepson and future emperor. The famous statue of Octavian at the Prima Porta Caesar Augustus (Latin:IMP·CAESAR·DIVI·F·AVGVSTVS) ¹ (23 September 63 BC–19 August AD 14), known to modern historians as Octavian for the period of his life prior to 27 BC, is considered the first and one of the most... Vipsania Marcella Agrippina or Marcellina (born 27 BC) was the only daughter to Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa from his second wife Claudia Marcella Major. ... Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa (63 BC–12 BC) was a Roman statesman and general. ... The famous statue of Octavian at the Prima Porta Caesar Augustus (Latin:IMP·CAESAR·DIVI·F·AVGVSTVS) ¹ (23 September 63 BC–19 August AD 14), known to modern historians as Octavian for the period of his life prior to 27 BC, is considered the first and one of the most... Ordinary Magistrates Extraordinary Magistrates Titles and Honors Emperor Politics and Law The cursus honorum (Latin: course of honour) was the sequential order of public offices held by aspiring politicians in both the Roman Republic and the early Empire. ... Centuries: 2nd century BC - 1st century BC - 1st century Decades: 60s BC 50s BC 40s BC 30s BC 20s BC - 10s BC - 0s 10s 20s 30s 40s Years: 18 BC 17 BC 16 BC 15 BC 14 BC 13 BC 12 BC 11 BC 10 BC 9 BC 8 BC... Consul (abbrev. ... Tiberius Caesar Augustus, born Tiberius Claudius Nero (November 16, 42 BC – March 16 AD 37), was the second Roman Emperor, from the death of Augustus in AD 14 until his own death in 37. ...

Political career

Between 9 and 8 BC, following the consulship, Varus was governor of the province of Africa. After this, he went to govern Syria, with four legions under his command. The Jewish historian Josephus mentions the swift action of Varus against a messianic revolt in Judaea after the death of Rome's client king Herod the Great in 4 BC. After occupying Jerusalem, he crucified 2000 Jewish rebels, and may have thus been one of the prime objects of popular anti-Roman sentiment in Judaea, for Josephus, who made every effort to reconcile the Jewish people to Roman rule, felt it necessary to point out how lenient this judicial massacre had been. Centuries: 2nd century BC - 1st century BC - 1st century Decades: 50s BC 40s BC 30s BC 20s BC 10s BC - 0s BC - 0s 10s 20s 30s 40s 14 BC 13 BC 12 BC 11 BC 10 BC 9 BC 8 BC 7 BC 6 BC 5 BC 4 BC Events... Centuries: 2nd century BC - 1st century BC - 1st century Decades: 50s BC 40s BC 30s BC 20s BC 10s BC - 0s BC - 0s 10s 20s 30s 40s 13 BC 12 BC 11 BC 10 BC 9 BC - 8 BC - 7 BC 6 BC 5 BC 4 BC 3 BC Births... Categories: Historical stubs | Ancient Roman provinces ... A fanciful representation of Flavius Josephus, in an engraving in William Whistons translation of his works Josephus (37 – sometime after 100 AD/CE)[1], who became known, in his capacity as a Roman citizen, as Flavius Josephus[2], was a 1st-century Jewish historian and apologist of priestly and... In Judaism, the Messiah (מָשִׁיחַ Standard Hebrew Arabic: , المسيح), Tiberian Hebrew , Aramaic ) initially meant any person who was anointed to a certain position among the ancient Israelites, at first that of High priest, later that of King and also that of a prophet. ... Desert hills in southern Judea, looking east from the town of Arad Judea or Judaea (יהודה Praise, Standard Hebrew Yəhuda, Tiberian Hebrew Yəhûḏāh) is a term used for the mountainous southern part of historic Palestine, an area now divided... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Satellite state. ... Hordes (Hebrew: , ; Greek: , ; trad. ... Centuries: 2nd century BC - 1st century BC - 1st century Decades: 50s BC 40s BC 30s BC 20s BC 10s BC - 0s BC - 0s 10s 20s 30s 40s 9 BC 8 BC 7 BC 6 BC 5 BC 4 BC 3 BC 2 BC 1 BC 1 2 Events Archelaus becomes...

