The Battle of Teutoburg Forest
Explanatory Note
The Battle of Teutoburg Forest did take place in 9AD, and 3 Roman Legions were destroyed by an alliance of German tribes under the leadership of Arminius. In my story, apart from Arminius, Segestes and the major Roman officers, all other characters are fictional.
I have speeded up events at the start and finish of the debacle, though the actual struggle in the forest is described more or less as it happened. With the inclusion of Xena, and Gabrielle with her Amazons, this tale must be regarded as fiction; not an exact historical re-construction.
—OOO—
Enter these enchanted woods,
You who dare.
Nothing harms beneath the leaves
Only at a dread of dark . . .
Thousand eyeballs under hoods
Have you by the hair.
Enter these enchanted woods,
You who dare.
'The Woods of Westermain'. George Meredith.
—OOO—
Fair Warning
Chapter 1.
Xena's Preparations
Xena sat her horse on a slight eminence that gave a view over the open grassland stretching away along the forest's flank. The trees were mostly low-growing oaks, elms and firs mingled together. The forest could not be said to be thick; no individual tree was more than a man's chest in width or about forty feet in height, but it had the advantage of covering a vast area, stretching in all directions as far as the eye could see. The general terrain consisted of a series of low rolling hills interspersed with flat heaths that were mostly covered with pines. The ground there was swampy underfoot; more so in the aftermath of the bad weather which had been prevailing for the past weeks.
This, however, had melded perfectly with the pre-arranged plans worked out in such detail over the last few months. The mud and swamps of this part of the forest were now an active element in the martial plans of the many Germanic tribes so carefully hidden amongst the trees. Defensive barriers had been constructed; earthen walls thrown up with barricades atop; the very lie of the land brought into use; all tribal chiefs given clear instructions on their actions; every conceivable aspect of the plan discussed and decided so that now everything was ready, and all the thousands of tribal warriors and Amazons knew exactly what their duty was: to destroy the Roman Legions utterly and without mercy from the face of the earth!
For into this seemingly benign forest landscape would soon be appearing not one, nor two, but three Roman Legions with their accompanying Cohorts of auxiliary troops, Alae's of cavalry, and assorted camp-followers; for the Governor of Upper Germania, Publius Quinctilius Varus, was preparing to uproot his command from its Summer fort in the West and retreat South to his Winter camp: and he had chosen to do so in a most unprofessional manner!
Another woman sat her horse beside Xena. This was Serilda, one of the warrior leaders of the Cherusci tribe; of which Arminius was a Chief. She was acting as second-in-command to the famous warrior-woman at this moment. Both looked down over the rolling grass stretching out to the horizon.
"Nice ambush territory!" Xena nodded happily. "Uneven ground; lots of copses; swamp everywhere; and hills to attack from. Yeah, I like it!"
"Then there's the forest itself." Serilda turned to smile at the tall warrior by her side. "Extensive, and useful as a defence: hides our movements well! Great place for those earth ramparts you had built!"
Serilda herself was only a couple of inches shorter than Xena. About 30 years of age, she had thick brown hair twisted in long plaits falling over her shoulders, and a cloth band round her forehead. Like Xena beside her she wore a heavy woollen jerkin; loose cloth trousers tied at her waist with a thick leather belt, and long boots just like the men; so that from a distance it was impossible to tell either Xena or her from the other soldiers. In this Germanic army there were many other women just like Serilda taking their place, on an even footing, amongst the male warriors.
"That was Arminius's idea; I only oversaw the construction." Xena smiled at her companion. "They'll work well, I think."
"Yes." Serilda agreed with a grin. "Then, with our long spears, we'll have the advantage over them! Their bows won't be much use among the trees. They're not close-set; but enough to stop a fusillade of arrows easily."
"It all depends on Arminius being able to convince Varus of the reality of this supposed uprising." Xena frowned as she looked round at her companion. "If he can't do that—then everything falls to the ground!"
Serilda considered this silently, without attempting any answer. It was the mainstay of the whole plan. That Arminius, even at the present moment fully in the confidence of the Roman General Varus, could persuade him that an uprising was taking place in the East of the province was the crux on which absolutely everything depended. If he succeeded then the German plan would swing into operation; if he failed, there was no way out and Arminius's position as a revered leader of the Cherusci tribe would be severely dented, if not destroyed completely. Segestes, his young wife's father, would have been proven to be correct with his repeated warnings of Arminius's treachery and the Legions would be safely withdrawn from the danger area, to fight another day. The thought of this possible outcome had been giving Serilda, and other German warriors, sleepless nights over the past week or so.
