Publius Attius Varus

Also known as: Attius / Attius Varus / Publius Attius / Varus · Family: Roman · Role: commander · First appears: The Civil War, Book I, 7–13

In Book I of The Civil War, Attius Varus fled Auximum after its senate and freemen refused to exclude Caesar, and his troops deserted him, some going over to Caesar. At Utica, he barred Tubero and his sick son from landing, forcing them to leave.

In Book II, two centurions and twenty-two men deserted from Caius Curio’s camp to Varus. Curio’s forces later routed Varus’s army, which retreated to its camp; during the flight, Fabius (a Pelignian) struck at Varus with his sword, but was surrounded and killed. At the third watch, Varus quietly withdrew his army into the town. At night, the remaining troops surrendered to him. Although he complained that Juba had insulted his honour, Varus did not dare oppose him.

Relationship record

Life events

• Attius Varus fled Auximum after its senate and freemen refused to exclude Caesar.(The Civil War, Book I, 7–13 · 📍 Auximum)
  • With: Caesar
  • “Alarmed at this declaration, Attius Varus drew out of the town the garrison which he had introduced, and fled.”
• Attius Varus's troops deserted him, and some came over to Caesar.(The Civil War, Book I, 7–13 · 📍 Auximum)
  • With: Caesar
  • “when the battle began, Varus is deserted by his troops: some of them disperse to their homes, the rest come over to Caesar”
• Attius Varus barred Tubero from entering the port or town and forced him to leave.(The Civil War, Book I, 27–33 · 📍 Utica)
  • With: Tubero
  • “He, when Tubero came to Utica with his fleet, prevented his entering the port or town, and did not suffer his son, though labouring under sickness, to set foot on shore; but obliged him to weigh anchor and quit the place.”
• Two Marsian centurions and twenty-two men deserted from Curio's camp to Attius Varus.(The Civil War, Book II, 26–31)
  • With: Caius Curio
  • “The next night two Marsian centurions, with twenty-two men belonging to the companies, deserted from Curio's camp to Attius Varus.”
• Curio's forces routed Attius Varus's army, which retreated to its camp.(The Civil War, Book II, 32–37)
  • With: Caius Curio
  • “before a dart could be thrown or our men come near them, Varus's whole army turned their backs and retreated to their camp.”
• Fabius struck at Attius Varus with his sword but was surrounded and killed.(The Civil War, Book II, 32–37)
  • With: Fabius (a Pelignian)
  • “he made a blow with his sword at his naked shoulder and was very near killing Varus, but he escaped the danger by raising his shield to ward off the blow. Fabius was surrounded by the soldiers near him and cut to pieces”
• Attius Varus quietly withdrew his army from the camp into the town.(The Civil War, Book II, 32–37 · 📍 the town)
  • “leaving a trumpeter in his camp and a few tents for show, at the third watch led back his army quietly into the town.”
• The remaining troops surrendered to Varus.(The Civil War, Book II, 38–44)
  • “The rest of the troops sent their centurions as deputies to Varus at night, and surrendered themselves to him.”

The Civil War, Book I, 7–13

• enemies with Caesar “A few of Caesar's front rank having pursued him, obliged him to halt, and when the battle began, Varus is deserted by his troops”

The Civil War, Book I, 27–33

• enemies with Tubero “He, when Tubero came to Utica with his fleet, prevented his entering the port or town, and did not suffer his son, though labouring under sickness, to set foot on shore; but obliged him to weigh anchor and quit the place.”

The Civil War, Book II, 20–25

• enemies with Caius Curio “About the same time Caius Curio, having sailed from Sicily to Africa, and from the first despising the forces of Publius Attius Varus, transported only two of the four legions which he had received from Caesar, and five hundred horse,”
• commander: Juba “And at the same time Varus had detached as a guard for them six hundred Numidian horse, and four hundred foot, which king Juba had sent to Utica as auxiliaries a few days before.”

The Civil War, Book II, 26–31

• enemies with Caius Curio (Their forces are drawn up against each other.) “Induced by their opinion, Varus the next day led his troops out of the camp: Curio did so in like manner, and with only one small valley between them, each drew up his forces.”

The Civil War, Book II, 32–37

• enemies with Caius Curio “The next day he led out his forces and ranged them in order of battle on the same ground where they had been posted the preceding day; nor did Attius Varus hesitate to draw out his men, that, if any occasion should offer, either to tamper with our men or to engage on equal terms, he might not miss the opportunity.”
• enemies with Fabius (a Pelignian) “When Varus, after being repeatedly called, stopped and looked at him, and inquired who he was and what he wanted, he made a blow with his sword at his naked shoulder and was very near killing Varus, but he escaped the danger by raising his shield to ward off the blow.”

The Civil War, Book II, 38–44

• enemies with Juba “Although Varus complained that his honour was insulted by Juba, yet he dare not oppose him:”

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Extracted from the original text of Caesar's Commentaries — The Gallic War and The Civil War. Made with Rho MD.