In 9 AD, my ancestors kicked some Roman butt, allowing them to avoid civilization for a couple more centuries. After all, what have the Romans ever
done for us? The
Battle of the Teutoburg Forest (called the Varian disaster by Roman historians) took place in A.D. 9 when an alliance of Germanic tribes led by Hermann the German defeated three Roman legions led by Publius Quinctilius Varus. There's a Hermann the German statue
here in Minnesota.
There's a really cool video on the battle
here, part of the History Channel's most awesome Decisive Battles series.
I can't believe a guy named "Hermann the German" was allowed to lead armies without being laughed off the stage.
ReplyDeleteIt must have been a singularly unhumorous period in human history.
Quinctilius Varus....give me back my legions!!
ReplyDeletethose were the days ;-)
ReplyDeleteAccording to the video, what they wanted to avoid was not civilization, but taxes.
ReplyDeleteIn the end, die Steuerbehörde got them.