"There's nothing we can do about that, Xena!" Serilda took comfort in the only outlook possible in the circumstances. "With Arminius out of contact among the Romans, we just have to hope for the best; and prepare for success!"
"Yeah, you're right, Serilda!" Xena nodded. "Keep everybody's spirits high, and sing of victory round the campfires at night!"
Xena herself was somewhat doubtful that such a plan could have much chance; but she had seen how emotionally involved the German warriors were, and had put all her sense of purpose into helping with the preparations over the last few weeks.
"The one good point is that the only feasible route; once Varus takes the bait from Arminius and heads East, is round the Northern edge of the Kalkriese Ridge." Serilda smiled at the prospect. "There's only a strip about one hundred yards wide between the hill-slope and the swamp at the edge of the forest oaks! And we've built the earth-wall twelve feet high and nearly ten stadia long! If we can surprise the Romans there, we can't fail to slaughter them!"
"Yeah, that's the plan!" Xena was never one for counting her chickens before they'd hatched. "When Arminius leaves Varus he'll head slightly North; meet up with your battalion of warriors; then circle round to come up on the Roman Fort near the Wiehen river. He and you both attack and destroy it; along with the Cohort of legionaries from Legion XVII, and the accompanying Cohort of auxiliaries, that have been stationed there. They're meant to be moving out to rejoin Varus before he enters the Teutoburg Forest proper; but we aim to see that never happens! It will be another weakening of Varus's forces, before the main battle even begins!"
"All these small events; all of which need to be successful! It's trusting to luck a lot, ain't it, Xena?" Serilda was not used to the detailed planning necessary to ensure success in a major conflict between large opposing armies; and she struggled to understand the immense detailed preparations necessary for a triumphant outcome. "Gods! I've never seen such a throng of warriors, all in one vast group before!"
"Don't worry, Serilda!" Xena smiled quietly at the woman by her side. "Arminius is a fine leader; and I've had some experience in these matters myself! You'll be surrounded by your own warriors when you go into action. And these affairs tend to break up into small intense local actions! It'll be like any other fight you've been in; either with other German tribes, or whatever clashes you've fought in against smaller Roman units! It'll pan out fine, you'll see! When I see the Legions coming through the woods where my warriors are stationed, then we'll know the bait's been swallowed! How many of your Cherusci warriors are here?"
"About 2,000, Xena!" Serilda had the numbers at her finger-tips; having trained and harangued them over the last six months in readiness. "They're in the woods behind us now. There's also another 2,500 Germanic warriors from the Bructeri, Sicambri, Chauci and other tribes in this section. They've moulded together very well, after some initial grumbling and head-splitting! But you know that; you did some of the head-splitting yourself, if I remember rightly!"
"Gotta let 'em know who's boss!" Xena laughed in recollection. "Kick the trouble-maker's asses hard enough and they'll follow you anywhere! An old trick I learned in Thessaly! Come, let's take a look at 'em!"
They turned their mounts and slowly descended the low hill till they were once more under the shadow of the spreading forest again. Here they dismounted; leaving their horses in the care of a group of warriors awaiting them. Xena led the way forward till they emerged onto an open grassy heath that was almost a wide plain. Here there were many tents and temporary stockades for horses, and palisades where various wagons were held. Milling all around were the massed ranks of part of the main army of Arminius's alliance.
The several thousands of warriors visible, milling in quiet groups around their makeshift canvas tents, were almost all members of the various Germanic tribes scattered across Northern Germania. There were representatives of the old-established alliance of the Suebi, as well as a newer mixture of tribes who had come together at Arminius's call. What they all had in common was a heartfelt desire to see the Roman invaders thrown out of their country; and they now had the white-hot spark of resistance glowing in their hearts under Arminius's command.
Staring around her Xena could easily tell these numerous warriors; all in traditional blue woollen capes and trousers, their long hair blowing in the wind, were all set for action. Even though not in battle readiness at the moment many hundreds still walked about with the long-hafted spears they called frema under their arms. These weapons had ten-foot shafts, with a short very sharp blade. The warriors were experts with this apparently ungainly instrument and could easily hold their own against any attacker. The weapons, surprisingly, had been found to be excellent against the usual Roman short sword; when brandished by a well-trained German tribal warrior. Xena had seen them in training; tried the weapon herself, and been well-pleased with its qualities. She knew that, given a fair chance at close quarters with their Roman opponents, these Germanic warriors could wreak havoc.
