Gaius terentius varro biography of martin

Roman general and politician

This article is about the Italian general and consul of say publicly Second Punic War. For influence Roman polymath, see Marcus Terentius Varro.

Gaius Terentius Varro (fl. 218-200 BCE) was a Roman lawmaker and general active during rendering Second Punic War.

A commoner son of a butcher, noteworthy was a populist politician who was elected consul for justness year 216 BCE. While occupancy that office, he was with difficulty complet defeated by Hannibal at greatness Battle of Cannae.

Early years

Varro was a member of uncomplicated plebeian family, the gens Terentia, and the first man personal note in his family.^[1] Emperor father was reportedly a exterminate who had "employed his hokum in the menial tasks related with that profession."^[2] Despite that low birth, on his father's death he used the bequest to embark on a get out career, making his name overtake prosecuting those of higher degree and progressing through the a number of magistracies of the cursus honorum, holding the quaestorship and both the plebeian and curule aedileships.^[3] When discussing the provenance pay his cognomen, Servius suggests go wool-gathering this Varro served in integrity First Illyrian War.^[4] His important time in office for which details survive was the praetorship of 218 BCE, during which he was perhaps posted drain liquid from Sardinia.^[5]

In 217 BCE, having done his praetorship, Varro was give someone a jingle of the few senators regard support the elevation of Marcus Minucius Rufus to the absolutism, apparently more because of authority popular support of the plebeians that could be won building block doing so than from gauche personal conviction.^[3] Not only was Varro successful in appointing Minucius co-dictator, but he was further elected consul for the period 216 BCE.^{[citation needed]}

Consulship

Main article: Attack of Cannae

Varro and his comrade, Lucius Aemilius Paullus, assumed rank consulship two years after depiction outbreak of the Second Treacherous War and the year later the dictator Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus had earned the traducement cunctator (delayer) by refusing defy engage Hannibal's army in planned battle.

Varro and Paullus, nevertheless, took the rare step have combining the two consular win, which each would normally list separately, into an 85,000-strong unevenly to face Hannibal. As was customary in such situations, glory two consuls took charge holiday the force on alternating days.^[6][7]

The two armies met at Cannae where the inexperienced Varro, motivating his day in command, despondent Paullus to attack while ordination a short battle line.

Town enveloped the Roman force illustrious inflicted huge losses. Paullus was killed in the battle long forgotten Varro escaped to Venusia extra around 4,500 surviving troops.^[8][9][10] Assault receiving word that larger Greek forces were at Canusium, unquestionable marched the survivors to attach them, creating a force be required of roughly equal size to unadulterated standard consular army.^[11]

Varro was operate to a Rome overrun hunk a state of panic.^[12] Take the edge off arrival, he was greeted next to a crowd who thanked him for not "despairing of illustriousness state" and taking his pin down life, thereby visibly choosing put a stop to fight on.^[13] While there, of course facilitated the appointment of Marcus Junius Pera as dictator act upon settle the immediate disaster.

Scholar then returned to the person in charge of his troops, taking spur positions at Apulia.

Later thwart the year, he was restore recalled to Rome to dimeadozen Marcus Fabius Buteo as great second dictator, specifically for dignity purpose of promoting senators interrupt replace those killed at Cannae.^[14]

215 to 207 BCE

Varro was prorogued in his position for nobleness year 215 BCE, maintaining command break into the force he had amalgamate at Apulia,^[15] before being hurl to Picenum to levy new-found soldiers and guard the region.^[16]

Varro, along with all the bottle up generals still serving around Italia, was prorogued again for significance year 214 BCE.^[17] He established one of the 18 troops array enrolled that year to produce out his duties.^[18] He was prorogued again and kept excellence legion in Picenum for ethics next year.^[19][20]

After leaving Picenum, Scholar was next recorded as make available a Propraetor, a citizen imbued with the authority of precise praetor, charged with subduing organized potential rebellion in the Etrurian town of Arretium.

After acquiring 120 hostages from the hamlet, Varro informed the Roman assembly that the unrest was calm not quelled. He was spiral back with a legion resemble garrison Arretium.^[21] He stayed exertion his command of Etruria oblige the year 207 BCE, recognition a second legion from rank Senate.^[22]

Later life

Varro does not conceive of for the remainder of representation Second Punic War, although perform would later hold two roles in the year 200 BCE.^{[citation needed]}

For the first role, Student was part of a three-man diplomatic legation to North Continent, tasked with visiting Carthage, delighted senior Numidians.^[23] The ambassadors were instructed to inform Carthage divagate, despite the conclusion of say publicly war in 201 BCE, the community Hamilcar was continuing operations arbitrate Gaul and that Romans who had deserted to Carthage difficult not been repatriated.

Furthermore, they took gifts and congratulations disruption Masinissa, whose alliance with Scuffle had proved pivotal at rendering Battle of Zama, on surmount becoming King of Numidia.^{[citation needed]}

For the second role, Varro besides returned to Venusia, serving type one of the three triumviri coloniae ducendae, charged with continuous the local population by estimate new colonists after the town's losses during the Second Unfaithful War.^[24] It has been optional he also served as orderly minter of coins down hype the year 197 BCE.^[25]

Varro misuse disappears from history, either modest or dying.^{[citation needed]}

References

External links