Titus Pullo

Infobox Military Person
name=Titus Pullo
born=
died=
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allegiance=Julius Caesar, later Pompey
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rank=Centurion
commands=
unit=Legio XI Claudia
battles=Battle of Pharsalus
awards=
relations=
laterwork=
portrayedby=Ray Stevenson

Titus Pullo [His "nomen" is given as Pulfio, Puleio, Pullio, Pulcio or Pulcia in various manuscripts.] was one of the two Roman centurions of the 11th Legion [Prior to its demobilization and subsequent remobilization by Augustus - see also Republican and Imperatorial legions] mentioned in the writings of Julius Caesar. The other soldier mentioned was Lucius Vorenus; they appear in Caesar's "Commentarii de Bello Gallico," Book 5, Chapter 44.

Pullo and Vorenus were fierce rivals for promotion to "primus pilus", the most senior centurion in a legion. Both distinguished themselves 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, but was soon wounded and surrounded. Vorenus followed and engaged his attackers in hand-to-hand combat, killing one and driving the rest back, but lost his footing and was himself soon surrounded. Pullo in turn rescued Vorenus, and after killing several of the enemy, the pair returned to camp amid applause from their comrades. [Julius Caesar, "Commentarii de Bello Gallico" ]

In the Civil War of 49 BC, Pullo appears to have been attached to a legion commanded by Caesar's 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. [Dio Cassius, "Roman History" [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Cassius_Dio/41*.html#40 41.40] ; Julius Caesar, "Commentarii de Bello Civili" ]

Fictional depictions

"Rome"

Titus Pullo is one of the principal characters in the HBO/BBC1 original television series "Rome", played by actor Ray Stevenson. The character is loosely based on the historical Pullo, although he is depicted as a legionary - not a centurion - under the command of Lucius Vorenus, and as belonging to "Legio XIII Gemina" and not to "Legio XI". In this depiction, Pullo plays a major role in several significant historical events, including fathering Cleopatra's son Caesarion, and assassinating Marcus Tullius Cicero.

"Caesar"

Titus Pullo and Lucius Vorenus are also minor characters in "Caesar", a 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").

"Legion"

Pullo also appears, again with Lucius Vorenus, in the "Legion" tetralogy of the Videssos Cycle by Harry Turtledove. The novels are about a few maniples of Caesar's legions in Gaul being whisked away by druid magic 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 becoming fast friends and rising to centurion rank.

References