Arrius Varus

Family: Flavian · Role: soldier and senior centurion · First appears: Histories III.5-8

Arrius Varus made his reputation serving under Corbulo in the Armenian victories, but was later supposed to have sought a private interview with Nero to malign his commander. “His infamous treachery brought him the emperor's favour and a post as senior centurion.” He then joined Antonius Primus with a picked force and part of the cavalry in the Flavian advance into Italy.

At Patavium and Ateste, Arrius Varus helped capture the towns for the Flavian party, then attacked Vitellius’s troops at Forum Alieni at dawn and won the first engagement. The advance occupied Vicetia, Caecina’s birthplace. Later, at about eleven in the morning, Varus launched an unauthorized charge against the Vitellians; after reinforcements arrived, he was routed and plunged back into Antonius Primus’s ranks.

After the victory, Varus took command of the Guards while supreme authority remained with Antonius Primus, and the Senate granted him praetorian insignia. His fame and the devotion of the Third legion made him a rival and enemy of Mucianus, who sent that legion away and weakened Varus’s influence. Mucianus then displaced him and made him Director of the Corn-supply, while Domitian was inclined to support Varus.