Digital Prosopography of the Roman Republic

ATTI2455 P. Attius (32) Varus

Status

Life Dates

  • 45, death - violent (Broughton MRR II) Expand

    KIA, in Spain.

Career

  • Praetor before 54 city (Broughton MRR III) Expand
    • Had governed Africa a few years before 49 B. C. (Caes. BC 1.31.2, ex praetura eam provinciam obtinuerat). This is the latest possible date before the praetorship and governorship of Considius Longus. (Broughton MRR II)
    • Pr. 53, and Procos. Africa 52. See MRR 2.228, 237. Under the decree of the Senate in 53 which prohibited the holding of a province ex praetura or ex consulatu (Dio 40.46.2), Varus must have been praetor by 54 and proconsul in Africa in 53, not 53 and 52, resp. See Caes. BC 1.31.2. Since C. Considius Longus (11) was governor of Africa after him in 52 and 51, he was probably praetor in 55 and governor of Africa already in 54. See Cic. Lig. 3-6; MRR 2.260; Sumner, Phoenix 25, 1971, 268, note 41; and Shackleton Bailey, Onom. (Broughton MRR III)
    • p. 755, footnote 469 (Brennan 2000)
  • Promagistrate 53 Africa (Broughton MRR III) Expand
    • Pr. 53, and Procos. Africa 52. See MRR 2.228, 237. Under the decree of the Senate in 53 which prohibited the holding of a province ex praetura or ex consulatu (Dio 40.46.2), Varus must have been praetor by 54 and proconsul in Africa in 53, not 53 and 52, resp. See Caes. BC 1.31.2. Since C. Considius Longus (11) was governor of Africa after him in 52 and 51, he was probably praetor in 55 and governor of Africa already in 54. See Cic. Lig. 3-6; MRR 2.260; Sumner, Phoenix 25, 1971, 268, note 41; and Shackleton Bailey, Onom. (Broughton MRR III)
  • Promagistrate 49 Africa (Broughton MRR II) Expand
    • After his flight from Auximum (see Legates), he seized control of his former province of Africa (cum imperio, Caes. BC 1.31.2; imperium se habere dicebat, fasces certe habebat, Cic. Lig. 22, cf. 25, and 3), excluded Tubero from Africa (see above), and resisted Curio's attempt to capture Africa for Caesar (Caes. BC 2.23-26, and 43-44; Lucan 4.713ff.; App. BC 2.44-46; Dio 41.41-42; 42.56.2; Schol. Gron. 291 Stangl). (Broughton MRR II)
  • Promagistrate 48 Africa (Broughton MRR II) Expand
    • He continued in command in Africa until the arrival of Metellus Scipio, Cato, and other Pompeians after their defeat at Pharsalus (see below), and at Cato's urging yielded the command to Scipio (Plut. Cat. Min. 56-57; App. BC 2.87; Dio 42.57.1; see below, on Scipio), and became a Legatus pro praetore (CIL 12.2.780-ILS 5319; see 47, Legates). (Broughton MRR II)
  • Legatus (Lieutenant) 47 Africa (Broughton MRR II) Expand
    • Gave up his command in Africa to Metellus Scipio (see 48, Promagistrates, on Attius; and above, on Scipio), and became a Legatus pro praetore (CIL 12.2.780-ILS 5319). (Broughton MRR II)
  • Legatus (Lieutenant) 46 Africa (Broughton MRR II) Expand
    • Legatus pro praetore under Metellus Scipio in Africa (CIL 12.2.780ILS 5319; and cf. in 45, Flor. 2.13.75). He commanded a portion of the Pompeian fleet in Africa (Bell. Afr. 44; 62-64; 90. 1), and fled to Spain (Dio 43.30- 31; Oros. 6.16.6; cf. Auct. Bell. Hisp. 27). (Broughton MRR II)
  • Legatus (Lieutenant)? 45 Hispania (Broughton MRR II) Expand
    • Probably still Legatus pro praetore in Spain (Flor. 2.13.75). He was defeated at sea by Didius (Flor.; Dio 43.31.3), and fell in the fighting on land (Bell. Hisp. 27.2; 31.9; Cic. Phil. 13.30; Vell. 2.55.4; App. BC 2.105; Oros. 6.16.6-8). (Broughton MRR II)

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