Following the governorship of Syria, Varus returned to Rome and remained there for the next few years. During these years, he married his second wife Claudia Pulchra, daughter of Claudia Marcella Minor (daughter of consul Gaius Claudius Marcellus Minor and Octavia Thurina Minor, sister of Caesar Augustus) and consul Aemilius Lepidus Paullus (nephew of Triumvir Marcus Aemilius Lepidus). This made her a great niece of Caesar Augustus, which shows that Varus still enjoyed political favour. They had a son, Quinctilius Varus. (His first wife died.) Claudia Pulchra was the name of several women of gens Claudia during the 1st century BC and 1st century AD. The Latin pulchra (meaning beautiful) is the root of the English word pulchritude (meaning beauty). // Claudia, daughter of Appius Claudius Pulcher consul of 143 BC and Antistia. ... Claudia Marcella was the name of both daughters of Octavia Minor (Octavia Thurina Minor), the sister of Caesar Augustus, from her first husband, the consul Gaius Claudius Marcellus Minor. ... See Gaius Claudius Marcellus for other men of this name, or Gaius Claudius Marcellus Major for his cousin, consul of 49 BC. Gaius Claudius Marcellus Minor, Roman consul in 50 BC, husband of Octavia Minor, and friend of Cicero. ... Octavia was the name of three women of the Julio-Claudian Dynasty of ancient Rome: two were sisters of Augustus Caesar, and the younger was the daughter of Claudius and wife of Nero. ... The famous statue of Octavian at the Prima Porta Caesar Augustus (Latin:IMP·CAESAR·DIVI·F·AVGVSTVS) ¹ (23 September 63 BC–19 August AD 14), known to modern historians as Octavian for the period of his life prior to 27 BC, is considered the first and one of the most... Aemilius Lepidus Paullus (full name: Lucius Aemilius Lepidus Paullus) (d. ... Marcus Aemilius Lepidus was a common name for several successive generations of a family in ancient Rome: Marcus Aemilius Lepidus (187 BC) Marcus Aemilius Lepidus (120-77 BC) Marcus Aemilius Lepidus (triumvir) (49 BC) Lepidus the Younger Marcus Aemilius Lepidus (consul AD 6) This is a disambiguation page — a... The famous statue of Octavian at the Prima Porta Caesar Augustus (Latin:IMP·CAESAR·DIVI·F·AVGVSTVS) ¹ (23 September 63 BC–19 August AD 14), known to modern historians as Octavian for the period of his life prior to 27 BC, is considered the first and one of the most... Quinctilius Varus or Publius Quinctilius Varus the Younger was the only child to Roman General and Politician Publius Quinctilius Varus from his second marriage to Claudia Pulchra. ...

In the first years of the 1st century, Tiberius, his brother Drusus, and Germanicus conducted a long campaign in Germania, the area north of the Upper Danube and east of the Rhine, in an attempt at a further major expansion of the Empire's frontiers, and a shortening of its frontier line. They subdued several Germanic tribes, such as the Cherusci. In AD 7, the region was declared pacified and Varus was appointed to govern Germania. Tiberius, who would later succeed Augustus as Emperor, left the region to deal with a revolt in Pannonia and Dalmatia, in what is now the Balkans. The 1st century was that century which lasted from 1 to 100 according the Gregorian calendar. ... Bust of Nero Claudius Drusus, in the Musée du Cinquantinaire, Brussels Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus, born Decimus Claudius Drusus and variously called Drusus, Drusus I, Drusus Claudius Nero, or Drusus the Elder (14 January 38 - 9 BC) was the youngest son of Livia, wife of Augustus, and her first... Germanicus Julius Caesar (24 May 15 BC–October 10, 19 AD) was a member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty of the early Roman Empire. ... The Danube (ancient Danuvius, Iranian *dānu, meaning river or stream, ancient Greek Istros) is the longest river in the European Union and Europes second longest river. ... The Rhine (Dutch: ; French: ; German: ; Italian: ; Romansh: ) is one of the longest and most important rivers in Europe at 1,320 kilometres (820 miles), with an average discharge of more than 2,000 cubic meters per second. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... For other uses, see number 7. ...

