The True Story Behind Titus Pullo and Lucius Vorenus from HBO’s Rome

The True Story Behind Titus Pullo and Lucius Vorenus from HBO’s Rome
   • The True Story Behind Titus Pullo and Luci...  
In HBO’s Rome, which aired from 2005 to 2007, we follow not just emperors, senators, and queens—but two ordinary soldiers at the heart of history: Titus Pullo and Lucius Vorenus. They’re not nobles or power brokers. They’re veterans of the 13th Legion, now retired.

Vorenus is serious, disciplined, and cool-headed. As a former centurion, he’s used to command. Over time, he climbs the social ladder—becoming a magistrate in Rome, and later, a senator.

Pullo is the opposite: a reckless womanizer who loves drinking, gambling, and getting into trouble. At the start of the series, he’s even punished for drunkenness and insubordination.

Throughout the show, Pullo constantly stumbles into chaos—but somehow always lands on his feet. He even ends up as the tutor and protector of young Octavian, the future Augustus. Together, the two friends survive wild adventures, and Pullo’s impulsive actions even shape historical events—at least according to the show’s version of history.

But what do we know about the real Pullo and Vorenus?

Their names are familiar to historians and fans of Julius Caesar’s era. They’re mentioned in two of Caesar’s own works: Commentaries on the Gallic War and Commentaries on the Civil War. Caesar praises both as brave soldiers—but gives no detail about their personal lives.

In the show, though, their civilian stories are fully imagined. Vorenus, for example, is portrayed as a plebeian. His father is from Etruria, his mother from a family of horse breeders. He marries Niobe before the Gallic Wars and has two daughters with her. Niobe, by the way, has a Greek name—not typical for Roman women, who were usually named after their father’s family. For instance, the daughter of Julius would be called Julia; the daughter of Cornelius would be Cornelia.

The show also fleshes out Pullo’s background. He falls in love with a slave named Irene, and we learn that he himself was born to a slave mother, father unknown. Orphaned as a baby, he grew up among the 13th Legion—effectively raised by the army.

He’s rough, uneducated, and impulsive—unlike Vorenus, whose family gave him a decent education. But Pullo is a fighter through and through. He knows soldiering from the inside out.

So which parts of this are historically accurate?

Not much—except for their battlefield courage.

Pullo and Vorenus are first mentioned in Book 5, Chapter 44 of The Gallic War. According to Caesar, both were centurions in the same legion and fierce rivals for the top centurion rank. They weren’t friends—they were competitors.

Also, unlike the show, they didn’t serve in the 13th Legion but in the 9th. At one point, the 9th Legion’s camp was under siege by Nervii tribesmen. To prove his superiority, Pullo charged alone beyond the fortifications, attacking a large group of Gauls.

But he quickly found himself in trouble—he lost his pilum and shield, and was nearly overwhelmed. Vorenus, his rival, rushed out to rescue him. Pullo managed to escape, but then Vorenus slipped and fell—so Pullo had to return the favor and save him.

They both made it back inside the Roman lines, leaving a trail of dead enemies behind. Their rivalry turned into mutual survival.

Pullo is also mentioned again during the Civil War. Unlike the show, where he fights for Caesar, the real Pullo sided with Pompey. During the Battle of Dyrrhachium on July 10, 48 BC, Caesar launched a surprise assault on Pompey’s camp. Pullo helped defend it, fighting with skill and bravery.

Caesar speaks of him with respect—even though Pullo’s resistance nearly caused Caesar to lose the battle.

Sadly, Pullo likely died that day. Caesar doesn’t say so outright, but he notes that the defenders of the camp were wiped out. Pullo disappears from the record after that. If he had survived, Caesar likely would have mentioned his return—especially since, unlike the show where Pullo is a common legionary, the real Pullo held the respected rank of centurion, an officer.

Why did the show portray him as a mere foot soldier? It made for better contrast. Pullo's rough charm balanced Vorenus's seriousness, creating a compelling dynamic between them.

But in real life, Pullo and Vorenus were equals—both in rank and likely in background. If one had been vastly more educated or noble, Caesar wouldn’t have struggled to pick which one to promote. He would’ve simply chosen Vorenus. But he didn’t.

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That’s all for now. See you in the next episode!
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