Varus, Publius Quinctilius

(died AD 9) Roman general. He was born a patrician; his father was one of the murderers of Julius Caesar. Varus crushed the rebellion in Judaea (4 BC) and reestablished Roman control. Assigned to the frontiers east of the Rhine, he tried to assert Roman jurisdiction, but he was overwhelmed by a German attack in the Teutoburg Forest and lost three legions. Disgraced, he killed himself by falling on his sword. His defeat led to the loss of all Roman possessions east of the Rhine.

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