marched the survivors to join them, creating a force of roughly equal size to a standard consular army. Varro was recalled to a Rome overrun by a state of panic. On arrival, he was greeted by a crowd who thanked him for not "despairing of the state" and taking his own life, thereby visibly choosing to fight on. While there, he facilitated the appointment of Marcus Junius Pera as dictator to settle the immediate disaster. Varro then returned to the command of his troops, taking up positions at Apulia. Later in the year, he was again recalled to Rome to appoint Marcus Fabius Buteo as a second dictator, specifically for the purpose of promoting senators to replace those killed at Cannae. 215 to 207 BC Varro was prorogued in his position for the year 215 BC, maintaining command of the force he had consolidated at Apulia, before being sent to Picenum to levy new soldiers and guard the region. He, along with all the other generals still serving around Italy, was prorogued again for the year 214 BC. He received one of the 18 legions enrolled that year to carry out his duties. He was prorogued again and kept the legion in Picenum for the next year. After leaving Picenum, Varro was next recorded as being a Propraetor, a citizen imbued with the authority of a praetor, charged with subduing a potential rebellion in the Etrurian town of Arretium. After securing 120 hostages from the town, Varro informed the Roman senate that the unrest was still not quelled. He was sent back with a legion to garrison Arretium. He stayed in his command of Etruria for the year 207 BC, receiving a second legion from the Senate. Later life Varro does not feature for the remainder of the Second Punic War, though later held two roles in the year 200 BC. He was part of a three-man diplomatic legation to North Africa, tasked with visiting Carthage, and senior Numidians. The ambassadors were instructed to inform Carthage that, despite the conclusion of the war in 201 BC, the general Hamilcar was continuing operations in Gaul and that Romans who had deserted to Carthage had not been repatriated. Furthermore, they took gifts and congratulations to Masinissa, whose alliance with Rome had proved pivotal at the Battle of Zama, on his becoming King of Numidia. Varro also returned to Venusia, serving as one