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The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest “The battle that stopped Rome- Rome’s Greatest Defeat” The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest in 9 AD.- which is almost celebrating it millennia at 999 years ago this Sunday, took place north- west of ancient Inferior Germany in a hilly and forested area, and lasted over a period of 3 days where three Roman Legions numbers XVII, XVIII, XIX, three cavalry units and six auxiliary units which were completely annihilated by Germanic forces led, planned and executed by a local tribal chief Arminius, by ambushing the Roman legions. It was so well planned it eliminated many or even all of the strengths the Legionaries regularly had against other armies of factions, which included mobility and flexibility. Arminius although a German prince of Cherusci tribe, was raised in Rome and received education that later earned him a rank of Equestrian (the beginnings for many future political figures), and was placed in one of the six cavalry auxiliary units Varus was commanding in the battle of Teutoburg. Augustus issued the commanding general of the three legions to be Publius Quinctilius Varus, which was sent to Germany to deal and establish provincial administration to the Germanic tribes that to Varus was thought to be in Roman control. Varus was previously before being posted in Germany a Governor of Syria, which is how Varus was very much favoured by the Emperor Augustus, as he dealt with many scenarios a ruler would face from continuous political and military pressure from the Parthian Empire; handling and managing the use of both again political and military power to ceasing and controlling future or current revolts or uprisings. It was a long summer day for all twenty- five thousand Roman soldiers and officers, all eager to return back to they’re camp. The road they were following were secured roads used by other legions on summer campaigns between the Rhine River and the Elbe River, mainly by Tiberius (Augustus’ successor) and Drusus both assigned to remove threats of barbarians between the two river of Rhine and Elbe during 4 BC. to 6 AD. Varus was out to eradicate an uprising of rebellion which was fabricated by Arminius. There were many warnings by Segestes also a local German tribesman and raised in Rome, to Varus about Arminius scheming plans with nearby tribes.1 But Varus and his close officers all dismissed and laughed off the accusations.2 As they march towards the supposed uprising tribes, Arminius lours Varus in to a passage being narrowed between a forest hill and bog lands3 which thins and tightens the legions together making them weak and vulnerable, while the Germans waiting on Arminius command of attack. Sudden shouts echo distantly coming closer towards the Romans then the sound of sudden hits 1 The Battle that Stopped Rome- Peter S. Wells pg. 86 Cassius Dio- Tacitus Vol. I pg. 14 3 Cassius Dio- The battle that Stopped...Peter S. Wells 2 of thunder startle everyone, spears are seen flying everywhere. The legions got heavily bombarded with German Artillery and thousands are dead or wounded instantly. The Roman legions are able to fight off the first couple of waves of German infantry with as much as tens of thousands lost, and began to establish a camp which held out for a day. Night fell and morning passed the battle has lasted 3 days. Varus decides that in order to survive they must move out. But again Arminius was waiting for them, Varus was again caught in battle. His men are tired, hungry and most defiantly on very low morale, realising that all hope was lost Varus and his close officer’s fall on their swords.1 Many fled from the battle some fighting to the death, but very few were able to live to tell the story. The survivors were either offered to their Deities, became slaves or were used for ceremonial purposes.2 The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest had a profound effect on the empire in many aspects which even includes and individual effect on the Imperator Augustus (Octavian), which brings me to focus question; Examine the effects the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest had on Roman Imperial policy. At first I thought of this event to have rarely any sources on both counts, as there were few survivors, and the Germanic barbarians were not the kinds of being historians. But as research continued- finding authors that took a quite comprehensive account for having no primary sources at use such as; Tacitus, Ovid a poet that wrote his accounts through stories and hatred of the Germans and Arminius, Velleius Paterculus which was a military officer at the time and would of briefly known both Varus and Arminius, Cassius Dio and Lucius Annaeus Florus using Paterculus’ and Cassius’ already told accounts and added many small accounts of his sources. To my surprise archaeological findings and surveys is where I received mainly half of my knowledge as recent surveys and finds during the last two decades, have proved to be very unambiguous to the happenings in the battle. Being able to retain the official battle site is crucial, to know such as the knowledge of how and where the Romans were slaughtered by the Germans. The first of the many affects on Roman policy was the loss of the 3 legions (XVII, XVIII, XIX) out of the twenty- eight total that were currently stationed around it s empire. Militarily it was a very serious and grave blow to Rome, both logistically and psychologically.3 What was most heart felt by the Romans was the reputation of The Roman Legionaries had as they were thought immortals in battle, and also that if other factions heard of the loss, many would ponder- if the German barbarians could clearly defeat the legions of Rome, serious uprising against Roman rule was at thought. Augustus as Emperor not just suffering from political and military pressure, also felt psychological pressure, as it was heard when he received the news of Varus’ loss he screamed while hitting his head against a wall, “Varus, give me back my legions, give me back my legions!”4 Augustus later evaluated the situation and ordered in effect