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Indiana University – Purdue University Fort Wayne Opus: Research & Creativity at IPFW 2015 IPFW Student Research and Creative Endeavor Symposium IPFW Student Research and Creative Endeavor Symposium 3-27-2015 Massacre in the Teutoburg Forest: Rome's Defeat and Germania's Triumph Andrew Hakes Indiana University - Purdue University Fort Wayne Follow this and additional works at: http://opus.ipfw.edu/stu_symp2015 Part of the History Commons Recommended Citation Hakes, Andrew, "Massacre in the Teutoburg Forest: Rome's Defeat and Germania's Triumph" (2015). 2015 IPFW Student Research and Creative Endeavor Symposium. Book 29. http://opus.ipfw.edu/stu_symp2015/29 This is brought to you for free and open access by the IPFW Student Research and Creative Endeavor Symposium at Opus: Research & Creativity at IPFW. It has been accepted for inclusion in 2015 IPFW Student Research and Creative Endeavor Symposium by an authorized administrator of Opus: Research & Creativity at IPFW. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Massacre in the Teutoburg Forest: Rome’s Defeat and Germania’s Triumph Andrew Hakes Deparment of History Arminius was used as a symbol for the German people until after World War II. His defeat of the Roman oppressors led to a legacy that lasted many years after his own death. Martin Luther would rename him “Hermann” and the Germans would use him as a source of nationalism after the Napoleonic Wars. During Germany’s reunification he was used as a symbol of freedom and in some ways unity. Even the Nazis would use him as a symbol of ethnic pride and power. Today there are still statues of him in Germany, even though knowledge of him is not what it once was. Rome and Germania had been engaged in mixed relations leading up to 9 AD. While both were trading frequently, the Germans had been raiding into Roman Gaul for some time. This had proven to be mostly harmless for the Germans, drawing only reactionary attacks from the Romans until Augustus came to power after Caesar’s death. Seeking a distraction from his many domestic problems, Augustus used a German raid into Roman Gaul that involved a Roman Legate as justification for placing five legions along the Rhine and eventually expanding into Germania. Three of these five legions would later be involved in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest. Publius Varus was given control over the five Germanic legions in 7 AD. He attempted to “Romanize” the region through building projects and the import of Roman citizens. This gave him a false sense of security. In September of 9 AD one of Varus’ most trusted men, the German-born Arminius, told him about inevitable rebellions on the eastern side of the Rhine. Trusting his native commander, Varus and an estimated 20,000 troops began to march to put down these rebellions. Having no strict tactical integrity and bringing along civilians, Varus closed in on his target and on September 7th set up camp for the night. On this night Arminius left his commander for the last time to rally his German allies, planning to ambush him the next day. The Roman force, minus Arminius and his native units, marched again on the 8th through the wet German terrain. At the end of their day long march they were met by Arminius and his troops. 15,000 Germans, stretched out along a couple of miles, surrounded the Romans and harassed them through the night while they built their camp. It was also on this day that Varus began to realize the severity of the situation, burning the baggage train that held their supplies and seeking an escape route. After the battle the region fell into near anarchy. All but one Roman settlement east of the Rhine fell to the Germans. Arminius had also located and severed the head of Varus, which he sent to a nearby ruler as a way to say “join-us.” This backfired, as the ruler sent the head to Rome which further infuriated the Romans. Along with the head of Varus, Arminius captured the standard of every legion involved in the battle, which he handed out as gifts to the tribes who helped him fight. Little did Arminius know it, but these actions awoke the sleeping giant that was Rome and parts of Germania would soon be set ablaze. The Romans were unable to march on the 9th due to increasingly deteriorating weather conditions. On the 10th Varus decided to march, with a course set to the “Kalkriese Berg”, where Arminius was lying in wait. The weather had shrunk the size of the usually large Kalkriese to 200 meters wide in some places. Arminius and his men, hidden behind Roman-esque defensive fortifications, slaughtered the Romans as they passed through the Kalkriese. Fearing all was lost Varus committed suicide, thereby ending almost any hope of the Roman forces making it out alive. Over the next day Arminius carried out mop-up duties to kill the remaining Roman troops. 15-20,000 Romans were either killed or enslaved during the battle, and all of the three legions lost their standards, the symbol each legion carried into battle (also known as an aquila). Monument dedicated to a Roman centurion who fell in the battle. My research on the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest examined the short-term effects the battle had on the Roman state and military, and the long-term effects it had on Europe. It is an important episode in history because of the damage inflicted on the Roman army by usually divided Germanic tribes. Roman defeat in this pivotal battle shaped the European world. An examination of the results of the engagement shows that the slaughter of Roman troops carried out by the Germanic people damaged the Roman psyche for years, led to a ruthless revenge campaign by the Romans, and the near deification of Germanicus, the general assigned to restore Roman pride and authority. In the long-term the battle separated Europe into two spheres: the Roman world and “untouched” lands. It also served as a source of pride for the German people, which would eventually develop into nationalistic feeling up into the 21st century. Overall, Roman defeat in the Teutoburg Forest ended their hopes of campaigning further into Germany, and effectively shaped the European continent. The first general assigned to restore Roman authority was Tiberius. He spent most of his time reassuring the people of Gaul that they were safe, until he was recalled to Rome to assist the ailing Emperor Augustus. Put in his place was Germanicus, who would soon become one of the most popular figures in Rome. He began his incursions into Germany as a way to restore morale after some of his troops began to mutiny. For two years Germanicus exacted Roman vengeance upon the Germanic tribes; defeating Arminius, multiple tribes, and even visiting the site of the massacre, for which he received an imperial reprimand. While never permanently gaining any more territory in Germania, the Romans did restore some of their pride and exact retribution for their fallen comrades. Germanicus’ exploits also elevated him to near God-like status in Rome, which was met with caution by some politicians. News of the defeat reached Rome as they were preparing a triumph for Tiberius. Rome entered a state of shock. The Emperor Augustus reportedly roamed his palace for months, refusing to groom himself, yelling “Quinctilius Varus, give me back my legions!” All foreigners were ordered to leave the city, distrust of Germans skyrocketed, and all Germans in Augustus’ bodyguard unit were reassigned out of fear of mixed loyalty. Eight legions were placed along the Rhine and plans were developed to restore Roman dominance and authority in Germania. Prior to the Massacre in the Teutoburg Forest Rome was expanding on almost every front. Incursions were being made across the Rhine River and it appeared that all was going well. Roman defeat marked the last time they would successfully gain territory in Germania, and set the boundaries for the Roman and “untouched” worlds. These two worlds would develop along different paths, and eventually people from the “untouched” lands would overwhelm and lead to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire.