Vorenus and Pullo

This article is about historic figures. For fictional characters, see Lucius Vorenus (Rome character) and Titus Pullo (Rome character).

Lucius Vorenus
A page (p. 118) of Julius Caesar's Commentarii de Bello Gallico with description of actions of T. Pulsio & L. Varenus
Allegiance	Julius Caesar
Rank	Centurion
Unit	Legio XI Claudia

Titus Pullo
Allegiance	Julius Caesar, later Pompey
Rank	Centurion
Unit	Legio XI Claudia Legio XXIV Vixtrix Rapax
Battles/wars	Battle of Pharsalus

Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo were two Roman centurions of the 11th Legion (Legio XI Claudia) mentioned in the personal writings of Julius Caesar.

Known life

Vorenus and Pullo appear in Caesar's Commentarii de Bello Gallico, Book 5, Chapter 44. The episode describes the two as centurions, approaching the first ranks, who shared a bitter personal rivalry, and takes place in 54 BC when the Nervii attacked the legion under Quintus Cicero in their winter quarters in Nervian territory. In an effort to outdo Vorenus, Pullo charged out of the fortified camp and attacked the enemy. Pullo casts his javelin into one of the enemy from a short distance, but his belt is simultaneously pierced by a spear, preventing him from drawing his sword, and he is surrounded by other Nervii. Just then, Vorenus, following Pullo from the fortifications, reached the site of the mêlée and engaged the enemy in hand-to-hand combat. After slaying one of the enemy and driving back the rest, Vorenus lost his footing on the irregular terrain. As the Nervii drew closer to him, Pullo came to his rescue. After slaying many of their opponents, the two retreated to the fortifications amidst roaring applause from their comrades, or "covered with glory," as described by Caesar.

In the Civil War of 49 BC, Pullo was assigned to the XXI Victrix Rapax, a new Italian legion commanded by the legate Gaius Antonius. In 48 BC, Antonius was blockaded on an island and forced to surrender; Pullo was apparently responsible for most of his soldiers switching sides to fight for Pompey. Later that year, he is recorded bravely defending Pompey's camp in Greece from Caesar's attack shortly before the Battle of Pharsalus.

Fictional depictions

• Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo are principal characters in the HBO/BBC/RAI original television series Rome. Vorenus is played by actor Kevin McKidd and Pullo by Ray Stevenson. Unlike the historical centurions, the fictional characters are members of the 13th Legion (Legio XIII Gemina), an ally of Caesar, and particularly of Octavian. Unlike historical records, the two are close friends, and are foils to one another. Vorenus is shown as more conservative and uptight, while Pullo is portrayed as a rowdy yet honorable soldier.
• Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo can both be earned as retainers, adding status bonus for playable characters in the computer game Total War: Rome II. Their description and included quotes are directly pulled from the HBO/BBC/RAI series Rome.
• Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo are minor characters in Caesar, the fifth book in Colleen McCullough's Masters of Rome series. They are shown as centurions, serving under Quintus Cicero, commander of the Ninth Legion (Legio IX Hispana).
• Vorenus and Pullo appear in the Legion tetralogy of the Videssos Cycle by Harry Turtledove. The novels recount the adventures of several maniples of Caesar's legions in Gaul that are whisked away by druid spells to a land of magic loosely based on the Byzantine Empire. The two companions are fairly faithful to Caesar's portrayal, starting as rival legionaries before rising to centurion rank and becoming fast friends.

External links

• The Real Pullo and Vorenus by Ross Cowan
• De Bello Gallico: 5.44 (Latin original)
• The War in Gaul: 5:44 (English translation by W. A. McDevitte and W. S. Bohn)