If you are just joining us for this series. Here are the previous episodes: Part 1 - ua-cam.com/video/7uV-n_LNQ6Y/v-deo.html Part 2 - ua-cam.com/video/V9EJXiS4UL8/v-deo.html Part 3 - ua-cam.com/video/BB1ccKhC6iE/v-deo.html Part 4 - ua-cam.com/video/aYBR0-iVDnI/v-deo.html
An idea for a future video: How scouting works? Often in many videos scouting is quickly mentioned as this simple thing everyone did which had a major impact on wins and losses, but how was this carried out? How did scouts find what they where looking for? Avoid capture and death and being the ones riding into blind territory, how did they so effectively remain the eyes of an army? Its something I feel is often glossed over here on youtube and it would be neat to learn more extensively how scouting worked
Questions are welcome, so... why: " 'transphobia' will you get you banned"? I mean, why this specific phobia alone? Isn't it a sign of discrimination that just this single phobia is named, suggesting other phobias are of lesser importance?? So it is indirectly encouraged to be, say, racist, as long as it is not transphobic racism???
Armies would use horns, trumpets, drums, certain flags or banners and battle messenger or runners via foot or horse to inform ranking members of battle needs. I may have missed something in this list. War cries or chants were sometimes used by certain races/groups but more larger armies had an official means as they were trained to what each thing meant.
@@phetproductions5818 Which is rather ironic because the army usually suffered the more emberassing defeats while the roman navy crushed every opposition it ever had and defeated a technologically more advanced and far better trained carthaginian navy with ingenuity and absolute iron will (cause Neptune loves to sink their fleets). the roman navy was at least equally impressive comparred to the roman army, after the establishment of roman dominance over the mediterranian it simply lost its purpose compared to the army defending the giant land borders. At its peak the roman navy won Rome the first punic war despite their fleet getting fucked by storms twice.
Could you do a video on how ancient armies communicated during battle? How would commanders give orders to a large number of men in the midst of a raging, chaotic battle? This seems like the kind of subject you guys to videos on and I think a look at it would be really interesting
@@Daylon91 they also had very famous war cries. These were so used that even after the fall of the western empire and long into the bizantine era the pattern of war cries was so universal for the legions that they still used the original words in latin even in a greek speaking era.
@@danielchequer5842 This is gross misrepresentations. The Roman army had a distinct command language, not war cries. This stayed Latin indeed well into the Byzantine era. "Communication in battle" means communication over a distance, from central command to unit. THIS was done by trumpets and ONLY trumpets. The Roman army was famous for advancing in total silence, only interrupted by trumpet commands. And ONLY when the command to charge came (trumpet again) would they usher a war cry. Barbarians who encountered this the first time where usually mortified. The best cinematic representation is this scene from Spartacus. No Special effect. Just thousands of extras from the Italian army. ua-cam.com/video/ejW5Hg_lrV0/v-deo.html
@@michaelrenper796 thanks for the correction. I didn't wanted to use the term war cry as I know it's incorrect but I'm a native english speaker and that was the first thing that came to mind.
@@danielchequer5842 you mean "not a native speaker" - no problem. A war cry implies something emotional. The Romans had them as well, but the exact wording depended on circumstance. We have detailed descriptions from the Byzantine era.on how people went to battle. First a prayer, some final commands. Then a "Silentio"
@@kriseats2158 - Be Aurelian - Single handedly pulls the Roman Empire out of the Crisis of the 3rd century in 5 fucking years - Really fucking nice to everyone that isn't a babarian. - Even praises the sun. - Gets offed by Praetorians cause they are jealous weak chin boiz. And this is only one of their many fuck ups. They are straight up one of several main reasons why the Roman Empire declined. They killed all the decent emperors and put idiots on the throne until Constantine finally got rid of them.
@@agentcooper6179 not to sound like a asshole but, oh yeah lets backstab the one emperor that is saving our asses(Aurelian) from a major fucking crisis what a briliant idea, oh yes lets kill Caracalla who's leading a major campaign against the Parthians the man that was very much pro-soldiers. they killed alot of decent emperors but these are just 2 very decent ones i could pick out.
I'm getting sucked into the Roman history trap like a galaxy getting sucked into a black hole; gradually, immutably. I know it, I've got friends who have gone so deep into it that they would carry SPQR standards and eagles with them IRL, celebrate Lupercalia, and saturnalia if left unchecked. I don't want to follow them but, dammit, it's so interesting. I wonder where the event horizon is? Where you start feel personally angry about the punic wars.
FINALLY a video about this battle! I was getting tired of the Teutoburg battle. I think what the romans did after that battle is actually as interesting as the battle itself if not even more.
I think what makes this so interesting is that everyone goes on about how the Germanic tribes were geniuses because they beat a smaller army by catching them completely off guard. While it should be obvious that the ‘Germans’ should have won. The Romans however, attacked into lands their enemies knew better, and into carefully crafted lines and fortifications, and won anyway. But a lot of people just brush off the Roman victories cuz “well it is Rome”.
@@MrShitthead The Romans outnumbered the Germans at Teutoburg, had a 7:2 advantage at Angrivarian Wall, and probably equaled Arminius' forces at Idistaviso, according to Roman sources. Get your facts right.
@@MrShitthead The romans were numerically supirior at Tuetoburg forest though. Most Germanian tribes only joined the fight at the last day or shortly after the battle to take part in the spoils. Arminius basically only had the hardcore anti roman faction at his disposal during that battle with the majority of germanian tribes waiting to see how the battle would go without risking their onw necks. The fact that it took the germanian forces days to grind the roman army slowly down should speak volumes by itself. If they were numerical supirior they would have crushed the roman force during the first assault were suprise was absolute and the roman line the most stretched out. The entire battle was ecentially the germanians leading the romans into a position that would weaken them for a few days so they could slowly and part by part grind down the larger force. There is a reason why the romans themselfs were so utterly supirsed by this defeat. They didnt expect there to even be a germanian army able to resist a few legions to begin with.
