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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