Battle of Teutoburg Forest

Rome was built on the successes of its mighty army. For centuries, Roman legions pushed the boundaries of the empire out in all directions, growing accustomed to easy victories. By the first century A.D., the thick forests of Germany were their final frontier.

As far as the Romans knew, Germany was populated by unsophisticated tribes of barbarians. Beginning around 6 B.C., Roman forces began to push steadily deeper into Germany. They encountered little resistance: the locals traded with them and even served as mercenaries under Roman commanders.

In the fall of 9 A.D., a Roman general named Publius Quinctilius Varus set out to conquer Germany once and for all. He led a massive force of 15,000 legionaries trailed by thousands of supply wagons and hangers-on. By his side was a young German prince named Arminius, who Varus trusted as an adviser and guide to the local geography.

As the legions marched, the German suggested a detour into territory Varus and his commanders didn't know. Arminius volunteered to ride ahead, scouting out the best route. As Arminius disappeared up ahead, Varus began to find the terrain rough going: his column of well-trained troops, used to marching through open country, stretched out over eight or more miles. The weather turned foul and rainy, making it even harder for the Romans to move forward through the dense forests with their supply wagons and horses.

Without warning, small groups of German warriors materialized out of the woods on either side of the Roman column, hurling spears and then vanishing again. Varus decided to push deeper into enemy territory, headed for a Roman fort 60 miles away. It was a fatal error.

Continuing reading about the Battle of Teutoburg Forest with Teutoburg Trap