@@noobster4779 Not to mention that the Romans don't count encirclement and destruction of their auxiliaries at Idistaviso, prior to the battle, as a separate engagement to preserve the myth of Germanicus being "undefeated". Or that in the immediate aftermath of Teutoburg, all Roman garrisons between the Rhine and Elbe were wiped out and hence we do not have a historical account telling us what happened to them.
It was more because of the heavy casualties in losing 3 legions behind enemy lines I’m sure. As an empire you would be pissed knowing your brothers were dismantled in dark forests full of barbarians.
Need more roman war stories like these delivered in this type of fashion, detailed description, detailed visual graphics from this channel. Great work with this series.
One has to wonder how the Germanic peoples would have developed had they undergone Romanization centuries earlier, through Germanicus' campaign. By the time of the Western Roman Empire's fall, there were plenty of Romanized German tribes (like the Vandals, the Goths, and perhaps most famously, the Franks), but I can't help but speculate on how Germany and the adjacent Scandinavia and Baltics would have been affected if the Romanization had occurred many centuries earlier.
a lot of horrible, evil Germanic nationalism arose as a result too. everyone loves to mythologize why they are the special ones chosen by history..............
It is different. If they had been conquered they would have disappeared like the Gauls. The Franks and Goths got romanizes as rulers of Roman lands, it is not the same.
The meaning of the battle is unclear. The Romans had claimed the battlefield, but did not achieve their real goal, the annihilation of the opposing tribes, above all the Cherusci. Possibly the battle contributed to the fleet starting the return journey too late and thus getting into fatal autumn storms. What is certain is that Tiberius stopped the fighting after 16 AD and sent Germanicus to the east of the empire. A great triumphal procession should keep the form. However, the emperor had already pushed for the end of the offensives in Germania last year, and the battle at the Angrivarian Wall was by no means the trigger for the imperial decision.
@@elliemin2282 Germanicus had claimed the battlefield, but then ordered the return to the winter quarters on the Rhine "since the summer was already drawing to a close". This measure seems strange in view of the victory and the pressure to succeed that weighed on Germanicus. Research has given several reasons. For example: A reoccupation of the attacking wall by the Teutons in the night or the threatening advance of the defeated but not destroyed Arminius army in the direction of the naval base. It may have been a precautionary measure to avoid falling into autumn storms when returning troops by ship. After arriving at the Ems, the return journey across the North Sea followed. In fact, the fleet got caught in a severe storm, resulting in high losses of people and material.
The wars of Rome have always fascinated me , from Carthage , to Parthia to ancient Britain. The Germanic and Gallic wars are some of the most interesting . I’ve heard of this campaign of revenge by Rome but never the narrative in detail . Thanks for this rich price of history in story form !!🎃
Hey Pullo, we made it. We survived the campaign season and we can finally get some rest. Woot. I’m going to go back to Rome to see my wife and kids. Hey Lucius, is that storm clouds I see on the horizon?
10:58 "So that's Mars, Jupiter and Augustus. Are we missing anyone?" "No, that should be the lot. I don't think there are any important gods who have been left off the inscription. Now let's prepare for our long and dangerous sea voyage." I mean really, what's the point of a classical education if you can't remember your _Odyssey_ at a time like that? ;)
It would be interesting to hear about the cost for Rome. it seams like Tiberius thought it took to much resources, money and lost men to continue the war. Even the victories resulted in losses especially at sea. Maybe they had to bring all food and fodder as well from the Empire because Germania was too poor to support an army of 70 000 people and horses.
Military campaigns are incredibly expensive. And Germania was so poor that the Romans got very few spoils and booty, compared to campaigns in the east or in places like dacia that had several gold mines.
Another factor would be Tiberius’s fear that giving his general the time, money, and men to bring this campaign to a successful conclusion would create a powerful rival to his rule.
alice you hit it on head , the cost was high ,, the reason augustus wanted to start taxing Germania was 17th and 18th and 19th legions were only going to be Legions station in Germania , unlike others on Rhine they were tax and paid for by Gauls and belgians ! Even Germanicus Campaigns ,the cost of shipping food and supplies was costly ! The only thing Tibierius wanted was wage Total War to make sure there be no threat ! and in that Germanicus succeded what Germanicus wanted was bring Germania in the Empire like his father done ! Tiberius never wanted to annex Germania he Opposed Drusus and Augustus and latter Germanicus .
@@cliffordjensen8064 is that actually documented anywhere? I mean Germanicus was his heir anyway and augustus' nephew. He already was highly revered by everyone no matter the outcome of the campaign. Claudius wrote a book about him fanboying hard in it.
I’m no sailor but the amount of times entire fleets were devastated by storms seems very high. I wonder if admirals or sailors had any way of combating them.
Well they had no meteorological service to predict storm. And the way the Romans quickly rebuilt their fleets make me think that the effects of the storms were probably exaggerated by roman writers.
In my opinion should just go along the beach and when they see the cloudy sky and raining just go towards the shores and wait it out. Sure time be wasted but better waste times than lives of veterans who could be put to great use in future.
Just look up some videos of the North Sea today..It’s insane to cross it today sometimes with modern ships..The North Sea has always been dangerous and the Romans knew there was always a risk trying to navigate it.
I think you should group the videos related to Varus in a playlist, in the order to be watched It's a very interesting series and it would allow me to share it more easily.
You have to imagine the pure joy and Roman stiffy the legions got when they heard "the enemy has decided to fortify." Just think of the centurions eyes glowing red and the artillery men just grinning like fools.
My favourite part about the Roman Legions was their go to coping mechanism in times of stress was to build fortifications no matter the time or place lol
@@jakobinobles3263 300 years later that would come round to bite them in the butt. I believe it was Lycurgus who warned the Spartans against fighting the same enemy too often lest they teach them the art of war.
These videos are godlike. I've loved this entire series! So much fun to watch and learn about. It's amazing we have access to such a rich history of these events.
Germanics:we beat romans what are our battle plans in the future? Leaders: let us face them in open field. Germanics: uh okay? They lose. Arminius:let us go back to forrests and swamps.
