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Publius Quinctilius Varus

File:Varus_-_Antiquitates_Germanicæ_-_Tacitus_&_Hooft.tiff · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons

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Publius Quinctilius Varus

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Also known as Varus

ancient Roman politician and governor; known for being defeated by the Germans led by Arminius at the battle of the Teutoburg Forest

Key facts

Born
46 BC or before, Cremona , Roman Republic (now Italy )
Died
September AD 9 (aged 54–55), Kalkriese , Germania (now Germany )
Cause of death
Suicide via falling on the sword
Allegiance
Roman Empire
Branch
Roman army
Rank
Governor (political)
Commands
Legio XVII Legio XVIII Legio XIX
Engagements
Jewish–Roman wars (preliminary) Jewish revolt in Judaea (4 BC) Germanic–Roman wars Roman campaigns in Germania Battle of the Teutoburg Forest (AD 9) †
Children
Publius Quinctilius Varus the Younger

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Instance of
human
Gender
male
Citizenship
Ancient Rome
Place of birth
Cremona
Place of death
Teutoburg Forest
Languages spoken
Latin
Military branch
Roman army
Military rank
Dux
Image
Varus - Antiquitates Germanicæ - Tacitus & Hooft.tiff
Show 11 more facts
described by source
Pauly–Wissowa
Commons category
Varus
date of death
0009-01-01
manner of death
Suicide
praenomen
Publius
social classification
patricii
cause of death
exsanguination
name in native language
Publius Quinctilius Varus
date of birth
0046-01-01
Sources (4)

via Wikidata · CC0

~11 min read

Encyclopedic overview

Publius Quinctilius Varus (46 BC or before – September AD 9) was a Roman general and politician. Serving under Augustus, the founder of the Roman Empire, he is generally remembered for having lost three Roman legions in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest and subsequently committing suicide to avoid capture (and inevitable execution) and shameful reproach. Varus's defeat to the Germanic tribes led by Arminius is considered to be one of the most important events in European history, as it dissuaded the Romans from further expanding into Germania and thus prevented the Romanization of the Germanic peoples to the east of the Rhine.

Early life and family

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Publius Quinctilius Varus” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.

Gallery (3)