Prince Hermann of the Cherusci
Prince Hermann of the Cherusci, also known by his Roman name of Arminius, was a leader of the Germanic Cherusci tribe. Herman was born between 18-17 CE, the son of Cherusci leader and Roman sympathizer Segimerus. Hermann joined the Roman military in the first year of the common era. During his time in Roman lands, he was granted Roman citizenship and the status as an eques. As an eques he was of a rank of similar importance to an English knight, this was the second highest status in the Roman society.
In 4 CE, Hermann was placed in charge of the Roman forces is Cherusci. Returning to the northern parts of Germania in 7 CE, Herman began plotting to overthrow the Roman rule of his people and prevent further expansion of the Roman Empire into Germanic lands.
When Rome needed to shift their military presence to other parts of the empire, Hermann saw his chance. In 9 C E, Hermann brought falsified news of rebellion to the governor of the region. He succeeded in diverting three legions to suppress this fictitious rebellion. On entering the Teutoburg forest, the legions were ambushed. Despite outnumbering the Germanic tribes they were coming against, the Romans were forced to march out of formation and along narrow footpaths. The Romans were woefully unprepared for the united Germanic people fighting guerilla warfare and all three legions were decimated. When it became clear that the Germanic tribesmen had humiliated the Empire and would win the battle, the Roman Governor of Germania took his own life. It was this battle that ended Roman rule of Germanic lands. Consequent attempts at retaking Germania failed.
Following the Battle of Teutoburg Forest, Hermann was married to a Cheruscan woman of similar stature. Thusnelda was the daughter of Cheruscan prince Segestes. He took her away from her father who disapproved of the anti-Roman stances Herman held, and they eloped. In 15 C E, a pregnant Thusnelda, who was living with her father, was kidnapped by the Romans. Driven mad at the loss of his wife and unborn child, Hermann declared that he would wage war on the Romans. Hermann continued to make attempts to unite the Germanic people and spent the rest of his life fighting against Roman encroachment into Germanic lands. His growing power and popularity led to his fellow Germanic leaders fearing him. He was assassinated in 21 CE.
Despite the fact that a united Germany would not happen for nearly two millennia after his death, Germania never again fell to Rome. The Battle of Teutoburg Forest remained a shining example of the will of the Germanic people and a rallying point during the German Unification of the nineteenth century.
Folkbuilder Alison Clausen
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