Publius Quinctilius Varus, better known to history as just Varus, was in command of three Roman Legions; The 17th, 18th, and the 19th. With him he also had 3 cavalry, and 6 infantry auxillary units. As they marched on that September day in 9 C.E. each carried a tall staff topped with the imperial eagle, the legion's name, and number. As he rode tall and proud upon his horse, Varus was confident that his elite Roman troops could handle any barbarian Germanic force that they encountered. What he did not realize was that he and his men were marching into infamy.
Arminius had actually served with Varus as the commander of a small unit , and had distinguished himself in battle. Varus had come to trust Arminius, so when Arminius told him of an uprising, started by a small tribe that was just a day or two march away from the Roman camp on the Weser River, Varus believed him and jumped at the chance to crush this revolt. Ironically, Arminius' father - in - law, Segestes, tried to warn Varus, but he trusted Arminius more.
Varus thought that Arminius was going to go ahead and rally some of his own people to join the Roman Army in putting down the rebellion, but Arminius had something much more sinister planned. Arminius had planned an elaborate ambush in what is now known as the Teutoberg Forest. And what an ambush it was ! Though the path that the Romans marched on had been worn down over the years, the Roman Army could not march in their normal formation which was six men across. As they moved along this forest lane they had to fill in holes of mud, and remove fallen trees that blocked the way of their supply carts. They would emerge occasionally out of the dense forest into fields of grain bathed in sunlight, but mainly they were funnelled , by Arminius, into as confined a space as was possible.
The arrogant Roman Army was so confident and arrogant that they carried with them their baggage train, which would have made so much noise that they could never have surprised anyone along the way. The local Germanic people would have had more than enough time to evacuate themselves, and their valuable livestock long before the Romans passed by. The Romans probably did not see a soul as they marched along their way into history. However the Roman Army was more than likely being tacked by Arminius' spies, which would not have been difficult with all that noise, all the way to the spot where the Germanic tribesman were waiting to ambush the Roman Legions.
At the Kalkrieser Berg, Varus had to detour around this small hill, and through a bog. Because it was swampy on both sides the Roman troops were confined to a path only about a 100 yards wide. It was here that Arminius and his brave Germanic troops were waiting. It was here that thousands of nervous eyes searched the horizon for the first glint of Roman armor. It was here that thousands of ears listened for the first sounds of an army on the move. And it was here where the Germanic tribesman would change the course of history and stop the spread of Roman civilization. The trap was about to be sprung !
End Part 2
Next : The Greatest of Victories
The Skillful Warrior
Does not rely on the enemy's
Not coming,
But on his own
Preparedness.
- Sun - tzu : The Art Of War
Glenn Bergen
Go with Odin's wisdom, Freyja's love, and Thor's protection !
Arminius had actually served with Varus as the commander of a small unit , and had distinguished himself in battle. Varus had come to trust Arminius, so when Arminius told him of an uprising, started by a small tribe that was just a day or two march away from the Roman camp on the Weser River, Varus believed him and jumped at the chance to crush this revolt. Ironically, Arminius' father - in - law, Segestes, tried to warn Varus, but he trusted Arminius more.
Varus thought that Arminius was going to go ahead and rally some of his own people to join the Roman Army in putting down the rebellion, but Arminius had something much more sinister planned. Arminius had planned an elaborate ambush in what is now known as the Teutoberg Forest. And what an ambush it was ! Though the path that the Romans marched on had been worn down over the years, the Roman Army could not march in their normal formation which was six men across. As they moved along this forest lane they had to fill in holes of mud, and remove fallen trees that blocked the way of their supply carts. They would emerge occasionally out of the dense forest into fields of grain bathed in sunlight, but mainly they were funnelled , by Arminius, into as confined a space as was possible.
The arrogant Roman Army was so confident and arrogant that they carried with them their baggage train, which would have made so much noise that they could never have surprised anyone along the way. The local Germanic people would have had more than enough time to evacuate themselves, and their valuable livestock long before the Romans passed by. The Romans probably did not see a soul as they marched along their way into history. However the Roman Army was more than likely being tacked by Arminius' spies, which would not have been difficult with all that noise, all the way to the spot where the Germanic tribesman were waiting to ambush the Roman Legions.
At the Kalkrieser Berg, Varus had to detour around this small hill, and through a bog. Because it was swampy on both sides the Roman troops were confined to a path only about a 100 yards wide. It was here that Arminius and his brave Germanic troops were waiting. It was here that thousands of nervous eyes searched the horizon for the first glint of Roman armor. It was here that thousands of ears listened for the first sounds of an army on the move. And it was here where the Germanic tribesman would change the course of history and stop the spread of Roman civilization. The trap was about to be sprung !
End Part 2
Next : The Greatest of Victories
The Skillful Warrior
Does not rely on the enemy's
Not coming,
But on his own
Preparedness.
- Sun - tzu : The Art Of War
Glenn Bergen
Go with Odin's wisdom, Freyja's love, and Thor's protection !
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