Teutoburg Forest: Germanic Tribes Annihilate Rome
Arminius, a Germanic chieftain who had served as an auxiliary officer in the Roman army, led three Roman legions under Publius Quinctilius Varus into a dense forest near modern Kalkriese, Germany, in September 9 AD. Over three days, Germanic warriors ambushed the 20,000-strong column as it struggled through narrow paths between marshes and dense trees. Roman formation fighting was useless in the confined terrain. Virtually the entire force was destroyed. Varus fell on his sword. Augustus Caesar reportedly spent months wandering his palace crying "Quintilius Varus, give me back my legions!" Rome never again seriously attempted to conquer Germania east of the Rhine, a decision that shaped the cultural and linguistic boundary of Europe permanently.
September 9, 9
2017 years ago
Key Figures & Places
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