I finished watching "Barbarians" on Netflix, and though a very good series, it doesn't completely capture the whole context and fantastic detail this series has shown. Don't get me wrong, "Barbarians" is great, but with this series on Avenging Varus, we have a fuller and much richer picture of events. I think both complement each other, and make me appreciate so much more this chapter of Roman and Germanic history, but your series on Avenging Varus is the complete epic.
At this point I equate waiting for the finale of this UA-cam Series to that of a show I really like. Great content, super interesting to learn about this, and can't wait to see how it ends! Keep up the great work!
On the arrow exchange... arrows did nothing to armored soldiers with large shields. However, the legions would have to stop and take cover under their shields. In this way, the Cherusci could control the Roman advance by pinning them with missile fire. The lack of coordination of the Cherusci with the units in the forest meant that the delay tactic was not properly utilized. Germanicus knew that all that was needed was to keep the line and wait for Cherusci to tire of the fight and flee due to a realization of futility or flee because of the wounds of attrition. After the second artillery advance (8 min into the video), Germanicus was sure of his victory, if discipline was maintained.
4:50 "This is the way." Anyways, both Germanicus and Tiberius were right in this. I really believe one more good campaign by Germanicus would have taken cared of everything once and for all. Tiberius on the other hand would be proven correct. The Roman casualties were high, diplomacy would do well for security of the Empire's borders with client kings, allies, instead of raw military force. The tribes would also be fighting with each other and Arminius himself would die from his own tribesmen. Yet the collapse of the eventual Western Roman Empire would come from this very region.
If the Romans killed all the germans on the border other tribes will then occupy the land. That happened several times. And people still believe that the western empire fell because of the germans? Wrong. It fell due to internal problems, that were both economic and political in nature, and thanks to endless civil wars and instability.
@@dayros2023 so are you saying that the Germanic tribes migrating into roman borders and co opting entire provinces didn't destroy Rome when they literally sacked Rome and created a kingdom out of Italy, with the western government being dissolved? The Romans always had civil wars and instability but always bounced back, German mass migration and the vandals cutting off much needed grain imports from Africa killed the west, do not delude yourself and pass blame off of the Germanic tribes
@@pongsatonrattanapriyanuch7331 the western Roman empires bureaucracy and government systems and law were superseded by a new government entirely Germanic in origin and run by a king, they are two entirely different things, you even said it yourself they became the new rulers, only possible if they joined the government or replaced it, odeacer sent the western regalia back to Constantinople to show there will be no new western Roman emperor, if someone came to your country, conquered it, disbanded it, and instituted a monarchy based on their own laws entirely separate from yours, you would definitely understand you are in a different country now
@@pongsatonrattanapriyanuch7331 tldr, they more than just declared themselves new rulers of the same government, they toppled it and instituted their own government, which they were the rulers of, ergo they were now the rulers of their new conquered lands in western Rome
Its rather ironic that Arminius was once a Roman officer. Although he was a German prince allied to the Romans but I guess thats why he was a formidable foe. He knew what to do.
This part of history between romans and germans is so funny; > Rome strikes fear into the Germans > Germans surrenders > Some unfortunate thing happens to Rome > Germans revolt > Rome comes back with a bigger army > Repeat the first step
Well when it reaches desperation they got to lower their heads a bit as in my country Bulgaria we got a saying. It goes like "A bowed head, sword doesnt cut it" which is the logical tactic there. Let's please the Romans so they cool down gtfo majority of their force and when their fortunes are on bad luck we show up again. Simple.
@@ivokantarski6220 Negative, It's still stupid af. Rome was a big empire, if one army failed it didn't matter they had multiple. Same goes with troop replenishment, they could raise new armies no problem really. The germans knew (and if they didn't they were stupid) that angering a bigger nation, with better technology, equipment and soldiers would not be a great idea. They should've done one of two things; Either submit to Rome Or go all out a 100% and never surrender and keep on fighting. They did neither and tried to play both options, it was a pain in the ass for both parties.
@@ishitrealbad3039 Why would they do any of these things? The tribes didn't fight some kind of ideological total war that had to end in triumph or annhilation. Fighting as long as it makes sense and submitting when it is needed until the pressure is away once more is logical. Why would the tribal chiefs hand over their power when there was a chance to keep it and why would they throw away their lifes in a hopeless situation when they could negotiate with the enemy? The same also goes for the Romans as well as all other empires who have border regions full of unruly tribal people. You keep them as clients and pay them some amount of money so they don't get to annoying. If they get to aggressive or strong you whack them over the head so that they know their place. Wiping them out would only mean that other tribes could fill in that place that is now open and conquering such a poor region means that you now have a new border on which new tribes border which means the process starts anew. It is therefore less costly to have someonewhom you know and who only sometimes start a bit of trouble instead of fighting costly foreverwars in some underdeveloped hinterland.
Tiberius was actually right, that battle could have been more decisive with less casualties. If only the larger cavalry (that should bypass the forest by the right flank) was emphasized with the praetorians and germanicus.
Watching this rooting for the Romans as a huge Roman History buff but realizing as a German American I would have been fighting for my freedom with the Germanic tribes!
Lol, what makes you so sure? You may have roman ancestry too since there were many germanic auxiliaries serving with roman legions and mingling with local or even roman women. Freedom was not a germanic idea….Roma Victis
Seeing this pivotal series of events has been fascinating, what if Arminius had stayed loyal to Rome like his brother, what if Tiberius had allowed Germanicus to continue his campaign, what could had been if Germanicus had become emperor probably no Caligula, Claudius or Nero even if they were his son, brother and grandson since the succession probably would had come to one of his eldest sons who perished in exile not long after his death under suspicious circumstances, so two of the most infamous emperors would had not reigned but it would had mean that the emperor that promoted the conquest of Britania also would had not occupied the throne.
Loving this series! This channel is the first time I've heard Angrivarii mentioned, outside of the historical sources. My very first book, "Soldier of Rome: The Legionary", is about these same campaigns under Germanicus Caesar. Full disclosure: It does read a bit rough. But to be fair, it was my very first, and I had little practice; just a copy of Tacitus and boundless enthusiasm! I've had twenty-six books' worth of practice to improve since then! :) I've contemplated going back and revising "The Legionary", but I don't want to pull a "George Lucas" and feel I need to 'special edition' all my older works.
