Download Who was Hermann? - Hermann Sons Life

Celebrating
125 years
Hermann Sons Grand Lodge
Who was Hermann?
EDITOR’S NOTE: On March 27, 1890, the
eight Hermann Sons lodges that existed in Texas
at the time came together to form a “home
office” and thus the Grand Lodge was founded.
That was 125 years ago. The Grand Lodge will
celebrate its quasquicentennial on Oct. 10 in
Floresville. The Hermann Sons News will
mark the occasion with a series of articles
on the history of Hermann Sons. This
first article answers the question, “Who
was Hermann?" and was compiled by
Grand President/CEO Buddy Preuss.
The most common question asked
by Hermann Sons members is
“Who was Hermann? And why
is our organization named for him?” It’s a great
question and a great place to start this historical
review.
Who was Hermann? Hermann, also known by
his Latin name Arminius, born in 18 or 17 BC,
was the son of the Germanic Cheruscan chief,
Segimerus, and trained as a Roman military
commander. He had lived in Rome as a hostage
in his youth, where he had received a military
education, and obtained Roman citizenship as
well as the status of equestrian (petty noble).
Around the year 4 AD, Arminius assumed command of a Cheruscan detachment of Roman
auxiliary forces.
He returned to northern Germania in 7 or
8 AD, where the Roman Empire was seeking
A colossal statue of Hermann, left, stands on Grotenberg Mountain,
a high hill near the German city of Detmold. A similar monument in New Ulm, Minnesota, on right, represents the
contribution of Americans of German heritage.
Hermann the Cherusker, aka Arminius, has been immortalized in many
ways through the years. At least three statues of him exist, including one,
below, left, that is in the museum at the Grand Lodge in San Antonio.
The middle photo was taken during construction of another one of the
statues, the one in New Ulm, Minn. The photo demonstrates just how tall
the statue is. The other statue is in Germany and can be seen on Page 1.
The drawing at the far right depicts Hermann on horseback shortly after
he lead the Germanic people to victory over the Romans. The drawing above was used to mark the 2000-year anniversary of the Battle of
Teutoburg Forest in 2009. The celebration was held in New Ulm.
to extend its control eastward under Publius Quinctilius Varus,
a high-ranking administrative official appointed by Augustus as
governor. There he began plotting to unite various Germanic
tribes to thwart Roman efforts to incorporate their lands into
the empire.
In the fall of 9 AD, the 25-year-old Arminius brought Varus a
report of rebellion in northern Germany. He persuaded Varus to
divert the three legions under his command (composed of the
17th, 18th and 19th legions, plus three cavalry detachments
and six cohorts of auxiliaries) to suppress the rebellion.
Varus and his legions marched right into the trap Arminius
had set for them near Kalkriese. History would call it the
Battle of the Teutoburg Forest. Arminius' tribe and their allies
ambushed and annihilated Varus' entire army, totaling more
than 20,000 men, during the three-day battle.
When defeat was certain, Varus committed suicide by falling
on his sword. German soldiers cut the heads off many of the
dead and nailed them to the trees as a warning. It was said
Augustus would beat his head against the wall crying, “Varus,
give me back my legions.”
Arminius' success in destroying three entire legions and driving the Romans out of Germany was one of the most devastating defeats Rome suffered in its history, and a high point of
Germanic power for centuries.
Arminius had married a princess named Thusnelda. She was
captured by the Romans while pregnant and she and their son,
Thumelicus, grew up in Roman captivity. In 21 AD, Arminius
was murdered by opponents within his own tribe who felt he
was becoming too powerful.
“Arminius” is probably a Latinized version of the Germanic
Irmin meaning “great.” In the 19th century the name “Hermann”
(meaning “soldier”, “army man” or “warrior”) came into use as
the German equivalent of Arminius and he became an emblem
of the revival of German nationalism.
Learn next month why our founders chose Hermann as their
namesake.
Sources: wikipedia.org and thefreedictionary.com