His jealous father-in-law Segestes betrayed his plans in advance
to Varus, who arrogantly dismissed the report as not credible.
But, in the summer of 9 AD, Arminius led his forces in an
ambush of the Romans that Varus had led across the Rhine and
into the Teutoburger Wald, near today's Hanover. Vastly
outnumbered by the three Roman legions which included three
cavalry squadrons and six cohorts of about 20,000 men,
Arminius tricked the Romans into believing it was they who
were outnumbered by having his men clang their shields and
dart through the woods echoing war cries.
to Varus, who arrogantly dismissed the report as not credible.
But, in the summer of 9 AD, Arminius led his forces in an
ambush of the Romans that Varus had led across the Rhine and
into the Teutoburger Wald, near today's Hanover. Vastly
outnumbered by the three Roman legions which included three
cavalry squadrons and six cohorts of about 20,000 men,
Arminius tricked the Romans into believing it was they who
were outnumbered by having his men clang their shields and
dart through the woods echoing war cries.
Among the previously feuding Cheruscans, the faction that favored the treacherous Segestes, who
had sought to curry favor from the Romans, turned against him and he begged Germanicus for help.
Germanicus, who was already departing from Germania, turned back and rescued him, abducting
Arminius's wife, Thusnelda, in the process. She was taken to Rome and Germanicus boldly put her
on display in his victory parade; she never saw her homeland again and Tacitus, who described these
events, never mentions her again. Thumelicus, the son she bore Arminius while in captivity, was said
to have been treated poorly, then trained by the Romans as a gladiator in Ravenna and was probably
killed in the arena. Arminius was later attacked and murdered by his own relatives.
had sought to curry favor from the Romans, turned against him and he begged Germanicus for help.
Germanicus, who was already departing from Germania, turned back and rescued him, abducting
Arminius's wife, Thusnelda, in the process. She was taken to Rome and Germanicus boldly put her
on display in his victory parade; she never saw her homeland again and Tacitus, who described these
events, never mentions her again. Thumelicus, the son she bore Arminius while in captivity, was said
to have been treated poorly, then trained by the Romans as a gladiator in Ravenna and was probably
killed in the arena. Arminius was later attacked and murdered by his own relatives.
There are two great statues of Hermann today, one in the Teutoberger Wald and the other in the
American town of New Ulm, Minnesota, below, dating originally from the late 19th century.
American town of New Ulm, Minnesota, below, dating originally from the late 19th century.
"Undoubtedly the liberator of Germany; a man who, not in its infancy as
captains and kings before him, but in the high noon of its sovereignty,
threw down the challenge to the Roman nation in battle with ambiguous
results, in war without defeat; he completed thirty-seven years of life,
twelve of power, and to this day is sung in tribal lays, though he is an
unknown being to the Greek historians, who admire only the glory of
Greece, and receives less than his due from us of Rome, who glorify the
ancient days and show little concern for our own." Tacitus
captains and kings before him, but in the high noon of its sovereignty,
threw down the challenge to the Roman nation in battle with ambiguous
results, in war without defeat; he completed thirty-seven years of life,
twelve of power, and to this day is sung in tribal lays, though he is an
unknown being to the Greek historians, who admire only the glory of
Greece, and receives less than his due from us of Rome, who glorify the
ancient days and show little concern for our own." Tacitus
| “Who,” asks Seneca, “is braver than the German?” Sidonius replies, “Death alone subdues them.” |
Seven years after Varus' loss at Teutoberg Wald, the Emperor Tiberius sought to restore Rome's
power by dispatching his nephew Claudius Drusus Germanicus to invade Germania in 16 AD. The
army of 29,000 legionaries, 30,000 auxiliaries, 7,500 cavalry and 5,000 Batavians made their way by
water from the Rhine to the River Ems, where they disembarked and marched into Germania. They
were met near the River Weser by a confederation of Cherusi, Semnones and Langobardi tribes lead
by Arminius. Germanicus' army went forward onto the Idistaviso plain and defeated the 55,000
Germans, but they took enough losses that Germanicus was suddenly recalled to Rome. While some
Romans had been fighting, other Roman forces raided the Cherusci villages while the men were
absent and murdered the women, children and old folks.
power by dispatching his nephew Claudius Drusus Germanicus to invade Germania in 16 AD. The
army of 29,000 legionaries, 30,000 auxiliaries, 7,500 cavalry and 5,000 Batavians made their way by
water from the Rhine to the River Ems, where they disembarked and marched into Germania. They
were met near the River Weser by a confederation of Cherusi, Semnones and Langobardi tribes lead
by Arminius. Germanicus' army went forward onto the Idistaviso plain and defeated the 55,000
Germans, but they took enough losses that Germanicus was suddenly recalled to Rome. While some
Romans had been fighting, other Roman forces raided the Cherusci villages while the men were
absent and murdered the women, children and old folks.
These German clansmen lived within a 40 mile diameter area with up to 25,000 inhabitants per clan.
