Publius Tullius Varro was a Roman general and senator during the reign of Hadrian. The commander of two different legions during his career, one of his most important military roles was as commander of Legio VI Victrix during its transfer from Vetera in Germania Inferior to York in Roman Britain in AD 122.
Life
Varro was a native of Tarquinii in Etruria. Anthony Birley wrote that "he had excellent connections in high places for his elder brother had been adopted, it would seem, by the influential Spaniard Dasumius, taking the names P. Dasumius Rusticus", indicating his brother was consul ordinarius in 119 as the colleague of the emperor Hadrian.[1] However, it appears that Birley's understanding of this relationship was based on a misunderstanding of an inscription known as the Testamentum Dasumii, which had led experts to conclude that Tullius Varro was the friend of its testator whose son that person would adopt, and the adoptee would be known by the name L. Dasumius Tullius Tuscus. Once it was clear that the testator of this inscription was not "Dasumius", this reconstruction lapses. While it is possible that the man who adopted Varro's natural son was related to Dasumius Rusticus, he has no further relationship to Varro.[2]
Varro's career began in the vigintivirate as a member of the decemviri stlitibus judicandis. He then received his first military commission, as the tribunus laticlavius of Legio XVI Flavia Firma, which was stationed at Satala at the time. He returned to Rome, where he was elected quaestor urbanus, and after his praetorship, Varro was assigned his first legion to command, Legio XII Fulminata which was stationed in the border province of Cappadocia. The sortition awarded him proconsular governor of Hispania Baetica which he held for a year, and Birley speculates that it may have been while he held this post that he came to the attention of Hadrian, who assigned Varro the "delicate" job of uprooting Legio VI Victrix from its long-term home and relocating it to Britain.[1]
His command of a second legion was followed by a term as prefect of the aerarium Saturni, or public treasury, after which Varro was appointed suffect consul in 127 with Junius Paetus as his colleague.[3] After his consulship, Varro's subsequent offices were curator alvei Tiber, governor of Moesia Superior from 133 to 136,[4] and Proconsul of Africa from 142 to 143.[5] Birley notes that Varro's "social standing is demonstrated by his having been an augur."[6]
Family
Due to a number of facts, it is generally accepted that the suffect consul of 152, Lucius Dasumius Tullius Tuscus, is Varro's biological son. The elements "Lucius Dasumius" were added to the son's name from his adoptive father's whom Salomies notes was "certainly related" to Publius Dasumius Rusticus.[2]
References
^ abBirley, The Fasti of Roman Britain (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1981), p. 239
^ abOlli Salomies, Adoptive and polyonymous nomenclature in the Roman Empire, (Helsinski: Societas Scientiarum Fenica, 1992), pp. 98f
^Werner Eck, "Hadrische Konsuln Neue Zeugnisse aus Militärdiplomen", Chiron, 32 (2002), p. 482
^Eck, "Jahres- und Provinzialfasten der senatorischen Statthalter von 69/70 bis 138/139", Chiron, 13 (1983), pp. 174-178
^John Stewart (2006). African states and rulers. Jefferson: McFarland & Co. p. 418. ISBN978-0-7864-2562-4.
publius, tullius, varro, roman, general, senator, during, reign, hadrian, commander, different, legions, during, career, most, important, military, roles, commander, legio, victrix, during, transfer, from, vetera, germania, inferior, york, roman, britain, life. Publius Tullius Varro was a Roman general and senator during the reign of Hadrian The commander of two different legions during his career one of his most important military roles was as commander of Legio VI Victrix during its transfer from Vetera in Germania Inferior to York in Roman Britain in AD 122 Life EditVarro was a native of Tarquinii in Etruria Anthony Birley wrote that he had excellent connections in high places for his elder brother had been adopted it would seem by the influential Spaniard Dasumius taking the names P Dasumius Rusticus indicating his brother was consul ordinarius in 119 as the colleague of the emperor Hadrian 1 However it appears that Birley s understanding of this relationship was based on a misunderstanding of an inscription known as the Testamentum Dasumii which had led experts to conclude that Tullius Varro was the friend of its testator whose son that person would adopt and the adoptee would be known by the name L Dasumius Tullius Tuscus Once it was clear that the testator of this inscription was not Dasumius this reconstruction lapses While it is possible that the man who adopted Varro s natural son was related to Dasumius Rusticus he has no further relationship to Varro 2 Varro s career began in the vigintivirate as a member of the decemviri stlitibus judicandis He then received his first military commission as the tribunus laticlavius of Legio XVI Flavia Firma which was stationed at Satala at the time He returned to Rome where he was elected quaestor urbanus and after his praetorship Varro was assigned his first legion to command Legio XII Fulminata which was stationed in the border province of Cappadocia The sortition awarded him proconsular governor of Hispania Baetica which he held for a year and Birley speculates that it may have been while he held this post that he came to the attention of Hadrian who assigned Varro the delicate job of uprooting Legio VI Victrix from its long term home and relocating it to Britain 1 His command of a second legion was followed by a term as prefect of the aerarium Saturni or public treasury after which Varro was appointed suffect consul in 127 with Junius Paetus as his colleague 3 After his consulship Varro s subsequent offices were curator alvei Tiber governor of Moesia Superior from 133 to 136 4 and Proconsul of Africa from 142 to 143 5 Birley notes that Varro s social standing is demonstrated by his having been an augur 6 Family EditDue to a number of facts it is generally accepted that the suffect consul of 152 Lucius Dasumius Tullius Tuscus is Varro s biological son The elements Lucius Dasumius were added to the son s name from his adoptive father s whom Salomies notes was certainly related to Publius Dasumius Rusticus 2 References Edit a b Birley The Fasti of Roman Britain Oxford Clarendon Press 1981 p 239 a b Olli Salomies Adoptive and polyonymous nomenclature in the Roman Empire Helsinski Societas Scientiarum Fenica 1992 pp 98f Werner Eck Hadrische Konsuln Neue Zeugnisse aus Militardiplomen Chiron 32 2002 p 482 Eck Jahres und Provinzialfasten der senatorischen Statthalter von 69 70 bis 138 139 Chiron 13 1983 pp 174 178 John Stewart 2006 African states and rulers Jefferson McFarland amp Co p 418 ISBN 978 0 7864 2562 4 Birley Fasti of Roman Britain p 240 Political officesPreceded byTitus Atilius Rufus Titianus andMarcus Gavius Squilla Gallicanusas ordinary consuls Suffect consul of the Roman EmpireAD 127with Junius Paetus Succeeded byQuintus Tineius Rufus and Marcus Licinius Celer Neposas suffect consulsPreceded bySextus Julius Major Proconsul of Africa142 143 Succeeded byLucius Minicius Natalis Quadronius Verus Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Publius Tullius Varro amp oldid 1045021144, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