"The other warriors are pretty evenly spread out along the barrier line." Serilda scratched her chin as she stood beside Xena, going over the lay-out in her mind. "The next two sections on our right-hand are held by a mix of the Germanic Suebi tribal warriors; Marcomanni, Naristi, Anglii, Langobardi and some others; and Gabrielle's Amazon alliance."
"Gabrielle's with her Chalcidice warriors over to the East; back in the forest, ready to harass and drive the Legions in the right direction once the attack begins." Xena mused out loud as she reflected on the set-up. "She has Otrera and her Torrequa Amazons spread out through the woods along the route Varus will initially be bringing his troops towards us."
"Yes." Serilda turned to the Greek warrior with a wide grin. "Those Amazons are wonderful among the trees! I've been on some training exercises with them, as you know. It's just amazing how they can blend in with the green and brown of the undergrowth and trees. Disappear as if they weren't there; and yet be standing almost on top of you!"
"I know, it can be frightening when you're not used to it!" Xena laughed. "Gave me a shock when they did it to me the first time! Hopefully the Romans won't know what's hit 'em; and be scared outta their pants!"
"Ha! It's a thought!" Serilda gave a chuckle as she glanced all round again. The women stood here amongst one of the larger sections of warriors, some 4,500 in all; though several other groups, just as strong, were located at various places along the extended defensive line of the trail it was hoped Varus would be taking through the forest
Xena had struggled long and hard to instil the capacity to melt into the background among the many warriors; and had succeeded more than she first thought possible. Gabrielle and Otrera between them had also provided expert knowledge to the German warriors on this matter, at a level which had amazed even Xena. She had been out in the woods with Gabrielle on a training mission just a few days previously, during which she had seen for herself Gabrielle's capability in forest-work. That night; lying by her campfire under her blanket, Xena had shed some quiet tears of pride for her Amazon lover!
"So, this is the morning that Varus is meant to start his trek." Xena looked across at her companion. "I just hope Arminius can keep the bluff going! It's incredible that he is still in Varus's good books, considering that devil Segestes has been so active in berating him to Varus!"
"Arminius has been so long in Rome's good favour; and Segestes' personal vendetta against him is so well-known to everyone, Varus just can't bring himself to believe he could be a traitor." Serilda shrugged her shoulders and adjusted the strap of the metal helmet she wore. "Good thing for us!"
"I hope Varus falls for this tale about the uprising!" Xena shook her head, as she kept an eye on the busy scene surrounding them. "Are you quite sure he'll take this particular route along Kalkriese Ridge?"
"There isn't another that's feasible!" Serilda spoke firmly, in emphasis of what she said. "I know there's only just a wide enough track for his soldiers to travel along here, between the Ridge and the swampy forest; but if he decided to go further south he'd have to skirt the Ridge, enter a thicker stretch of forest and cross several valleys that would seriously slow his army's movements. He'll come this way, have no fear!"
"I have no fear, Serilda!" Xena smiled grimly. "Just determination! You know, of course, we must slaughter these soldiers? This isn't just any battle: this must be the last battle! No-one on the Roman side survives, except as a prisoner! This is our one—our single—chance. We must take it!"
"Don't worry, Xena!" Serilda, on her part, smiled coldly. "I can guarantee my German warriors are unforgiving and relentless. There won't be any mercy shown to anyone. What my people want is Roman blood; and they will have it, at all costs!"
—OOO—
The Roman Camp
Segestes and Varus
"Why does no one of you Romans believe me!" Segestes stood on the short grass before the wide canvas tent and waved a closed fist in frustration. His long dark hair blowing in the morning breeze. "Arminius is a traitor! He means to rebel against Rome, and take control of the province for himself. I know it!"
"Nonsense!" Beside the irate German the heavy stolid figure of the Roman General Varus stood as firm as a Legionary Eagle Standard in the Campus Martius. "Arminius is my friend. I have known him since he was a child. He is soaked in Rome; is a Roman; he has been given the honour of Roman citizenship! You do yourself no good by continuing with these worthless allegations, Segestes! Everyone knows he took his wife, your daughter, by force from under your nose; and you can't forgive him for that enterprise! You really must let it go! And this is not the time or place for these accusations! I have other things to attend to! You may have noticed that in a few hours I shall be heading my Legions out to march to our Winter camp in the South? Three Legions, Segestes! As well as six Cohorts of auxiliaries! I have the might of Rome under my command, and I have to lead the whole army South through these damned Germanic forests and swamps! An army amounting to some twenty thousand people! I have more to think about than stupid rumours!"