He acted wisely. Germanicus was certainly a brave commander, but his success was pretty volatile, and there's no indication his annual victories would have accomplished anything more than what he had done or even Drusus the Elder had done. The 'princeps' had campaigned for years there, had been sent in Germania nine times, knew the territory very well and was aware of the problems of Germanicus' campaign, the risk and disproved of the losses. He employed diplomacy to pit one tribe against the other, and subsequent emperors, like Claudius, while disproving many of Tiberius' foreign policy decisions, will follow his tangent regarding Germania.
The art in these videos is always excellent, but that illustration of Tiberius is the first time I've audibly said to myself, "Damn. That's a really good illustration of Tiberius. Looks just like his statuary".
Most excellent video. I am eager to see the next one. And, I doubt any projectile other than a trebuche stone or maybe scorpia bolt could sever a man's head.
This is the kind of battle where all that artillery and siege equipment we saw in the opening scene of Gladiator would have been appropriate. Why didn't Germanicus deploy them here?
They did deploy small artillery, as mentioned but it’s pure Hollywood to have Romans with catapults etc etc for open battle and even more so having to carry equipment into territory with under developed roads.
@@TomSmith-li5se What artillery? Small scorpions possibly, but no not catapults. I need a source as I can’t find any on Romans using artillery at Gerovia. Don’t get mixed up with Hollywood and history.
@@Vandelberger I confused Alesia with Gergovia lol. I mean the video itself says that romans used scorpions, catapults and onagers in battle multiple times esecially in sieges.
The Roman ships were caught sooo many times in storms that I can totally understand them being angry at the sea and stabbing it to death with their gladius.
![Avenging Varus - The Germanic Wars [FULL DOCUMENTARY]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZyzY4ayG8R4/mqdefault.jpg)
![Avenging Varus - The Germanic Wars [FULL DOCUMENTARY]](/img/tr.png)
If you are just joining us for this series. Here are the previous episodes:
Part 1 - ua-cam.com/video/7uV-n_LNQ6Y/v-deo.html
Part 2 - ua-cam.com/video/V9EJXiS4UL8/v-deo.html
Part 3 - ua-cam.com/video/BB1ccKhC6iE/v-deo.html
Part 4 - ua-cam.com/video/aYBR0-iVDnI/v-deo.html
An idea for a future video: How scouting works?
Often in many videos scouting is quickly mentioned as this simple thing everyone did which had a major impact on wins and losses, but how was this carried out? How did scouts find what they where looking for? Avoid capture and death and being the ones riding into blind territory, how did they so effectively remain the eyes of an army? Its something I feel is often glossed over here on youtube and it would be neat to learn more extensively how scouting worked
You should add these to a Playlist man
exquisite videos, mate. thank you.
Questions are welcome, so... why: " 'transphobia' will you get you banned"? I mean, why this specific phobia alone? Isn't it a sign of discrimination that just this single phobia is named, suggesting other phobias are of lesser importance?? So it is indirectly encouraged to be, say, racist, as long as it is not transphobic racism???
Armies would use horns, trumpets, drums, certain flags or banners and battle messenger or runners via foot or horse to inform ranking members of battle needs.
I may have missed something in this list. War cries or chants were sometimes used by certain races/groups but more larger armies had an official means as they were trained to what each thing meant.
Take a shot every time the Roman fleet sails into a storm.
Damn dude, we're trying to get drunk not die
Well the Romans are known for their army, not their navy.
and seperated from food supplies xD
@@phetproductions5818 Which is rather ironic because the army usually suffered the more emberassing defeats while the roman navy crushed every opposition it ever had and defeated a technologically more advanced and far better trained carthaginian navy with ingenuity and absolute iron will (cause Neptune loves to sink their fleets).
the roman navy was at least equally impressive comparred to the roman army, after the establishment of roman dominance over the mediterranian it simply lost its purpose compared to the army defending the giant land borders. At its peak the roman navy won Rome the first punic war despite their fleet getting fucked by storms twice.
I think sea storms and Rome are enemies like NY Yankees and Boston Red Sox. They can't live without each others
"But the enemy is behind a massive wall,sir!".." This is the way"
Roman soldier: Are you sure this is the best option-
Germanicus: I have spoken
This is the Way
Caesar nodding in approval
Romans of this period looked at strong fortifications held by the enemy as a way of keeping it from getting _too_ easy. (See also: Masada.)
Disney is a pedophile company.
Weinstein
Epstien
Disney
Could you do a video on how ancient armies communicated during battle? How would commanders give orders to a large number of men in the midst of a raging, chaotic battle? This seems like the kind of subject you guys to videos on and I think a look at it would be really interesting
Roman's used trumpets. The Parthians used war drums as well as the mongols, Ottomans etc. Also u have runners
@@Daylon91 they also had very famous war cries. These were so used that even after the fall of the western empire and long into the bizantine era the pattern of war cries was so universal for the legions that they still used the original words in latin even in a greek speaking era.
@@danielchequer5842 This is gross misrepresentations. The Roman army had a distinct command language, not war cries. This stayed Latin indeed well into the Byzantine era. "Communication in battle" means communication over a distance, from central command to unit. THIS was done by trumpets and ONLY trumpets.
The Roman army was famous for advancing in total silence, only interrupted by trumpet commands. And ONLY when the command to charge came (trumpet again) would they usher a war cry. Barbarians who encountered this the first time where usually mortified.
The best cinematic representation is this scene from Spartacus. No Special effect. Just thousands of extras from the Italian army.
ua-cam.com/video/ejW5Hg_lrV0/v-deo.html
@@michaelrenper796 thanks for the correction. I didn't wanted to use the term war cry as I know it's incorrect but I'm a native english speaker and that was the first thing that came to mind.
@@danielchequer5842 you mean "not a native speaker" - no problem. A war cry implies something emotional. The Romans had them as well, but the exact wording depended on circumstance.