Each clan consisted of numerous villages of about 100 families governed by a leader. Important
decisions were made in public meetings by a full or new moon. When the speaker was good, they
clashed their weapons, and if not, they shouted him down..while they drank beer. Sixty nine
barbarian clans or tribes such as the Chatti, Cimbrians and the Batavians in almost one hundred
Germanic regions have been documented as battling on other Roman frontiers during this era, and
the Teutoburger Forest region, home to German tribes such as the Cheruscii, represented the
'barbarian-fringe' of Europe around the first century. They also made MUSIC
Each clan consisted of numerous villages of about 100 families governed by a leader. Important
decisions were made in public meetings by a full or new moon. When the speaker was good, they
clashed their weapons, and if not, they shouted him down..while they drank beer. Sixty nine
barbarian clans or tribes such as the Chatti, Cimbrians and the Batavians in almost one hundred
Germanic regions have been documented as battling on other Roman frontiers during this era, and
the Teutoburger Forest region, home to German tribes such as the Cheruscii, represented the
'barbarian-fringe' of Europe around the first century. They also made MUSIC
After three days of battle, his enemies were scattered. The remaining Romans saw their fellow
soldiers' skulls nailed to trees. Arminius had succeeded in destroying one tenth of the legionary
military of the entire Roman Empire. Unable to face the humility of defeat at the hands of barbarians,
Varus committed suicide. While the battle of Teutoberger Wald threw the Romans momentarily out
of Germania beyond the Rhine, there was more in store.
soldiers' skulls nailed to trees. Arminius had succeeded in destroying one tenth of the legionary
military of the entire Roman Empire. Unable to face the humility of defeat at the hands of barbarians,
Varus committed suicide. While the battle of Teutoberger Wald threw the Romans momentarily out
of Germania beyond the Rhine, there was more in store.
From Rome's earliest days, slave owning was a part of Roman culture, but the practise increased
during the wars of imperial expansion, with their total enslaved population reaching up to 40% in the
century between Cicero and Tiberius. 100,000 new slaves per year were used. The Romans also
traded for slaves. Roman wine sold in Gaul was swapped for as many as 15,000 slaves a year.
Barbarian tribes also sold their own slaves to Roman slave traders, as did pirates, who for a sum
provided slaves seized by local gangs with whom they split the profits. Once the Romans offered
their slaves freedom for good performance, the slave population declined.
during the wars of imperial expansion, with their total enslaved population reaching up to 40% in the
century between Cicero and Tiberius. 100,000 new slaves per year were used. The Romans also
traded for slaves. Roman wine sold in Gaul was swapped for as many as 15,000 slaves a year.
Barbarian tribes also sold their own slaves to Roman slave traders, as did pirates, who for a sum
provided slaves seized by local gangs with whom they split the profits. Once the Romans offered
their slaves freedom for good performance, the slave population declined.
Teutobod, King of the Teutons, led his tribe along with the Cimbri from their original homes around
Denmark south into the Danube valley, southern Gaul and northern Italy where their migration began
to infringe upon Roman lands. This resulted in the Cimbrian War. The Cimbri and the Teutons won
the opening battles of this war, defeating tribes allied with the Romans and destroying a huge Roman
army at the Battle of Arausio in 105 BC. In 104 BC the Cimbri left the Rhône valley to raid Spain,
while the Teutons remained in Gaul, but in a less powerful position alone to march upon Rome.
Roman Consul Gaius Marius used the opportunity to rebuild a strong army, and in 102 BC he moved
against the Teutons. At the Battle of Aquae Sextiae, the Teutons were virtually annihilated and
reportedly, Teutobod along with thousands of his people were captured.
Denmark south into the Danube valley, southern Gaul and northern Italy where their migration began
to infringe upon Roman lands. This resulted in the Cimbrian War. The Cimbri and the Teutons won
the opening battles of this war, defeating tribes allied with the Romans and destroying a huge Roman
army at the Battle of Arausio in 105 BC. In 104 BC the Cimbri left the Rhône valley to raid Spain,
while the Teutons remained in Gaul, but in a less powerful position alone to march upon Rome.
Roman Consul Gaius Marius used the opportunity to rebuild a strong army, and in 102 BC he moved
against the Teutons. At the Battle of Aquae Sextiae, the Teutons were virtually annihilated and
reportedly, Teutobod along with thousands of his people were captured.
After Teutobod was taken away in chains (and probably ritually executed afterwards), 300 of the
married Teuton women were to be handed over to the Romans. Speakers for the women begged that
they might instead be set apart to minister in the temples of Ceres and Venus, but this appeal failed.
Having heard of their sentence at night, the next morning all of the women were found dead in each
other's arms. Having first murdered their children, they strangled themselves. After this, the tribe
seemingly vanished. The next year, the Cimbri suffered a similar fate at the Battle of Vercellae.
married Teuton women were to be handed over to the Romans. Speakers for the women begged that
they might instead be set apart to minister in the temples of Ceres and Venus, but this appeal failed.
