Teutoburger Wald P1 (9 AD)

Julius Caesar had established Rome’s northeast boundary as the Rhine River a half century earlier. But the Emperor Caesar Augustus decided to extend imperial control all the way to the Elbe. A task that seemed easy on a map in …

9

220

Julius Caesar had established Rome’s northeast boundary as the Rhine River a half century earlier. But the Emperor Caesar Augustus decided to extend imperial control all the way to the Elbe. A task that seemed easy on a map in Rome proved far more difficult to the commanders in the field. Yet, despite difficulties, Rome’s control was extended to the Elbe. The warlike Germanic tribesmen, temporarily subdued, lacked only an inspirational leader to spark an uprising. Arminius was that man. As a young German noble of the Cherusci tribe, Arminius had been placed under Roman tutelage, a common practice. He served in the Roman army as a commander of auxiliaries. This only served to fuel his hate, but he bided his time and learned their tactical methods. His opportunity to strike arose when Publius Quintilius Varus was leading three legions on a march through Germany. Arminius knew it would be difficult for the Germans to defeat a well-led Roman force in the open, so he devised a plan to lure Varus’ legions toward Kalkriese Hill, where he would launch his ambush. The Germans constructed a camouflaged sod wall to improve the already ideal ambush site. The seemingly loyal Arminius accompanied Varus’ march column until one night he and his German auxiliaries disappeared. A good tactician would have sensed trouble, but Varus arrogantly elected to march on without adequate reconnaissance. At dawn the next day, as the Romans undertook to march through the area on a narrow track between woods and swamp, the Germans attacked from the woods. In a scene eerily reminiscent of Lake Trasimenus, the Romans were pinned where they could not properly deploy. Roman counterattacks proved ineffectual and all the Roman infantry could do was endure the constant assaults. As night fell, Varus’ survivors constructed a fortified camp.

Osnabrück, Germany

The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, described as the Varian Disaster by Roman historians, took place in the Teutoburg Forest in 9 CE, when an alliance of Germanic peoples ambushed and destroyed three Roman legions and their auxiliaries, led by Publius Quinctilius Varus. The alliance was led by Arminius, a Germanic officer of Varus's auxilia. Arminius had acquired Roman citizenship and had received a Roman military education, which enabled him to deceive the Roman commander methodically and anticipate the Roman army's tactical responses.

Wikipedia: Battle of the Teutoburg Forest

German

Roman

Germanic Wars Augustus To Nero