Publius Attius Varus facts for kids

Publius Attius Varus was a Roman leader who lived a long time ago. He died on March 17, 45 BC. He was the Roman governor of a place called Africa. This was during a big fight known as the Civil War. This war was between two powerful Romans, Julius Caesar and Pompey. Varus chose to fight against Caesar. He first battled against Gaius Scribonius Curio in 49 BC.

Varus's Early Career

Varus held an important job called praetor by 53 BC. A praetor was like a high-ranking judge or a military commander. We don't have many records about his earlier political jobs. He was also a promagistrate in Africa around 52 BC. This meant he had power like a governor.

Varus and the Civil War

When the Civil War started, Varus was in a region called Picenum. He was leading a large group of soldiers. Varus was a supporter of the optimates. This was a group of Roman leaders who wanted to keep the old ways of the Roman Republic.

When Caesar's army came close, Varus had to leave Picenum. He and his soldiers then joined Pompey in Apulia.

Varus in Africa

Pompey later left Italy to go to Greece. Varus then traveled to Africa. He took control of his old province there. This province was supposed to go to another leader, Q. Aelius Tubero. Tubero was meant to get grain from Africa for Rome.

But Varus stopped Tubero from entering the province. So, Tubero went to join Pompey instead. Varus was well-known in Africa from his earlier time as governor. Because of this, he was able to gather two legions of soldiers. A legion was a large unit of the Roman army.

The Fight for Africa

Caesar sent Curio to Africa to take it from Pompey's supporters. Curio was given this command because he supported Caesar. However, he didn't have much experience leading large armies. His soldiers were actually ones who had first joined Pompey. But they had switched sides to Caesar.

Curio's army landed near Utica in Africa. They surprised Varus's army. One of Varus's officers, Sextus Quinctilius Varus, tried to get Curio's soldiers to switch back. But they refused.

Curio's army won an early fight with cavalry. Then, Curio led a brave attack up a hill. This quickly defeated Varus's army. Curio felt confident after this win. But he got some bad information. He thought he was attacking only a small part of King Juba's army.

Actually, most of the king's army was there. After a good start, Curio's forces were attacked by surprise. Most of his army was destroyed. Curio was surrounded on a hilltop with his remaining soldiers. He died fighting. Only a few of his soldiers escaped to Sicily. These included the writer Asinius Pollio.

After the Big Battles

After a major battle called the Battle of Pharsalus, Pompey's remaining supporters went to Africa. They wanted to keep fighting Caesar. Cato, another Roman leader, insisted that Varus give up his top command. Varus then gave control to Metellus Scipio. Scipio was a consul, a very high Roman official.

From 48 BC, Varus was known as a legatus pro praetore. This meant he was a general with the power of a praetor.

In 46 BC, Varus was a leader of Pompey's navy. After a defeat at the Battle of Thapsus, Varus escaped to Hispania (which is now Spain). There, his fleet was defeated in a sea battle near Carteia. This battle was against Caesar's fleet, led by Gaius Didius. Varus was forced to join the army on land.

He died in the Battle of Munda. His head, along with that of Titus Labienus, was given to Caesar.

Sources

• Cicero, ad Att. viii. 13, b, 15, 20; pro Ligar. I.
• Julius Caesar, Commentarii de Bello Civili i. 12, 13, 31; ii. 23–44.
• Dion Cassius xli. 41, 42; xlii. 57, xliii. 30, 31.
• Appian, Bellum civile ii. 44–46; ii. 105.
• Lucan, Bellum civile (aka Pharsalia) iv. 713, foll.
• Aulus Hirtius, Bellum Afr. 62, 63.