of the loss in Germany that posts all around the empire especially the bases bordering on the Rhine River to target and eliminate any signs of uprisings granting greater powers to governors unto 1 Cornelius Tacitus- www.livius.org/te-tg/teutoburg/tacitus.html The Battle that Stopped Rome Archaeological evidence- Peter S. Wells pg. 177 3 Velleius Paterculus- Rome’s Greatest Defeat, Adrian Murdoch 4 Tacitus by Ronald Syme Vol. I 2 the populations. ‘Velleius Paterculus writes that the Germans “threatened Italy with a war like that of the Cimbri and Teutones.”’1 Augustus also disbanded his German cavalry guard because of how the loss of the battle, not in charge of disloyalty but in fear of having the same fate as Varus. It seemed apparent that they knew of the betrayal of Arminius. The most grave of the effects the battle of 9 AD. had been the complete end of Roman Occupation East of the lower Rhine. Varus’ legions were not the last ones to pass the River Rhine. Tiberius was sent towards the river by Augustus to secure the influence it had on the locals after the hit of the battle Teutoburg, but Tiberius also ventured into east of the river to establish roads and bridges- it was said he built great transport lines although these sources were not found. Drusus’ son Germanicus also crossed but came with enormous military power. Tiberius the Emperor posted Germanicus in command of a total of eight legions. At the current time this was a third or Rome’s Imperial force. Tiberius according to modern sources 2sent Germanicus to deal with Arminius and regain the pride and reputation we lost off the battle of Teutoburg Forest. In spite of this Tacitus also states that there were no feud of revenge, or campaigns of expansions he confirms this through his book of the Annales. In terms of Rome’s political policy, Political figures that coincided in relationships with Germanic Tribes were investigated and restrained from connections in Germany.3 This meant a complete shutdown of trade and communication of relationships between two factions. Political figures form Germany were not placed as of dangerous, but had political pressure applied, through exclusion or untrustworthy. This was not just taking place in Rome itself, but throughout the whole empire. Velleius Paterculus also mentioned in his books, that many families that wanted to contribute towards the war in Germany backed down.4 Augustus himself was clearly upset and traumatised of the whole ordeal that he clearly cautioned future ruling powers that after his death that no one is to dare try and conquest east of the river Rhine again.5 Economically the battle did not take into a dramatic effect by the battle, as trading was continued shortly after the blockade of trade. An area where it would have hit Augustus and Tiberius as Emperors was the raising new legions, but time was not of importance. No sources took into account of any financial pressures the Emperors had, but the large amount of troops stationed west of the river Rhine took its toll on the local economies to be supplying such a vast amount of soldiers, caring for food supplies and standard military equipment. 1 Rome’s Greatest Defeat, Adrian Murdoch (Tacitus) muse.jhu.edu/journals/american_journal_of_philology/v120/120.1gonzalez.html 3 Tacitus by Ronald Syme Vol. I 4 Tacitus by Ronald Mellor 5 The Battle that Stopped Rome, Peter S. Wells pg.203 2 Not all of the effects of the teutoburg forest were negative as the West banks of the river Rhine became a bustling area and turned out to prove to be a very prosperous area. Social problems in effect of this battle would be of one’s pride and honour they had in Rome. The miss understanding of how a group of barbaric savages could have completely decimated three entire legions, would have been a question playing in everyone’s minds that heard of the news. The amount of soldiers means a greater amount of families that was in complete mourning. This defeat would create a profound toll of negativity on the Roman Imperial armies, as Paterculus wrote about the faces many had on the streets the grief. According to many sources the most evident affect that prolonged and profound consequence the battle proved to be was through its military, was when Tiberius had ordered Germanicus back to Rome to conclude his campaign at the year 17 AD. this was the last time a Roman foot will ever set into the territory of Germany, for the next four centuries.1 It completely hindered any plan of campaigns to take what was thought to be Roman land. The battle great enough to stop Rome’s Imperial Legions in their tracks and had them turned around. Legions from all over the empire took this into account through the great loss in the Teutoburg Forest as a painful reminder of what is to come if strict military policy was broken. Current and future leaders would have gained great knowledge of military tactics, it taught them to be strict in all protocols in both discipline and loyalty between Commander and soldier. Again I would like to emphasize the amount of damage it caused, and not just Roman and Germanic history but for Europe for the next five centuries and in whole world history. This essay has shown evidence from both historically and archaeologically. I have showed the dramatic outcomes that were influenced by the battle of the Teutoburg Forest. It is up to us to understand the sources available to us, and those we choose to follow, that is how we determine of what and how we think of the past. Adrian Martin 1 http://www.clades-variana.com/der_vermutliche_ablauf_der_varus.htm Bibliography Books - The Battle that Stopped Rome by Peter S. Wells - Tacitus by Ronald Mellor - Tacitus Vol. I & II by Ronald Syme - Tacitus the Historians Oxford World’s Classics W. H. Fyfe Internet - www.livius.org/te-tg/teutoburg/teutoburg01.htm The battle in the Teutoburg Forest - ancienthistory.about.com/library/bl/bl_varusteutoberg.htm Publius Quinctilius Varus and the Battle in the Teutoburg Forest - www.unrv.com/early-empire/teutoburg-forest.php Arminius and the Battle of Teutoburg Forest - poppypundit.wordpress.com/2007/10/30/revealing-the-battleof-teutoburg-forest Revealing the Battle of Teutoburg Forest