Rome's Greatest Humiliation: Roman Empire vs Germanic Tribes
In 9 AD, Arminius led a Germanic ambush, destroying 3 Roman legions in Teutoburg Forest.
Warning: this episode contains accounts of violence that some listeners may find disturbing.
In 9 AD, the rebel chieftain Arminius and his confederation of Germanic tribes ambushed three Roman legions in the Teutoburg Forest. For days the Romans were relentlessly stalked through the woods and pounced on by their pursuers. All told, up to 20,000 Romans were killed in the chaos, and only a handful were able to escape. The battle proved to be one of Rome's most devastating defeats, and left a scar in the Roman psyche for generations to come.
In this Explainer episode, Dan explores the historical context for the battle and its profound consequences for Roman strategy and expansion. He's helped by Dr. Simon Elliott, who provides deeper insights into how the Roman military worked, and where its vulnerabilities lay.
Written and produced by Dan Snow, and edited by Max Carrey.
All music from Epidemic Sounds/All3 Media.
Dan Snow's History Hit is a History Hit podcast.