Battle of Teutoburg Forest

In A.D. 9, Varus had stationed his armies near the Weser River with his three legions, the Seventeenth, the Eighteenth and the Nineteenth, when news arrived of a growing revolt in the Rhine area to the west. Despite several warnings, Varus trusted Arminius, the man who appealed for his help, because he was a Romanised Germanic prince and commander of an auxiliary cavalry unit. For other uses, see 9 (disambiguation). ... Weser watershed Orthographic projection centred over Bremen The Weser is a river of north-western Germany. ... Legio XVII was a Roman legion levied by Augustus Caesar around 41 BC. The legion was destroyed in the battle of Teutonburg Forest (September 9, 9 AD). ... Legio XVIII was a Roman legion levied by Caesar Augustus around 41 BC. The legion was destroyed in the battle of Teutonburg Forest (September 9, 9 AD). ... Legio XIX was a Roman legion levied (drafted into military service) in 41 or 40 BC by Augustus. ... The Hermannsdenkmal Arminius (also Hermann, Armin, 16 BC–AD 21) was a war chief of the Germanic tribe of the Cherusci who defeated a Roman army in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest. ...

Not only was Varus' trust in Arminius a terrible misjudgement, but Varus compounded it by placing his legions in a position where their fighting strengths would be minimized and that of the Germanic tribesmen maximized. Arminius and the Cherusci tribe, along with other allies, had skillfully laid an ambush, and in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest in September (east of modern Osnabrück), the Germanic tribes ambushed the vulnerable Roman column. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Combatants Germanic tribes (Cherusci, Marsi, Chatti, Bructeri and Chauci) Roman Empire Commanders Arminius (Hermann) Publius Quinctilius Varus † Strength Unknown 3 Roman legions, 3 alae and 6 auxiliary cohorts, probably 20,000 - 25,000 Casualties Unknown; but far less than Roman losses 15,000-20,000 The Battle of the Teutoburg... Osnabrück is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany, some 80 km NNE of Dortmund, 45 km NE of Münster, and some 100 km due west of Hanover. ...