We have detailed descriptions from the Byzantine era.on how people went to battle. First a prayer, some final commands. Then a "Silentio"
Ah yes back when the Praetorian Guard wasn't a bunch of backstabbing assholes but actually a effective fighting force.
Pay them well enough, unfortunately you had some emperors feel it not necessary to pay them at all.
@@kriseats2158
- Be Aurelian
- Single handedly pulls the Roman Empire out of the Crisis of the 3rd century in 5 fucking years
- Really fucking nice to everyone that isn't a babarian.
- Even praises the sun.
- Gets offed by Praetorians cause they are jealous weak chin boiz.
And this is only one of their many fuck ups.
They are straight up one of several main reasons why the Roman Empire declined. They killed all the decent emperors and put idiots on the throne until Constantine finally got rid of them.
Backstabbing assholes? When an emperor deserves to get wacked, it takes real men to do the job.
@@agentcooper6179 not to sound like a asshole but, oh yeah lets backstab the one emperor that is saving our asses(Aurelian) from a major fucking crisis what a briliant idea, oh yes lets kill Caracalla who's leading a major campaign against the Parthians the man that was very much pro-soldiers. they killed alot of decent emperors but these are just 2 very decent ones i could pick out.
@@agentcooper6179
I wouldnt say it takes a real man to kill someone lol
I'm getting sucked into the Roman history trap like a galaxy getting sucked into a black hole; gradually, immutably. I know it, I've got friends who have gone so deep into it that they would carry SPQR standards and eagles with them IRL, celebrate Lupercalia, and saturnalia if left unchecked. I don't want to follow them but, dammit, it's so interesting.
I wonder where the event horizon is? Where you start feel personally angry about the punic wars.
How do you feel about the… GAULS?
@@maxtafolla6206 GODS! I hate Gauls! My grandfather hated them too.... even before they put out his eyes.
@@maxtafolla6206 it's those rotten nervii bastards that are the problem...oh no it's begun
Galaxies have black holes in them.
It has begun. I tell carthago delenda est all opportunities and am celebrating saturnalia this winter. Let the die be cast I suppose.
FINALLY a video about this battle! I was getting tired of the Teutoburg battle.
I think what the romans did after that battle is actually as interesting as the battle itself if not even more.
I think what makes this so interesting is that everyone goes on about how the Germanic tribes were geniuses because they beat a smaller army by catching them completely off guard. While it should be obvious that the ‘Germans’ should have won.
The Romans however, attacked into lands their enemies knew better, and into carefully crafted lines and fortifications, and won anyway.
But a lot of people just brush off the Roman victories cuz “well it is Rome”.
@@MrShitthead The Romans outnumbered the Germans at Teutoburg, had a 7:2 advantage at Angrivarian Wall, and probably equaled Arminius' forces at Idistaviso, according to Roman sources. Get your facts right.
@@MrShitthead The romans were numerically supirior at Tuetoburg forest though. Most Germanian tribes only joined the fight at the last day or shortly after the battle to take part in the spoils. Arminius basically only had the hardcore anti roman faction at his disposal during that battle with the majority of germanian tribes waiting to see how the battle would go without risking their onw necks.
The fact that it took the germanian forces days to grind the roman army slowly down should speak volumes by itself. If they were numerical supirior they would have crushed the roman force during the first assault were suprise was absolute and the roman line the most stretched out. The entire battle was ecentially the germanians leading the romans into a position that would weaken them for a few days so they could slowly and part by part grind down the larger force.
There is a reason why the romans themselfs were so utterly supirsed by this defeat. They didnt expect there to even be a germanian army able to resist a few legions to begin with.
@@noobster4779 Not to mention that the Romans don't count encirclement and destruction of their auxiliaries at Idistaviso, prior to the battle, as a separate engagement to preserve the myth of Germanicus being "undefeated". Or that in the immediate aftermath of Teutoburg, all Roman garrisons between the Rhine and Elbe were wiped out and hence we do not have a historical account telling us what happened to them.
funny how studying history has so much more to it than just little boys day dreaming about war
I just love this series, its one of the more unheard of parts of roman History
Varrus wasn't worth the avenging, but I am glad glad he was because this series was ace
It was more because of the heavy casualties in losing 3 legions behind enemy lines I’m sure. As an empire you would be pissed knowing your brothers were dismantled in dark forests full of barbarians.
cuantas copas tienes?
is it really one of the more unheard parts of roman history?
Need more roman war stories like these delivered in this type of fashion, detailed description, detailed visual graphics from this channel. Great work with this series.
Germanic tribes: let's build walls like the Roman's do.
Roman's: look what they need to mimic a fraction of our power.
Hahaha the meme i had in mind.
Jokes aside, the germans learned a lot from their roman neighbors
funny but building a defensive wall is hardly a roman thing
@@sephiroaone-of-nine101 building them all the time everywhere they go is roman thing
@@saguntum-iberian-greekkons7014 ⁸p
@@saguntum-iberian-greekkons7014 Also Arminius became a Roman officer so thats how he knew what to do.
Best historical Roman series on UA-cam.
One has to wonder how the Germanic peoples would have developed had they undergone Romanization centuries earlier, through Germanicus' campaign. By the time of the Western Roman Empire's fall, there were plenty of Romanized German tribes (like the Vandals, the Goths, and perhaps most famously, the Franks), but I can't help but speculate on how Germany and the adjacent Scandinavia and Baltics would have been affected if the Romanization had occurred many centuries earlier.
a lot of horrible, evil Germanic nationalism arose as a result too. everyone loves to mythologize why they are the special ones chosen by history..............
@@beepboop204 "let Germanicus conquer Germania, goddammit!" said Winnie the Pooh, with concerned voice
Rome would have never been looted and the western Roman Empire wouldn’t have fallen
It is different. If they had been conquered they would have disappeared like the Gauls. The Franks and Goths got romanizes as rulers of Roman lands, it is not the same.
@@beepboop204 The Roman were such splendid neighbors weren't they?
Germanicus was an exceptional general. I just bought the only book written on this commander by Lindsay Powell. Looking forward to reading it.
A great "what if" of Roman history, he died far too young.