Segestes shook his head in frustration. He had, for the last few months, been trying to warn General Varus; and almost any other Roman official he could cajole into a corner, about his deeply felt suspicions of the man who had so arrogantly taken his young daughter from him. But no-one would listen, believing him to simply be another German tribal leader pursuing a personal vendetta against a Roman officer. For Arminius had been under the influence of Rome for so long he was now widely regarded as a Roman.
"So you will not listen?" Segestes virtually snarled the words. Another aspect of his personality which did not enhance his standing among the Romans was his abrupt nature. He had long given up offering the Romans the respect they obviously expected from such as he. That this decreased his status in their eyes was something which he had never been able to understand.
"I am listening now; and I have listened before!" Varus turned from the German warrior to signal to an approaching officer. "That is the trouble, Segestes! Your story has lost its interest; yet you insist on repeating it ad nauseam! It really is too much to expect a Roman to listen to insinuations of that nature without any evidence at all! However, I have things to do! I shall see Arminius later this morning! I will return to bid you farewell before you leave, Segestes!"
The General walked off beside the young officer who had joined him, and was soon lost amongst the crowds of uniformed soldiers milling everywhere in the bustling camp. For, although everything was ready for their departure, the Legionaries were in that state of initial excitement common to enterprises such as this just before the final orders were given. Segestes moodily strode back towards his own tent as another German warrior came up to march beside him.
"Varus refuses to see what is in front of his eyes, Ataulf!" Segestes looked at the seasoned warrior, who was his second-in-command. "There is nothing more I can do. Let us ready our men to head South-West. Varus doesn't want us. And I don't want to be in Varus's boots when he takes his Legions out on the march. Arminius has something planned; I am sure of it! I don't want to be with Varus when it happens. The man is a fool! He doesn't even intend to lead his Legions in battle-order! Can you believe that? I leave him to his own devices; may the Gods be with him! Well, Ataulf, I'd better see to organising our own warriors, if we want to be out of this mess before the morning's over! Come, let's be on our way!"
—OOO—
Arminius and Varus
An hour later, across the nearly dismantled camp, Varus stood by the side of a tall clean-shaven young Roman; except that this was not a Roman but a full-blooded German warrior. Arminius, through his many years under Roman influence; and his determination to fall in with his mentor's ways and methods, had long since been accepted as an almost true Roman. This was what he had worked all his adult life for; and it would have shocked every Roman who knew him at all well to know he had been plotting the demise of his hated hosts for several years. Only Segestes spoke out against him with any resolve; and Segestes's personal antagonism towards Arminius was so well known throughout Rome it made his every insult and accusation a laughing matter.
"So, Arminius! This supposed uprising! I am glad you came to me yesterday evening to inform me about what your chiefs had heard from the Eastern Province! Some stupidity on the part of the people there. I shall have to change my route to check the matter. What have you new to tell?" Varus hooked a thumb in the belt of his uniform jerkin and eased the tight silver-plated breast-plate he already wore in preparation for the coming trek. "I need any details you can give me. It is a long way through the forest; and a severe march for my Legions. You have a sure and safe course for my army to follow?"
"Aye. This is the country of my tribe, the Cherusci. In the present circumstances I'd advise heading towards the Kalkriese Ridge then marching alongside it for about 2 parasangs, before veering North-East again." Arminius stroked his chin in thought as the two men walked side-by-side through the groups of soldiers and camp-followers milling all round. "There is some rough, perhaps swampy, terrain to pass through; but you will quickly reach a more open part of the forest that is far better for marching. As for information—I have spoken again with my tribal chiefs who came from the East a day or so ago. They all say a number of the smaller tribes there have rebelled and called for others to join their cause. I am just unhappy that I will not be able to accompany you myself on this first section!"
"Do not worry, Arminius." Varus gave a short laugh as he took the young man's wrist in his powerful hand for a moment. "I am glad your sources were good enough to bring this matter to light. Better to deal with it straightaway, than let it fester for weeks or months before I could address it properly! Your suggestion of taking your Ala of cavalry to rally whatever German tribal warriors you can collect in the immediate area is a good one. It will save me releasing an ala of my own; or worse still, ordering one of my cohorts of auxiliaries out on scouting work! When do you expect to return?"