The heavily forested, swampy terrain made the infantry maneuvers of the legions impossible to execute and allowed the Germanic fighters to defeat the legions in detail (i.e. the Germanic troops were able to separate the Roman troops into smaller groupings, thus reducing the latter's fighting power). On the third day of fighting, the Germanic fighters overwhelmed the Romans at Kalkriese Hill, north of Osnabrück. Accounts of the defeat are scarce, due to the totality of the defeat, but one account tells of some Roman cavalry which abandoned the infantry they were supposed to be supporting and fled to the Rhine, but were intercepted by the Germanic tribesmen and killed. Some captured Romans were placed inside wicker cages and burned alive (see Edward Gibbon); others were enslaved or ransomed. Tacitus reports that the victorious Germanic tribes sacrificed captive officers to their gods on altars that could still be seen years later. Varus himself, upon seeing all hope was lost, committed suicide (see Bunson, A Dictionary of the Roman Empire). Arminius cut off his head and sent it to Bohemia as a present to King Marbod of the Marcomanni, the other most important Germanic leader, whom Arminius wanted to coax into an alliance, but Marbod declined the offer and sent the head on to Rome for burial. Later efforts on the part of the heir to Augustus, Tiberius, to subdue the Germanic tribes between the Rhine and Elbe failed and the Romans made no further attempt to conquer what is now modern Germany east of the Rhine, except for the Agri Decumates (the modern state of Baden-Württemberg). The Romans did recover the lost legions' eagles (see Edward Gibbon), two of them in 15-16, the third in 42. See Battle of Teutoburg Forest. Edward Gibbon (1737–1794). ... Gaius Cornelius Tacitus Publius (or Gaius) Cornelius Tacitus (c. ... The Rhine (Dutch: ; French: ; German: ; Italian: ; Romansh: ) is one of the longest and most important rivers in Europe at 1,320 kilometres (820 miles), with an average discharge of more than 2,000 cubic meters per second. ... This article is about a river in Central Europe. ... Agri Decumates a province of the Roman Empire covering the Black Forest area between the the Main river and the sources of Danube and Rhine rivers, presently in Southwestern Germany. ... Edward Gibbon (1737–1794). ... Events Valerius Gratus is appointed Prefect of Iudaea. ... Events A Roman army of 90,000 men commanded by Germanicus gains a victory at Idistaviso, defeating the German war chief Arminius and capturing his wife Thusnelda, and recovering the lost eagles of Varus legions. ... This article is about the year 42. ... Battle of the Teutoburg Forest Conflict Roman-Germanic wars Date 9 Place Teutoburg Forest Result German victory In the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest (AD 9) an alliance of Germanic tribes led by Arminius (also known in German as Hermann), the son of Segimerus of the Cherusci, ambushed and wiped...

So great was the shame, and the ill luck thought to adhere to the numbers of the Legions, that XVII, XVIII and XIX never again appear in the Roman Army's order of battle. The Battle of the Teutoburger Wald (or Teutoburg Forest) was keenly felt by Augustus, darkening his remaining years. According to the biographer Suetonius, upon hearing the news, Augustus tore his clothes, refused to cut his hair for months and, for years afterwards, was heard, upon occasion, to moan, "Quinctilius Varus, give me back my Legions!" ("Quinctili Vare, legiones redde!"). Gibbon describes Augustus's reaction to the defeat as one of the few times the normally stoic ruler lost his composure. Combatants Germanic tribes (Cherusci, Marsi, Chatti, Bructeri and Chauci) Roman Empire Commanders Arminius (Hermann) Publius Quinctilius Varus † Strength Unknown 3 Roman legions, 3 alae and 6 auxiliary cohorts, probably 20,000 - 25,000 Casualties Unknown; but far less than Roman losses 15,000-20,000 The Battle of the Teutoburg... Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus ( 69/75 - after 130), also known as Suetonius, was a prominent Roman historian and biographer. ... Edward Gibbon (1737–1794). ...

In fiction

• I, Claudius by Robert Graves, Vintage International; a novelization based largely on Suetonius, but one which is generally considered to stick scrupulously to the facts.

• The Iron Hand of Mars by Lindsey Davis; fourth book of the mystery series set during the reign of Vespasian, a portion of the novel occurs in the Teutoberger Wald.

Portrait of Robert Graves (circa 1974) by Rab Shiell Robert von Ranke Graves (24 July 1895 – 5 November 1955) was an English poet, scholar, and novelist. ... Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus ( 69/75 - after 130), also known as Suetonius, was a prominent Roman historian and biographer. ... Lindsey Davis, historical novelist, was born in Birmingham, England in 1949. ...

References

• The Twelve Caesars, Suetonius, translated by Robert Graves, 1957, Penguin Books; Also available from Project Gutenberg: The Lives of the Twelve Caesars, Complete
• A Roman Encylopedia by Matthew Bunson, 1995 Oxford Paperback Reference
• The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon, Modern Library
• Annals by Tacitus (various editions). Summarizes reports of later Romans who found the battlefield.
• Compendium of Roman History (Res gestae divi Augusti) by Velleius Paterculus, Harvard University Press; 1924. Brief mention of the Varus Disaster by the author, who was serving as a staff officer with Tiberius in Pannonia at the time.