Of War and Myth

The progression of the Knight. It’s hard not to admire the intricacy of this armor. It’s easy to see that these men were practically walking tanks on the battlefield.

(via chillithid-deactivated20120120)

♥ 4
→ 28 Dec 11 at 1 pm ataxiwardance:

H. Knackfuss - The battle in the Teutoburg Forest

Varus’ forces were compromised of three legions, six cohorts of auxiliary troops, and three cavalry squadrons—all of these inexperienced in fighting German enemies in the current topography. Varus neglected to send out reconnaissance units and his men marched in a non-combat formation. It did not help that the path was narrow and muddied, the result of a storm. The line of march stretched perilously long and the Roman forces now faced the danger of being cut off and enveloped.

The Germanic warriors attacked them, wielding light swords, long lances, and their shorter, narrow bladed spears called fremae. In the Roman army’s current formation, they were absolutely surrounded by Germanic warriors whom rained down javelins upon them.

The Germanic leader, Arminius, had grown up learning the ways of the Roman army and maneuvered the larger Germanic forces to counter any of the Roman tactical advances. The Romans had no choice but to retreat and set up a night camp, heavily fortified. Later that morning, they broke out of the forest to the northern country of Wiehen Hills (near what is today Ostercappeln). They suffered heavy losses as they continued their march, the rain causing their shields to become waterlogged and their sinew-stringed bows to become slacked.

They continued on their march however, and marched right into Arminius’s trap—right at the foot of Kalkriese Hill. Here, the Romans finally met their match. The path was constricted by a hill, there was nearly one hundred meters between the woods and swamps of the Great Bog. Further up the road, the path was blocked by a great trench and and earthen wall from which the Germans could attack.

Here, the Germans had the topographical and strategical advantage. Up to twenty thousand Roman soldiers died on Kalkriese Hill. Some abandoned all together, however many Roman officers are recorded to have taken their lives in the acceptable manner.

Many others were ransomed, and the common soldiers were forced into slavery.

Tacitus writes that many officers were also sacrificed by the Germanic forces as part of their religious ceremonies, that they were cooked in pots and their bones were used for rituals (Annals).

After the defeat of Varus’ Roman forces, the Germanic forces expelled the Roman influence from the German country.

However, they would soon face retaliation by the Roman forces under Germanicus.

ataxiwardance:

H. Knackfuss - The battle in the Teutoburg Forest

Varus’ forces were compromised of three legions, six cohorts of auxiliary troops, and three cavalry squadrons—all of these inexperienced in fighting German enemies in the current topography. Varus neglected to send out reconnaissance units and his men marched in a non-combat formation. It did not help that the path was narrow and muddied, the result of a storm. The line of march stretched perilously long and the Roman forces now faced the danger of being cut off and enveloped.
The Germanic warriors attacked them, wielding light swords, long lances, and their shorter, narrow bladed spears called fremae. In the Roman army’s current formation, they were absolutely surrounded by Germanic warriors whom rained down javelins upon them.
The Germanic leader, Arminius, had grown up learning the ways of the Roman army and maneuvered the larger Germanic forces to counter any of the Roman tactical advances. The Romans had no choice but to retreat and set up a night camp, heavily fortified. Later that morning, they broke out of the forest to the northern country of Wiehen Hills (near what is today Ostercappeln). They suffered heavy losses as they continued their march, the rain causing their shields to become waterlogged and their sinew-stringed bows to become slacked.
They continued on their march however, and marched right into Arminius’s trap—right at the foot of Kalkriese Hill. Here, the Romans finally met their match. The path was constricted by a hill, there was nearly one hundred meters between the woods and swamps of the Great Bog. Further up the road, the path was blocked by a great trench and and earthen wall from which the Germans could attack.
Here, the Germans had the topographical and strategical advantage. Up to twenty thousand Roman soldiers died on Kalkriese Hill. Some abandoned all together, however many Roman officers are recorded to have taken their lives in the acceptable manner.
Many others were ransomed, and the common soldiers were forced into slavery.
Tacitus writes that many officers were also sacrificed by the Germanic forces as part of their religious ceremonies, that they were cooked in pots and their bones were used for rituals (Annals).
After the defeat of Varus’ Roman forces, the Germanic forces expelled the Roman influence from the German country.
However, they would soon face retaliation by the Roman forces under Germanicus.

♥ 1
→ 02 Nov 11 at 5 pm
Oscar Anton Koch: Varusschlacht, 1909 (Lippisches Landesmuseum Detmold

The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, known by Roman historians as ‘clades Viriana’ or the Varian Disaster (DEU: Hermannsschlacht or Varusschlacht), took place in September,9 CE, in Osnabrueck County, Lower Saxony. Recent archaeological evidence cites that the battle broke out on Kalkreise Hill.

The battle was between the Germanic belligerents, the Cherusci, Marsi, Chatti, Bructeri, Chauci and Sicambri tribes led by Arminius and Roman forces led by Publius Quinctilius Varus.

