Quinctilius Varus

Who is Quinctilius Varus?

Publius Quinctilius Varus Minor was the only child to Roman general and politician Publius Quinctilius Varus from his second marriage to Claudia Pulchra.

Through his mother he was the first cousin to Roman Empress Valeria Messalina, her brother Marcus Valerius Messala Corvinus, second cousin to Messalina’s children Claudia Octavia and Britannicus. His second cousins were also Roman Emperor Augustus’ great grandchildren Aemilia Lepida and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus.

He was born in Rome between 1-6 and was raised there. In 7, his father was appointed Governor of Germany, and committed suicide two years later in September 9, due to his defeat at the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, Germania Inferior. His mother never remarried. In 26, his mother died in exile as a victim of the treason trials. Through his parents’ inheritance he became wealthy.

Younger Varus became another victim of Palace Guardsman Sejanus' treason trials. In 27, he was charged with treason. His accuser was the celebrated orator Domitius Afer and Varus' own first cousin Cornelius Dollabella. The Emperor Tiberius did nothing to save his relative. A passage in the Elder Seneca suggests that Varus may have been acquitted because he had a somewhat successful legal career, despite the chiding of Cestius Pius.