| Lucius Vorenus | |
| Allegiance: | Julius Caesar |
| Rank: | Centurion |
| Unit: | Legio XI Claudia |
| Titus Pullo | |
| Allegiance: | Julius Caesar, later Pompey |
| Rank: | Centurion |
| Unit: | Legio XI Claudia Legio XXIV Victrix Rapax |
| Battles: | Battle of Pharsalus |
Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo, or rather Lucius Varenus and Titus Pulfio[1] were two Roman centurions mentioned in the personal writings of Julius Caesar. Although it is sometimes stated they were members of the 11th Legion (Legio XI Claudia), Caesar never states the number of the legion concerned, giving only the words in ea legione ("in that legion"). All that is known is that the legion in which they served under Caesar was one commanded at the time by Quintus Cicero.
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 cast his javelin into one of the enemies from a short distance, but his belt was simultaneously pierced by a spear, preventing him from drawing his sword, and he was 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 aid. 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.[2] [3]
Vorenus then disappears from history. However it is known that 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.[4]