Hermann (Arminius), by Augustus Tholey

Identifier: historiccharacte01spof (find matches)
Title: The Library of historic characters and famous events of all nations
Year: 1894 (1890s)
Authors: Spofford, Ainsworth Rand, 1825-1908
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Publisher: Philadelphia : W. Finley
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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hen Augustus was firmly established in power as thefirst Emperor of Rome, he directed his armies to the subjuga-tion of various tribes on the borders of the empire. Themost important of the Roman wars of this period was thatagainst the Germans. It consisted of a continuous series ofattacks from 12 B.C. TO 5 a.d., first by Drusus, and after hisdeath in 9 B.C., by Tiberius, both of whom were step-sons ofAugustus. Vast armies penetrated into the interior of Ger-many ; fleets coasted along the northern shore and sailed upthe great rivers to cooperate with the land forces. The north-ern districts between the rivers Rhine and Elbe werebrought into seeming and sullen subjection to the Romans.To aid in the maintenance of that domination, the childrenof the chiefs of the tribes were taken as hostages and givenan education, generally at Rome. Hermann was the son of Sigimer, the chief of the Cherusci,and was born B.C. 16. But in early boyhood, with his brother,76 Conm.HT asA ai Wm, FiNier It Co.
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HERMANN. HERMANN, THE HERO OF GERMANY. 77 he was taken to Rome, named Arminius, educated in thebest Roman method, made a Roman citizen and a knight,and admitted into the Roman army. Through this training he quickly perceived the hopelessness of pitting undis-ciplined barbarians in open field fight against Roman co-horts. While Roman honors and refinements denationalizedhis brother, who had received the Roman name of Flavius,Hermann remained incorruptible. At this time Rome had as many as fifty fortified positionsalong the Rhine, many of them the sites of the present great German cities; among others Bonn, Mayence, etc. The Roman fleets often sailed into the mouths of the Rhine, Ems,Weser and Elbe. These fleets sailed from the harbors of conquered Gaul. Quintilius Varus, who had previously been governor of Syria, was commissioned as the viceroy of Northwest Germany. Accustomed to rule over submissive vassals, he tyrannized with the greatest rapacity and licentiousness. In thishe was

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