@@bobbyfeet2240 the Latin Alexander
@Alfie Coleman Germanicus did is best. He wanted to avenge Rome. Don’t say he’s a bad general because he isn’t
The meaning of the battle is unclear. The Romans had claimed the battlefield, but did not achieve their real goal, the annihilation of the opposing tribes, above all the Cherusci. Possibly the battle contributed to the fleet starting the return journey too late and thus getting into fatal autumn storms. What is certain is that Tiberius stopped the fighting after 16 AD and sent Germanicus to the east of the empire. A great triumphal procession should keep the form. However, the emperor had already pushed for the end of the offensives in Germania last year, and the battle at the Angrivarian Wall was by no means the trigger for the imperial decision.
@@elliemin2282 Germanicus had claimed the battlefield, but then ordered the return to the winter quarters on the Rhine "since the summer was already drawing to a close". This measure seems strange in view of the victory and the pressure to succeed that weighed on Germanicus. Research has given several reasons. For example: A reoccupation of the attacking wall by the Teutons in the night or the threatening advance of the defeated but not destroyed Arminius army in the direction of the naval base. It may have been a precautionary measure to avoid falling into autumn storms when returning troops by ship.
After arriving at the Ems, the return journey across the North Sea followed. In fact, the fleet got caught in a severe storm, resulting in high losses of people and material.
The wars of Rome have always fascinated me , from Carthage , to Parthia to ancient Britain. The Germanic and Gallic wars are some of the most interesting . I’ve heard of this campaign of revenge by Rome but never the narrative in detail . Thanks for this rich price of history in story form !!🎃
Hey Pullo, we made it. We survived the campaign season and we can finally get some rest. Woot. I’m going to go back to Rome to see my wife and kids.
Hey Lucius, is that storm clouds I see on the horizon?
PULLO, FORMATION!
Most of them didn't die tho, it just made a huge mess and fucked the evacuation.
I want to be Pullo in the end.
@@handles4days69 GET BACK IN FORMATION, YOU DRUNKEN FOOL.
Well uhm, Vorenus, your wife.. You see..
10:58 "So that's Mars, Jupiter and Augustus. Are we missing anyone?" "No, that should be the lot. I don't think there are any important gods who have been left off the inscription. Now let's prepare for our long and dangerous sea voyage." I mean really, what's the point of a classical education if you can't remember your _Odyssey_ at a time like that? ;)
Drowning Romans be like "Holy shit we forgot Neptune!"
@@gerardjagroo Actually they be like "Holy shit we forgot Neptu-glurp glurp" *dies*
It would be interesting to hear about the cost for Rome. it seams like Tiberius thought it took to much resources, money and lost men to continue the war. Even the victories resulted in losses especially at sea. Maybe they had to bring all food and fodder as well from the Empire because Germania was too poor to support an army of 70 000 people and horses.
Military campaigns are incredibly expensive. And Germania was so poor that the Romans got very few spoils and booty, compared to campaigns in the east or in places like dacia that had several gold mines.
Another factor would be Tiberius’s fear that giving his general the time, money, and men to bring this campaign to a successful conclusion would create a powerful rival to his rule.
alice you hit it on head , the cost was high ,, the reason augustus wanted to start taxing Germania was 17th and 18th and 19th legions were only going to be Legions station in Germania , unlike others on Rhine they were tax and paid for by Gauls and belgians ! Even Germanicus Campaigns ,the cost of shipping food and supplies was costly ! The only thing Tibierius wanted was wage Total War to make sure there be no threat ! and in that Germanicus succeded what Germanicus wanted was bring Germania in the Empire like his father done !
Tiberius never wanted to annex Germania he Opposed Drusus and Augustus and latter Germanicus .
@@dayros2023 They had booty at home.
@@cliffordjensen8064 is that actually documented anywhere? I mean Germanicus was his heir anyway and augustus' nephew. He already was highly revered by everyone no matter the outcome of the campaign.
Claudius wrote a book about him fanboying hard in it.
I’m no sailor but the amount of times entire fleets were devastated by storms seems very high. I wonder if admirals or sailors had any way of combating them.
Well they had no meteorological service to predict storm. And the way the Romans quickly rebuilt their fleets make me think that the effects of the storms were probably exaggerated by roman writers.
The did not combat them. That is why sailors were considered amongst the most superstitious within any given society until modern times.
It is still a bad explanation for such ship losses. I'm no sailor either, but these ship losses cannot be accepted rhat easily.
In my opinion should just go along the beach and when they see the cloudy sky and raining just go towards the shores and wait it out. Sure time be wasted but better waste times than lives of veterans who could be put to great use in future.
Just look up some videos of the North Sea today..It’s insane to cross it today sometimes with modern ships..The North Sea has always been dangerous and the Romans knew there was always a risk trying to navigate it.
I'm a simple man. I see Invicta has uploaded, I drop that like before the video has even started
Loving this Series man keep it up
I think you should group the videos related to Varus in a playlist, in the order to be watched
It's a very interesting series and it would allow me to share it more easily.
You have to imagine the pure joy and Roman stiffy the legions got when they heard "the enemy has decided to fortify." Just think of the centurions eyes glowing red and the artillery men just grinning like fools.
My favourite part about the Roman Legions was their go to coping mechanism in times of stress was to build fortifications no matter the time or place lol
@@BM-wf9uf sunset? Fort. Enemy? Fort. Hotel? Fort.
@@MrPlainsflyer Legio? Trivago.
@@BM-wf9uf Lol! Like an antistress thing to do. You're overworked? Build a fort!! it will make you feel better instantly
@@jakobinobles3263 300 years later that would come round to bite them in the butt.
I believe it was Lycurgus who warned the Spartans against fighting the same enemy too often lest they teach them the art of war.
Hey invicata man can you please make a youtube playlist of that series so the fans of ancient times can watch with ease
Chronological order if you will
@@leofwulf268 EXACTLY SIR"" EXACTLY ""
Agree
watching videos like this makes it nostalgic to remember that this was just a small total war channel long ago, now a 1 mil sub history behemoth.