In 4 CE, before Varus was commander on the Rhine, Saturninus and Lepidus under the rule of Tiberius led an army against Maroboduss the King of the Marcomanni (a tribe of the Suebi). He was able to subjucate the Cananefates, the Chatti, and the Bructeri to his will. By 6 CE the Germanic tribes were revolting in the province of Illyricum (a territory stretching from the Drin River in Albania to Slovenia and Croatia) in what is known as the Bellum Batonianum that lasted four years. Tiberius’s campaign was halted and he was forced to recognize Maroboduus king.

The revolt was triggered by neglect and food shortages and years of high taxes and harsh punishment by tax collectors. It was one of the most critical campaigns of the Roman Empire. Varus was named envoy of the emperor and given three legions.

Varus had a reputation for cuelty and ruthlessness. He was in command of the legions XVII, XVIII, and XIX in a camp near Xanten or near Neuss.

Arminius, who would alter lead the Germanic tribes in their battle against Varus’s forces, was a tribute given to the Romans along with his brother Flavus. Arminius’s father was the chieftain of the Cherusci. Arminius lived in Rome as a hostage and recieved a formal military education and was given the rank of Equestrian in Roman society.

Hostility began to develop develop between the tirbes when the leader Segimerus gave way to the Romans and broke the code of the Germanic Law , punishable by death. As such, trade and politics stagnated between warloards. The Chatti were hostile and subjucated to the Cherusci after a war and were pacified for several years.

Eventually Arminius became advisor to Varus, understanding the politics, customs, and laws of the Germans. In secret he made an alliance of Germanic tribes including the Cherusci, Marsi, Chatti, Bructeri, Chauci, Sicambari, and the Suebi who remained after their defeat in the Battle of Vosges.

Arminus fabricated rumours of a local rebellion and Varus moved to quell the uprising. The night before he moved his troops, Varus was warned by Segestes, brother of Segimerus the traitor, that Arminus and several others planned an uprising and that he should apprehend them. He was dismissed, however, due to the fact that Segimerus was the father of Arminius’s wife and he strongly opposed the marriage—Varus saw this as just a inter-familial feud. Varus took a detour through unfamiliar territory, directed along a route by Arminus, who then left the Roman general claiming that he was rallying German forces to support the Roman campaign.

That is when Varus was ambushed.

Oscar Anton Koch: Varusschlacht, 1909 (Lippisches Landesmuseum Detmold

The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, known by Roman historians as ‘clades Viriana’ or the Varian Disaster (DEU: Hermannsschlacht or Varusschlacht), took place in September,9 CE, in Osnabrueck County, Lower Saxony. Recent archaeological evidence cites that the battle broke out on Kalkreise Hill.
The battle was between the Germanic belligerents, the Cherusci, Marsi, Chatti, Bructeri, Chauci and Sicambri tribes led by Arminius and Roman forces led by Publius Quinctilius Varus.
In 4 CE, before Varus was commander on the Rhine, Saturninus and Lepidus under the rule of Tiberius led an army against Maroboduss the King of the Marcomanni (a tribe of the Suebi). He was able to subjucate the Cananefates, the Chatti, and the Bructeri to his will. By 6 CE the Germanic tribes were revolting in the province of Illyricum (a territory stretching from the Drin River in Albania to Slovenia and Croatia) in what is known as the Bellum Batonianum that lasted four years. Tiberius’s campaign was halted and he was forced to recognize Maroboduus king.
The revolt was triggered by neglect and food shortages and years of high taxes and harsh punishment by tax collectors. It was one of the most critical campaigns of the Roman Empire. Varus was named envoy of the emperor and given three legions.
Varus had a reputation for cuelty and ruthlessness. He was in command of the legions XVII, XVIII, and XIX in a camp near Xanten or near Neuss.
Arminius, who would alter lead the Germanic tribes in their battle against Varus’s forces, was a tribute given to the Romans along with his brother Flavus. Arminius’s father was the chieftain of the Cherusci. Arminius lived in Rome as a hostage and recieved a formal military education and was given the rank of Equestrian in Roman society.
Hostility began to develop develop between the tirbes when the leader Segimerus gave way to the Romans and broke the code of the Germanic Law , punishable by death. As such, trade and politics stagnated between warloards. The Chatti were hostile and subjucated to the Cherusci after a war and were pacified for several years.
Eventually Arminius became advisor to Varus, understanding the politics, customs, and laws of the Germans. In secret he made an alliance of Germanic tribes including the Cherusci, Marsi, Chatti, Bructeri, Chauci, Sicambari, and the Suebi who remained after their defeat in the Battle of Vosges.
Arminus fabricated rumours of a local rebellion and Varus moved to quell the uprising. The night before he moved his troops, Varus was warned by Segestes, brother of Segimerus the traitor, that Arminus and several others planned an uprising and that he should apprehend them. He was dismissed, however, due to the fact that Segimerus was the father of Arminius’s wife and he strongly opposed the marriage—Varus saw this as just a inter-familial feud. Varus took a detour through unfamiliar territory, directed along a route by Arminus, who then left the Roman general claiming that he was rallying German forces to support the Roman campaign.
That is when Varus was ambushed.

♥ 2
→ 02 Nov 11 at 3 pm ilcastratogiovane:

Der siegreich vordringende Hermann (The victorious advance of Hermann), Peter Janssen, 1873

(via pretty-grimm-ones-too)