Having heard of their sentence at night, the next morning all of the women were found dead in each
other's arms. Having first murdered their children, they strangled themselves. After this, the tribe
seemingly vanished. The next year, the Cimbri suffered a similar fate at the Battle of Vercellae.
"The Hammer" a.k.a. Arminius in Latin or irreverently "Hermann the German"
(18 BC-19 AD), was a German who served in the Roman Army successfully
for six years and gained Roman citizenship. By this time, outstanding Germans
were often hired by the Romans as warriors and some, like Arminius, were
immersed in Roman culture as Stirps Regia or 'Royal Clansmen,' and they
passed their leadership on down to the next male generation. The Romans were
amazed at the size, strength and rugged health of the Germans.
(18 BC-19 AD), was a German who served in the Roman Army successfully
for six years and gained Roman citizenship. By this time, outstanding Germans
were often hired by the Romans as warriors and some, like Arminius, were
immersed in Roman culture as Stirps Regia or 'Royal Clansmen,' and they
passed their leadership on down to the next male generation. The Romans were
amazed at the size, strength and rugged health of the Germans.
Greek geographer Strabo first distinguished a distinct ethnic barbarian group in northern Europe
similar, but not part of, the Celts. In the 4th book of Athenaeus, c.AD 190, he quotes Posidonius as
saying around 80 BC: "The Germani at noon serve roast meat with milk, and drink undiluted wine."
similar, but not part of, the Celts. In the 4th book of Athenaeus, c.AD 190, he quotes Posidonius as
saying around 80 BC: "The Germani at noon serve roast meat with milk, and drink undiluted wine."
| The Early Germans |
By the 1st century A.D., Caesar, Tacitus and other Roman writers indicate
a division of Germanic-speaking peoples into tribal groupings centered on:
the Oder and Vistula rivers (East Germanic tribes), the lower Rhine river
(Istvaeones), the river Elbe (Irminones), Jutland and the Danish islands
(Ingvaeones). The territory of modern Germany was divided between
Germanic and Celtic-speaking groups in the last centuries BC.
a division of Germanic-speaking peoples into tribal groupings centered on:
the Oder and Vistula rivers (East Germanic tribes), the lower Rhine river
(Istvaeones), the river Elbe (Irminones), Jutland and the Danish islands
(Ingvaeones). The territory of modern Germany was divided between
Germanic and Celtic-speaking groups in the last centuries BC.
Strabo also gives this description of the ferocious Cimbri tribe: “Their wives, who would accompany
them on their expeditions, were attended by priestesses who were seers; these were grey-haired, clad
in white, with flaxen cloaks fastened on with clasps, girt with girdles of bronze, and bare-footed; now
sword in hand these priestesses would meet with the prisoners of war throughout the camp, and
having first crowned them with wreaths would lead them to a brazen vessel of about twenty
amphorae; and they had a raised platform which the priestess would mount, and then, bending over
the kettle, would cut the throat of each prisoner after he had been lifted up; and from the blood that
poured forth into the vessel some of the priestesses would draw a prophecy, while still others would
split open the body and from an inspection of the entrails would utter a prophecy of victory for their
own people; and during the battles they would beat on the hides that were stretched over the wicker-
bodies of the wagons and in this way produce an unearthly noise."
them on their expeditions, were attended by priestesses who were seers; these were grey-haired, clad
in white, with flaxen cloaks fastened on with clasps, girt with girdles of bronze, and bare-footed; now
sword in hand these priestesses would meet with the prisoners of war throughout the camp, and
having first crowned them with wreaths would lead them to a brazen vessel of about twenty
amphorae; and they had a raised platform which the priestess would mount, and then, bending over
the kettle, would cut the throat of each prisoner after he had been lifted up; and from the blood that
poured forth into the vessel some of the priestesses would draw a prophecy, while still others would
split open the body and from an inspection of the entrails would utter a prophecy of victory for their
own people; and during the battles they would beat on the hides that were stretched over the wicker-
bodies of the wagons and in this way produce an unearthly noise."
The Tollund Man, above, was buried in Jutland in the 4th Century BC, a historically important area
inhabited by the Germanic peoples. His corpse is one of several well preserved bog bodies from the
Pre-Roman Iron Age. click photo
inhabited by the Germanic peoples. His corpse is one of several well preserved bog bodies from the
Pre-Roman Iron Age. click photo
After Arminius returned home to his native people, the
Teutonic Cherusci tribe, he found them straining under the
yoke of a petty Roman governor, Publius Varus, whose high
taxes and inept leadership were becoming intolerable. Arminius
made himself chieftain and organized a revolt using the skills of
warfare he had learned from the Romans.
Teutonic Cherusci tribe, he found them straining under the
yoke of a petty Roman governor, Publius Varus, whose high
taxes and inept leadership were becoming intolerable. Arminius
made himself chieftain and organized a revolt using the skills of
warfare he had learned from the Romans.