These videos are godlike. I've loved this entire series! So much fun to watch and learn about. It's amazing we have access to such a rich history of these events.
@Coding Crusader Oh yes I'm sorry the English language must always be interpreted in its exact literal sense. My mistake. Thats sarcasm btw.
You like this? .... then you’ll *_love_* epic history TVs channel..
This guys ok
But epic history are gods
lol, that little pivot of the figurine at 13:07
Like: "YOU FUCKIN' WOT MATE?"
Germanics:we beat romans what are our battle plans in the future?
Leaders: let us face them in open field.
Germanics: uh okay?
They lose.
Arminius:let us go back to forrests and swamps.
Mama, always said fightin' Romans was best done in da swamps.
I finished watching "Barbarians" on Netflix, and though a very good series, it doesn't completely capture the whole context and fantastic detail this series has shown. Don't get me wrong, "Barbarians" is great, but with this series on Avenging Varus, we have a fuller and much richer picture of events. I think both complement each other, and make me appreciate so much more this chapter of Roman and Germanic history, but your series on Avenging Varus is the complete epic.
What amazes me so much is how huge these battles were, I.E. so many fighters. Compare to typical battle in U.S. Revolution.
At this point I equate waiting for the finale of this UA-cam Series to that of a show I really like. Great content, super interesting to learn about this, and can't wait to see how it ends! Keep up the great work!
Love this series, thank you for this and hope there are other stories like this in the coming future.
Varus must have been so blown away at the scale of his avenging. Just him up in heaven thinking all this was because of his failure.
This series is top notch. Thanks for an awesome Saturday surprise watched this video while sitting out back. Great video
On the arrow exchange... arrows did nothing to armored soldiers with large shields. However, the legions would have to stop and take cover under their shields. In this way, the Cherusci could control the Roman advance by pinning them with missile fire. The lack of coordination of the Cherusci with the units in the forest meant that the delay tactic was not properly utilized. Germanicus knew that all that was needed was to keep the line and wait for Cherusci to tire of the fight and flee due to a realization of futility or flee because of the wounds of attrition. After the second artillery advance (8 min into the video), Germanicus was sure of his victory, if discipline was maintained.
Who the hell is talking about Celts? LoL
Nice work, lads! Keep going!
This series has been AMAZING !
Was excited for this one, thanks!
Quality is improving every video sir, thanks for the fantastic content 👍
Found and subbed to you because of this series. Amazing channel.
Is it just me or did the already great art get a visual boost in this episode
4:50 "This is the way."
Anyways, both Germanicus and Tiberius were right in this. I really believe one more good campaign by Germanicus would have taken cared of everything once and for all. Tiberius on the other hand would be proven correct. The Roman casualties were high, diplomacy would do well for security of the Empire's borders with client kings, allies, instead of raw military force. The tribes would also be fighting with each other and Arminius himself would die from his own tribesmen.
Yet the collapse of the eventual Western Roman Empire would come from this very region.
If the Romans killed all the germans on the border other tribes will then occupy the land. That happened several times. And people still believe that the western empire fell because of the germans? Wrong. It fell due to internal problems, that were both economic and political in nature, and thanks to endless civil wars and instability.
@@dayros2023 so are you saying that the Germanic tribes migrating into roman borders and co opting entire provinces didn't destroy Rome when they literally sacked Rome and created a kingdom out of Italy, with the western government being dissolved? The Romans always had civil wars and instability but always bounced back, German mass migration and the vandals cutting off much needed grain imports from Africa killed the west, do not delude yourself and pass blame off of the Germanic tribes
@@klol3369 what do you mean Government being dissolved?
They basically declare them self as new ruler of Rome.
@@pongsatonrattanapriyanuch7331 the western Roman empires bureaucracy and government systems and law were superseded by a new government entirely Germanic in origin and run by a king, they are two entirely different things, you even said it yourself they became the new rulers, only possible if they joined the government or replaced it, odeacer sent the western regalia back to Constantinople to show there will be no new western Roman emperor, if someone came to your country, conquered it, disbanded it, and instituted a monarchy based on their own laws entirely separate from yours, you would definitely understand you are in a different country now
@@pongsatonrattanapriyanuch7331 tldr, they more than just declared themselves new rulers of the same government, they toppled it and instituted their own government, which they were the rulers of, ergo they were now the rulers of their new conquered lands in western Rome
Finally, ive been waiting for this ...
Thank you for an excellent presentation!! Informative and it covered bits I've not read ! Thanks much !!!👍👍👍😊
Well done folks. Thank you.
Thank you so much for uploading this video. It is helping me get through the pandemic!
Its rather ironic that Arminius was once a Roman officer. Although he was a German prince allied to the Romans but I guess thats why he was a formidable foe. He knew what to do.
The 13th Legion Neros killing machine
Thank you for these videos they’re so good. You can tell you have a passion for history
This part of history between romans and germans is so funny;
> Rome strikes fear into the Germans
> Germans surrenders
> Some unfortunate thing happens to Rome
> Germans revolt
> Rome comes back with a bigger army
> Repeat the first step
Well when it reaches desperation they got to lower their heads a bit as in my country Bulgaria we got a saying. It goes like "A bowed head, sword doesnt cut it" which is the logical tactic there. Let's please the Romans so they cool down gtfo majority of their force and when their fortunes are on bad luck we show up again. Simple.
@@ivokantarski6220 Negative, It's still stupid af. Rome was a big empire, if one army failed it didn't matter they had multiple. Same goes with troop replenishment, they could raise new armies no problem really.
The germans knew (and if they didn't they were stupid) that angering a bigger nation, with better technology, equipment and soldiers would not be a great idea.
They should've done one of two things;
Either submit to Rome
Or go all out a 100% and never surrender and keep on fighting.
They did neither and tried to play both options, it was a pain in the ass for both parties.