"Probably in three days, General." Arminius smiled slightly at the heavy-set man by his side. "It may take some time to assemble however many warriors I can locate in this district who wish to follow you. But this uprising is nothing to worry about; they are all mere tribes-people over in the East, not real warriors. It is a mere angry mob, letting off steam; nothing more!"
"Still, it is slowing my progress a great deal." Varus growled unhappily. "Make a good sweep through the forest. Find out all you can. The more tribal warriors you can rally to my Standard the better! I expect you back in three days then! Go! Make your preparations. I shall see you again before you leave. May the Gods be with you!"
—OOO—
Discord in the Ranks
Numonius Valla and Lucius Caedicius
The Legatus Numonius Valla had problems of his own; problems that were growing, at least in his own mind, with every passing day. Nominally in charge of the army of three Legions and six Cohorts of auxiliaries who backed Varus's presence in Germania, he was in fact outranked by Varus who had always made it clearly known that he, as Governor, commanded the Legions and directed their actions. Varus had that most Roman of beliefs; that if you had the Legions in the palm of your hand you were all the safer from rebellion and assassination. So Varus kept firm control of the Legions under his power and made sure the Legatus, nominal head of the army, was never given enough freedom to feel comfortable.
Things were made worse by the fact that Numonius was a soldier's soldier. He believed in the military excellence of the Roman legionary over any other warrior in the known world. And the basis of this superiority lay in discipline, constant exercise and organisation. Varus, on the other hand, was not much more than a Senatorial amateur. In Numonius's eyes the Governor had a shockingly lax outlook to both military exercise and planning. As far as Numonius could tell Varus had only the slightest grasp of military manoeuvring: as Governor in the civil sense he may have been adequate, but as a military leader he had little knowledge; and far too much bravado. As a Roman Senator and Governor; and de facto General of three Legions, he was boastful egoistic and self-opinionated in a way that made the other regular officers in the army constantly come to whisper words of censure in Numonius's ear in the dark of the night. And now with this trek East, under Varus's direct command, Numonius was reaching the final stages of his resentment towards the pompous fool.
In the movement of an army as strong as the present force under Varus's command there was an established format for operations. This usually meant having the various segments of the army separated into their single units and marching in an organised pre-planned group. The traditional method would be to have some auxiliaries and mounted archers acting as scouts, often a parasang or more to the west or east and ahead of the main force. Then would come the advance-guard of the marching army, a Legion generally supported by an Ala of cavalry. Behind these forward soldiers would be a force of Pioneers who would make preliminary improvements to the route for the following troops; chopping down trees, and clearing a position for the next camping area and so on. Then, at a little distance behind, would come the Legatus or General in command, with his group of servants and camp-followers travelling with the baggage of the General and other officers. There would follow behind this a unit of cavalry of about 250 men or so belonging to the other two Legions; then the second part of the baggage-train with more camp-followers, after which would come the Staff officers and Eagle Standards. Behind these would appear the main force; the two remaining Legions marching in close ranks at a military pace and under strict discipline. In the rear of this force would come the third and final part of the baggage-train containing the equipment and personal items and food of the mass of legionary soldiers. Finally, would be the rear-guard of a couple of hundred mixed soldiers and auxiliaries to hold the line safely at that point. Commanders usually tried to make sure the entire column did not extend longer than a single parasang or so in length, for safety's sake.
That, at least, was the accepted method long used by every serving Roman military commander of any expertise at all. But Varus was different. He had a swollen opinion of his capability in all areas, civil and military, which tended to colour his decisions and practices in these circumstances. In the present situation he had made it known from the outset he had no patience with this regulated disciplined plan. That such a course would mean discomfort for him and a great deal of extra work which he refused to countenance. He commanded, therefore, that the army should march during the whole trek through the extended forests, in an un-ranked mass. The Legions should mingle with the baggage-train; the camp-followers should disperse through-out the army; and the several Alae of cavalry should not keep ranks, but ride mingled with the auxiliaries and legionaries. Neither should the baggage-train, with all its multitude of equipment, keep together; but everyone should mingle as they saw fit in the massed crowd of people as they all marched together. This would mean that; in the country they were about to traverse, the line of the column could extend for as much as three parasangs along the winding forest trail; perhaps much longer.
