We know the names of very few Roman centurions and legionaries, mostly those found on inscriptions and commemorative steles, along with a few mentioned in written sources.

However, there are two whose names are so well-known that they even appear as characters in several television series and historical novels about ancient Rome. Their names were Titus Pullo and Lucius Vorenus.

The reason for their fame is none other than Julius Caesar himself mentioning them in his Commentaries on the Gallic War, where he recounts how the two maintained an intense personal rivalry to rise in rank.

Titus Pullo and Lucius Vorenus
Situation of the Nervii tribe in Gaul. Credit: Feitscherg / Wikimedia Commons

Caesar recounts how, in 54 BCE, when the Belgian tribe of the Nervii attacked the legion under Quintus Cicero in their winter quarters in Nervian territory, Pullo, in an effort to outdo Vorenus, left the fortified camp and attacked the enemy alone. He managed to throw his javelin at one of the enemies at close range, but at the same time, his belt was pierced by a spear, which prevented him from drawing his sword, leaving him surrounded by enemies. At that moment, Vorenus arrived and engaged the enemy in hand-to-hand combat to help his comrade. After killing one and forcing the rest to retreat, Vorenus lost his balance and was similarly surrounded. Pullo rescued him, and after defeating many of their opponents, the two returned to the camp amidst the applause of their comrades.

There were in this legion two very valiant centurions, Titus Pullo and Lucius Vorenus, on the brink of being promoted to the first rank. These two were perpetually contending as to which should be preferred, and every year disputed with the greatest animosity the preference in point of valor. Pullo, one of these, when the fight was hottest before the fortifications: “Why do you hesitate, Vorenus?” he says. “Or what better opportunity for your valor do you seek? This very day shall decide our disputes”. When he had uttered these words, he proceeded beyond the fortifications, and rushed on that part of the enemy which appeared the thickest. Nor did Vorenus remain within the rampart, but respecting what all men would think of him, followed close after. Then, when an inconsiderable space intervened, Pullo threw his javelin at the enemy and pierced one of the multitude who was running forward; who, being wounded and slain, was protected by his comrades with their shields, all together throwing their weapons at Pullo, and giving him no opportunity of retreating. The shield of Pullo was pierced and a dart was fixed in his belt. This circumstance turned aside his scabbard and obstructed his right hand when attempting to draw his sword: the enemy crowded around him when thus embarrassed. His rival, Vorenus, ran up to him and assisted him in this emergency. Immediately the whole host turned from Pullo to him, supposing the other to be slain by the dart. Vorenus, with his sword, engages the enemy hand to hand, kills one man, and drives back the rest a little; while pursuing them too eagerly, he slips down a precipice and falls. To this, in his turn, Pullo brings relief, and both, having slain a great number, retreat in safety to the fortifications amidst the universal applause of their comrades. Thus fortune seemed to play with them in their struggles and rivalries, making each a mutual defender of the other, so that it could not be decided which of the two was the more deserving of preeminence in valor.

Julius Caesar, Commentaries on the Gallic War, V-44

Pullo and Vorenus were centurions of the Legio XI Claudia, recruited by Caesar to invade Gaul in 58 BCE. They were competing for the position of primus pilus, that is, to be the centurion of the first century of the first cohort of the legion, the highest rank a mere soldier could achieve, commanding all other centurions under him.

It was a position held for only one year, but it allowed the holder to transition into the equestrian order of Roman knights and aspire to the cursus honorum, that is, the political career. For this reason, it was highly coveted.

Titus Pullo and Lucius Vorenus
Inscription at the Gallo-Roman Museum of Fourvière (Lyon), mentioning the Legio XI Claudia. Credit:Arnaud Fafournoux / Wikimedia Commons

In Pullo’s case, it seems he did not achieve this, as it is known that during the civil war between Caesar and Pompey, he was reassigned to the Legio XXI Victrix Rapax under the command of the legate Gaius Antonius (Mark Antony’s brother). Moreover, it appears that he was responsible for the majority of that legion’s soldiers switching sides in favor of Pompey.

A barricade had been erected before the gates, where a brief skirmish took place, in which our men strove to force an entry, and the enemy sought to defend the camp; Titus Pullo, by whose means we have recounted that Gaius Antonius’ army was betrayed, defended it with remarkable valor. But the bravery of our men prevailed, and having torn down the barricade, they first forced the main camp, and then the fort within it; and as the legion in its retreat had withdrawn to this, they killed several who defended themselves there.

Julius Caesar, Commentaries on the Civil War, 3.67

Caesar situates this narrative during the Battle of Pharsalus, on August 9, 48 BCE, in central Greece, where Pullo likely met his end.

Titus Pullo and Lucius Vorenus
Vercingetorix Surrendering to Caesar, painting by Lionel Royer, 1899. Credit:Public domain / Wikimedia Commons

As for Vorenus, no further accounts of him exist in Caesar’s writings or other sources, leaving his life after the Gallic episode entirely unknown.

According to Severin Koster, Caesar’s account is undoubtedly exaggerated but reflects the real rivalry typical of centurions, for whom valorous deeds were crucial for career advancement.

Pullo and Vorenus are the perfect embodiment of such centurions, who had been competing head-to-head throughout their careers and were now on the verge of being promoted to the apex of Primus Pilus. In this sense, their “competition” is not as absurd as it might seem to the modern viewer.


This article was first published on our Spanish Edition on September 27, 2019: Tito Pulón y Lucio Voreno, la rivalidad de dos centuriones romanos relatada por Julio César


  • Share on:

Discover more from LBV Magazine English Edition

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.