A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

VARUS. VARUS. 1231
11. SEX. QUINTILIUS VARUS, quaestor B. C. in his infatuation in supposing that a brave nation
49, belonged to the Pompeian party. He fell into could be governed in the same way as a herd of
Caesar's hands at the capture of Corfinium at the be- Syrian slaves. The Germans viewed with dismay
ginning of B. C. 49; and after being dismissed by and indignation the abolition of their own laws, and
Caesar, he crossed over into Africa and fought the introduction of the Roman jurisdiction, in conunder P. Atius Varus against Curio. (Caes. B. C. sequence of which their rights, their property and
i. 23, ii. 28, foll.) It appears that this Varus was even their lives would depend upon the decision of
again pardoned by Caesar; but, like many others, a Roman proconsul. They were ripe for revolt,
he joined the murderers of his benefactor and and found a leader in Arminius, a noble chief of
fought under Brutus and Cassius against the trium- the Cherusci, who had previously served in the
virs. After the loss of the battle of Philippi, he Roman army and had been rewarded by the Roman
fell by the hands of his freedman, who slew him at franchise and the equestrian rank. The tribes in
his own request. (Vell. Pat. ii. 71.) He was the the north and south of Germany took no part in
father of the Varus who fell in Germany. [No. 13.] the insurrection, but most of the people in the
12. QUtINTILIUS VARUS, of Cremona, a friend central parts of the country joined in the revolt:
of Horace and Virgil, died in B. C. 24. (Hieronym. the Cherusci were at the head with their subjects,
in Euseb. Chron. 189. 1.) We learn from the and besides them we read of the Marsi, the Catti,
ancient Scholiasts on Horace that this Quintilius is and the Bructeri. Varus was blind to the imthe same as the Quintilius, who is mentioned as an pending danger. In the summer of B. c. 9 he had
eminent critic in the De Arte Po'tica (438) and penetrated as far as the Weser, and took up his
whose death Horace laments in one of his odes quarters on the western bank of the river, probably
(i. 24). He is perhaps the same as the Varus, not far from the spot where it is joined by the
to whom Horace addresses the eighteenth ode of Werra. Here, in fancied security, he held courts
the first book, and also as the Varus mentioned in for the administration of justice, not like a general
the fifth Epode. (Weichert, De L. Varii et Cassii at the head of his army, but as if he were the city
Iarmensis Vita, p. 121, foil.; Estr6, Horatiana praetor sitting in the Roman forum. According to
I'rosopograp/eia, p. 202, foll.) the preconcerted plan of Arminius, the orders of
13. P. QUINTILIUS VARUS, son of No. 11, was Varus were obeyed without opposition; and the
consul iB.C. 13 with Tib. Claudius Nero, after- most distinguished German chiefs, and among them
wards the emperor Tiberius. (Dion Cass. liv. 25.) Arminius himself, constantly visited his camp and
Varus was subsequently appointed to the govern- lived with him on the most friendly terms. Varus
ment of Syria as the successor of Sentius Satur- therefore finding every thing so peaceful and the
iinus, and remained in that province for several people so submissive did not consider it necessary
years, where he acquired enormous wealth. Ac- to keep all his soldiers together in the summer
cording to the antithetical expression of Velleius camp. He had with him three Roman legions
Paterculus (ii. 117), "as a poor man he entered with their regular number of auxiliary troops, and
the rich country, and as a rich man left the country a strong body of cavalry; but he had, at the repoor." Shortly after his return from Syria he was quest of Arminius and the other chiefs, sent various
made governor of Germany (probably about A. D. detachments into the surrounding country for the
7). Drusus had conquered a great part of central protection of the convoys or of the inhabitants
Germany as far as the Visurgis (Weser), and the against marauders. Such was the posture of affairs,
various German tribes between this river and the when late in the summer Varus was surprised by
Rhine seemed disposed to submit quietly to the the intelligence that a distant tribe of Germans
Roman rule and to adopt Roman customs and had risen in arms against the Romans. This
habits. The time appeared favourable to Augustus however was only a feint to draw Varus from his
for introducing into the country the regular ad- encampment; and it succeeded. lie collected his
ministration of a Roman province; but he made army and commenced his march towards the south
all unfortunate choice in the person whom he se- accompanied-by Arminius and the German chiefs.
lected to carry his purpose into effect. Varus was The latter however left him almost immediately,
a man of moderate talents and fond of an idle and promising to return as soon as they had collected
quiet life; he possessed neither the abilities nor their forces. Varus allowed thenm to depart and
the energy necessary for the important task en- continued his march without suspicion. His road
trusted to him. In addition to which, he had for lay through the vallies of the Saltus Teutoburgiensis,
years received in Syria the servile obedience of a a range of hills covered with wood, which extends
race, which had long been accustomed to the Roman north of the Lippe from Osnabriick to Paderborn,
government; while in Germany he was called to and is known in the present day by the name of
rule over a brave and high spirited people, who the Teutoburgerwald or Lippische Wald. Varus
had only recently been subdued, and knew nothing had entered the pass, not suspecting any danger,
or the jurisdiction of a Roman province. his army in a long straggling line, encumbered with
As soon as Varus had crossed the Rhine, he baggage, and accompanied by the wives and chilproceeded to levy taxes and to introduce the Ro- dren, whom the soldiers had brought with them
man jurisdiction in the newly conquered country. from their summer quarters, when the Germans
For this he is strongly censured by Dion Cassius suddenly appeared and attacked the Romans on all
(lvi. 18) and Velleius Paterculus (ii. 117), but sides. The Romans were unable to form in line of
without sufficient reason; for there can be no doubt battle, and with difficulty fought their way to a
that he acted in accordance with his instructions; more open spot in the wood, where they pitched
and it must be recollected that he was the first their camp for the night. The size and the argovernor of Germany, to whom the civil adminis- rangement of this camp, which Germanicus saw
tration as well as the military command had been six years afterwards, showed that the three legions
entrusted. His mistake was in the manner in had not on the first day sustained any material
which he carried his instructions into effect, and loss. (Tac. Ann. i. 61.) Varus was now fully