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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