The Battle That Stopped Rome: Emperor Augustus, Arminius, and the Slaughter of the Legions in the Teutoburg Forest

272 Pages·2004·3.79 MB·English

by  Peter S. Wells

THE
BATTLE
THAT
STOPPED
ROME

T HE
BATTLE
THAT
S T O P P ED
R O ME
EMPEROR AUGUSTUS,
ARMINIUS, AND THE
SLAUGHTER OF
THE LEGIONS IN
THE TEUTOBURG FOREST
Peter S. Wells
Copyright © 2003 by Peter S.Wells
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America
First published as a Norton paperback 2004
Frontispiece: Detail of etching by Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki showing Arminius
surrounded by his people and with fruits of victory, including captured weapons in the
foreground and Roman legionary standards in the background. From Anton von
Klein, Leben und Bildnisse der grossen Deutschen, vol. I (Mannheim, 1782).
For information about permission to reproduce selections from this book, write to
Permissions, W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
Manufacturing by Quebecor Fairfield
Book design by Margaret M.Wagner
Production manager: Julia Druskin
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Wells, Peter S.
The battle that stopped Rome : Emperor Augustus, Arminius, and the slaughter of the
legions in the Teutoburg Forest / Peter S.Wells.—1st ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-393-02028-2 (hardcover)
1. Teutoburger Wald, Battle of, Germany, 9 A.D. 2. Arminius, Prince of the Cherusci.
3.Varus, Publius Quintilius. 4. Augustus, Emperor of Rome, 63 B.C.—14 A.D.
5. Rome—History—Augustus, 30 B.C.-14 A.D. 6. Germany—History—To 843.
7. Romans—Germany—Westphalia. I.Title.
DD123.W45 2003
936.3'o2—dc2i
2003010789
ISBN 0-393-32643-8 pbk.
W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 500 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10110
www.wwnorton.com
W.W. Norton & Company Ltd., Castle House, 75/76 Wells Street, London WiT 3QT
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 90
To My Family
CONTENTS
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 9
LIST OF MAPS 11
IMPORTANT DATES 13
PREFACE 15
1 AMBUSHED! 25
2 CREATION OF THE LEGEND 30
3 HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE BATTLE 37
4 AUGUSTUS: ROME'S FIRST EMPEROR 56
5 VARUS AND THE FRONTIER 80
6 ARMINIUS: THE NATIVE HERO 121
7 WARFARE IN EARLY ROMAN EUROPE: PRELUDE TO THE BATTLE 141
8 THE BATTLE 177
9 THE HORROR: DEATH ON THE BATTLEFIELD 193
10 THE VICTORS' CELEBRATIONS 203
II THE IMMEDIATE OUTCOME 216
12 THE MEANING OF THE BATTLE 229
7
appendixes
1. How an Archaeological Site Is Formed 237
2. Roman Weapons Found at the Kalkriese Battle Site 238
3. Museums, Roman Remains, and Archaeological Parks 239
sources and suggestions for further reading 243
acknowledgments 255
illustration credits 257
index 259
8
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Frontispiece. (Detail) Arminius with spoils of victory
1. Arminius with head of Varus, 1543 woodcut
2. Arminius celebrating, 1689 engraving
3. Statue of Arminius near Detmold, Germany
4. Lead slingstones
5. Iron weapons
6. Javelin point
7. Iron pickax
8. Lead plumb bobs
9. Surgical instruments
10. Women's jewelry
11. Mule skeleton
12. Statue of Cleopatra
13. Gemma Augustea
14. Gravestone of Marcus Caelius
15. Plan of Roman military complex at Haltern
9
16. Plan of main base at Haltern
17. Catapult bolt from Döttenbichl
18. Settlement at Hodde
19. Objects from Grave 150 at Putensen
20. Sandal nails from Kalkriese
21. Triumph of Tiberius
22. Swords from Nydam and Vimose
23. Spearheads, shield, and chainmail
24. Woolen tunic from Thorsberg
25. Woolen pants from Thorsberg
26. Leather shoe from Thorsberg
27. Coin showing war captive
28. Bronze bell
29. Face mask
30. Settlement at Flögeln
10