@@ishitrealbad3039 Why would they do any of these things? The tribes didn't fight some kind of ideological total war that had to end in triumph or annhilation. Fighting as long as it makes sense and submitting when it is needed until the pressure is away once more is logical. Why would the tribal chiefs hand over their power when there was a chance to keep it and why would they throw away their lifes in a hopeless situation when they could negotiate with the enemy? The same also goes for the Romans as well as all other empires who have border regions full of unruly tribal people. You keep them as clients and pay them some amount of money so they don't get to annoying. If they get to aggressive or strong you whack them over the head so that they know their place. Wiping them out would only mean that other tribes could fill in that place that is now open and conquering such a poor region means that you now have a new border on which new tribes border which means the process starts anew. It is therefore less costly to have someonewhom you know and who only sometimes start a bit of trouble instead of fighting costly foreverwars in some underdeveloped hinterland.
@@Xfire209 holy hell, do you not know how to organise text or are you still in school?
Tiberius was actually right, that battle could have been more decisive with less casualties. If only the larger cavalry (that should bypass the forest by the right flank) was emphasized with the praetorians and germanicus.
Watching this rooting for the Romans as a huge Roman History buff but realizing as a German American I would have been fighting for my freedom with the Germanic tribes!
Remember the Germans as we know them are not the Germanic tribes of Roman expansion.
Lol, what makes you so sure? You may have roman ancestry too since there were many germanic auxiliaries serving with roman legions and mingling with local or even roman women. Freedom was not a germanic idea….Roma Victis
@@spartanwarrior1 I am sure I share DNA with the area of Germnaia.
I don't think there were many German American volunteers ( on either side)
Seeing this pivotal series of events has been fascinating, what if Arminius had stayed loyal to Rome like his brother, what if Tiberius had allowed Germanicus to continue his campaign, what could had been if Germanicus had become emperor probably no Caligula, Claudius or Nero even if they were his son, brother and grandson since the succession probably would had come to one of his eldest sons who perished in exile not long after his death under suspicious circumstances, so two of the most infamous emperors would had not reigned but it would had mean that the emperor that promoted the conquest of Britania also would had not occupied the throne.
Loving this series! This channel is the first time I've heard Angrivarii mentioned, outside of the historical sources. My very first book, "Soldier of Rome: The Legionary", is about these same campaigns under Germanicus Caesar. Full disclosure: It does read a bit rough. But to be fair, it was my very first, and I had little practice; just a copy of Tacitus and boundless enthusiasm! I've had twenty-six books' worth of practice to improve since then! :) I've contemplated going back and revising "The Legionary", but I don't want to pull a "George Lucas" and feel I need to 'special edition' all my older works.
Again the animation on this channel is superb
Yes. Great video. Keep it up Man you really are doing a great job
LETS GOOOO! IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS VID!
such a good video please make more
Love the new animations!!
I thought this series was done! This is a first to be glad being wrong🥳
Fantastic channel
Great video, my dude
Such an amazing series so happy you made it
Damn Tiberius... he should have let germanicus finish the job
He acted wisely. Germanicus was certainly a brave commander, but his success was pretty volatile, and there's no indication his annual victories would have accomplished anything more than what he had done or even Drusus the Elder had done. The 'princeps' had campaigned for years there, had been sent in Germania nine times, knew the territory very well and was aware of the problems of Germanicus' campaign, the risk and disproved of the losses. He employed diplomacy to pit one tribe against the other, and subsequent emperors, like Claudius, while disproving many of Tiberius' foreign policy decisions, will follow his tangent regarding Germania.
Nicolas Vinas
Exactly
Yhis is an awesome documentary, very good quality
The art in these videos is always excellent, but that illustration of Tiberius is the first time I've audibly said to myself, "Damn. That's a really good illustration of Tiberius. Looks just like his statuary".
Most excellent video. I am eager to see the next one.
And, I doubt any projectile other than a trebuche stone or maybe scorpia bolt could sever a man's head.
Great job Invicta
I think the sea has the best KDA vs the Roman empire.
That's why Caligula declared war on it!
A brilliant documentary, thank you..
Please please please more of this.
Terrific video! I can't wait for the next installment. 🏹⚔
Yes yes yes yes I love the series damn it! It’s just so interesting! Thank you thank you!!!
Greetings from Bolivia !!
“I spit at your direction!”
- events that precedes disasters.
This was most welcome this morning
YES I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS VIDEO!!
This is the kind of battle where all that artillery and siege equipment we saw in the opening scene of Gladiator would have been appropriate. Why didn't Germanicus deploy them here?
They did deploy small artillery, as mentioned but it’s pure Hollywood to have Romans with catapults etc etc for open battle and even more so having to carry equipment into territory with under developed roads.
@@Vandelberger actually no because Caesar used them in the battle of Gergovia.
@@TomSmith-li5se What artillery? Small scorpions possibly, but no not catapults. I need a source as I can’t find any on Romans using artillery at Gerovia. Don’t get mixed up with Hollywood and history.
@@TomSmith-li5se Did the work for you from this same channel lol ua-cam.com/video/Ztd4qXY3Unc/v-deo.html.
@@Vandelberger I confused Alesia with Gergovia lol. I mean the video itself says that romans used scorpions, catapults and onagers in battle multiple times esecially in sieges.
work of art this video! well done and great job the the artists
I would agree with Tiberius' summation of Germanicus and his tactics
Wish you had a video on the standard bearer
Great Video 👍, can you make a video about the Batavian Revolt please
Great chapter!!! Thanks a lot!
Been waiting for this part !!
A new episode of avenging varus?? Let's fcking goooooo
This is the way.
this is fucking epic, good job on the soundtrack too
Great video : great to learn more about Rome’s battles in Germania.
Great content, high quality!
The Roman ships were caught sooo many times in storms that I can totally understand them being angry at the sea and stabbing it to death with their gladius.
it's here, the video is here!
Excellent series…subbed
Love this channel!
Whoa cool video !!
Love the epic feel for this video, it's pretty great.
The quote mentions engines ( balistas) in the ranged units, yet the host fails to mention this piece of roman heavy artillery in the introduction.
Excellent Episode🎊🎉😄
i love germanicus monuments, it feels so good to learn about after learning about the arch-traitor arminius' betrayal
Brilliant series..
My Bois getting back in to it!
Excellent. Liked and subbed.