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Publius Quinctilius Varus: The Man Who Lost Three Roman Legions in the Teutoburg Disaster Hardcover – October 12, 2023

by Joanne Ball (Author)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 10 ratings
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This unique full-length English biography of Varus reassesses how he has been held responsible for one of the most infamous and humiliating defeats in Roman history.

Publius Quinctilius Varus is famous as the incompetent commander duped into an ambush that wiped out three legions in one of the most humiliating defeats in Roman history. Yet this is the first full length biography of the man. Dr Joanne Ball revisits the ancient sources alongside the most recent archaeological evidence from the Teutoburg battlefield in Germany, where she has been personally involved in excavations. The result is a fresh, detailed new analysis of this significant battle and a reappraisal of the Roman commander.

Examination of his earlier career reveals that Varus, who had married into the Imperial family, was an experienced and competent, if harsh and ruthless, governor and general. He had served in Africa and put down rebellions in Syria and Judaea before being posted to Germany. Dr Ball sets his German command in the context of wider events, explaining the weakness of the Roman position there and the necessary reliance on auxiliary forces. Although Varus was clearly fooled by Arminius, the former Roman auxiliary who masterminded the Teutoburg battle in AD 9, she questions the extent of Varus’ culpability and asks whether he was scapegoated by Roman historians to deflect blame away from the Emperor.
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  1. Print length
    320 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Pen and Sword Military
  4. Publication date
    October 12, 2023
  5. Dimensions
    6.5 x 1.2 x 9.3 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1399088327
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1399088329
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dr Joanne Ball is a Roman archaeologist and battlefield archaeologist based at the University of Liverpool, with a PhD in Archaeology on the subject of Roman battlefield archaeology. She has published several articles on the history and archaeology of the Teutoburg, both academic and general, and is currently writing a monograph on the archaeology of Roman battle. She has excavated at the site of the Varus battlefield, and remains closely involved with the ongoing work at the site and surrounding landscape. She has spoken on the subject of Varus and the Teutoburg in numerous podcasts (including Ancient History Hit). She is a regular contributor to several magazines focused on ancient history and was co-editor of Ancient World Magazine.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pen and Sword Military (October 12, 2023)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1399088327
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1399088329
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.44 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 1.2 x 9.3 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 10 ratings

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
10 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Mark L. Richards
5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific Book
Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2024
This book is easily a five-star read. I give it ten stars. Any devotee of Roman history should read this book. This author knows her stuff and meticulously documents the Varus character and the Teutoburg battle. I would highly recommend this work. So many things went wrong for Varus and the Romans, some the fault of Varus, some not. Illuminating. Great book!
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Karl Dietrich
4.0 out of 5 stars A good account of both the life of Varus and the battle of the Teutoburg Forest
Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2023
It is quite rare for me to read biographies, as my favourite books are those about specific battles and wars, but such is my interest in the 9 AD Battle of the Teutoburg Forest I made an exception and purchased this brand new book that deals with the life of the Roman commander of the three doomed Legions there, Publius Quinctilius Varus. Only one chapter deals with the actual battle but it is very detailed and well written, more than I expected. Varus was quite an interesting character and the author makes a compelling argument that he should be remembered more than for only the battle in which he was defeated and killed. Another chapter deals with the aftermath of the battle, the battlefield itself, and how it has been remembered in Germany. The rest of the book is about Varus and his career before he came to Germany and his time there before his forces were wiped out by the Germanic tribes. I enjoyed this book considerably and am glad I added it to my collection of books about this great Roman disaster. I heartily recommend it to those interested in Roman history.
4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

N Davies
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable and comprehensive read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 8, 2024
Verified Purchase
Well written, informative, covers a lot of the build up and the aftermath.
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CFive
4.0 out of 5 stars COULD HAVE BEEN 5 STAR BUT.....
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 24, 2024
Verified Purchase
Dr Ball is to be congratulated on turning what could have been a work of fantasy into a very informative read. Bearing in mind that the 'facts' we actually know about PQ Varus could be written on an A4 sheet and Dr Ball gets 280 pages out of that is somewhat amazing.

She does it by bringing in every person and event that could possibly have had an impact or Varus and in truth it reads very well. If you know little about the events around Augustus taking complete power then this book shines a light on that. We even get a history of Herod thrown in when talking about Varus being governor of Syria. If it sounds like I am paying Dr Ball a backhand compliment, I'm not, it's an informative book well work reading but for one small (major to me) irritant.

Dr Ball makes use, no make that, make great use of the work likely, sometime 6 or 7 times a page. Now to me the word is a nothing word as it gives no indication of how likely etc. Dr Ball compounds her error in using the word likely in place of possible, probable and on several occasions the word certainly. What this leaves this reader wondering is which of the above is it.

Like several other recent Pen and Sword 'biographies' which are padded out at least this one is informative, though I have to say I'm not tottaly convinced by the lead disc making Varus legate of legio XIX. :-)
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Ian Stephenson
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 14, 2024
Verified Purchase
A well argued, informative book. Definitely recommend.
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