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Redirected from Varus Publius Quinctilius Varus (d. 9 AD) was a Roman general under Augustus Caesar, mainly remembered for having lost three legions and his own life when attacked by Arminius in Germany.

Of a patrician but long-unimportant family, he helped his career by marrying Claudia Pulchra[?], a grand-niece of Augustus. He served as consul in 13 BC, as proconsul[?] of Africa probably around 7-6 BC, and as legate[?] in Syria. He is mentioned by Josephus as having quickly put down a revolt in Judaea after the death of Herod the Great.

He was appointed to govern Germany in 7 AD, but in 9 AD, when marching back from a summer camp near the Weser River[?], he and three legions attacked by Arminius in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest. The Romans were entirely slaughtered; Varus was said to have taken his own life, although this is impossible to verify, since there were no survivors.

After his death, Varus was made the scapegoat for Augustus' difficulties in Germany.

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