For Numonius this appalling amateurishness was the last straw. It spoke of a foolishness bordering on madness. If he had been sure of a sufficient force behind him he would have rebelled, deposed the fool of a Governor, and sent to Rome for instructions. But he had no concerted followers; he had never been one for plotting behind the back of his superiors and now he was alone with an idiot in charge of a Roman army's trek through probable enemy territory, with no recourse in his hands. If he made his opposition clear to Varus, the Governor might very well think that an execution would do no more than add to his reputation for strict and harsh rule! Numonius was powerless; outranked; distrusted by Varus; and could not tell anymore which officers were with him, and which were vassals of the General! Numonius was an angry, frustrated man; and his anger was building to a climax.
This was not helped by the presence of another military officer over whom he had no confirmed power. Lucius Caedicius was the Prefect of the military camp at Alisi, in the North-West of the Province, and had joined Varus with an Ala of some 500 cavalry-men which the General was happy to add temporarily to his military strength. Lucius had been more or less forced into this action by quiet, but determined, suggestions from Varus himself. Varus always liked to impress his power on those under his control, and the present vast movement of his troops gave him the perfect excuse to co-opt Lucius's forces to the greater glory of the Roman army; whether Lucius agreed with the policy or otherwise! So, happy or not, Lucius was here with his 500 cavalry; while Varus had, in a sop to the young Prefect, made it known that he would not be under Numonius's control, but was a free agent in his own right, under Varus's orders. The troubled Legatus was not a happy man.
As Numonius; a stocky round-headed man with close-cropped hair and sunburnt skin, rode amongst the legionaries as they prepared to march out he saw riding towards him this latest nemesis in his life; Lucius Caedicius himself. A moment later they reined up beside each other.
Lucius was in his early thirties and of a sturdy build. He had a strong jaw that spoke of determination, and had a light in his eyes which easily quailed soldiers who suffered his anger.
"Ah, Legatus!" Lucius spoke firmly as he sat his mount beside the officer. "Something of a confusion all round us this morning, eh? But no doubt it will all turn out right. I notice Legion XVII is not forming at the vanguard of the column! Is there a reason? I thought you would be leading the front as we set out?"
"Varus made his dispositions for the trek quite plain last night at his meeting, Caedicius!" Numonius almost spat the words out. He knew perfectly well the jumped-up Prefect was merely irritating him deliberately. "There is to be no formal arrangement of the troops on this expedition; as you well know!"
"I still can't believe it!" Lucius shook his head in true disbelief. "I did hear him, yes; but I never expected such an amateurish disposition to actually take place! Can't you reason with the General?"
"He is the Governor of the Province, and as such outranks me!" Numonius had explained this before, and was not pleased at having to repeat it. "General Varus goes his own way. I would not suggest you try to cajole him into changing his plans: you may find he is rather unforgiving of criticism! Or perhaps I shouldn't warn you!"
"Legatus! Such frostiness!" The young Prefect laughed in the face of the slightly older man. "So I must look out for myself in this throng of legionaries and back-stabbers, eh! But I had already surmised as much for myself!"
Lucius had developed a strong dislike for the Legatus over the few weeks he had been in his company. The fact that Numonius took his ill-temper out on his subordinates at every opportunity had not escaped Lucius, and he thanked Providence that he was not under the man's direct command. At least Varus had managed to make one good decision that had gone in the Prefect's favour; probably more by luck than any reasoning on Varus's part!
"If you want to be in Varus's good books, try asking him to let you take your cavalry out on a scouting run!" Numonius snorted in contempt as he turned his horse's head to ride off towards the supposed head of the column. "See how far that gets you! Ha!"
Lucius watched the figure of the Legatus disappear amidst the crowd of other riders, wagons, and mixed groups of cavalry and soldiers. Glancing about him the Prefect could see for himself that, instead of a disciplined organised column, there was the beginnings of a mere rabble forming. Even a plain cavalry soldier such as he could see this ill-ordered mass of assorted camp-followers, legionaries, auxiliaries, and supposed road-pioneers was a disaster waiting to happen. He scratched his head as he tried to understand the reasoning which had made Varus think such a disposition of his forces; on such a dangerous trek, could have any kind of logical sense. But he failed; as he had done last night on first hearing in disbelief the General's proposed plan.
Once more he thanked Providence he was able to hold his ala of cavalry together on his own terms. Something told him, as he turned to ride back to his troops some way down the unformed line of people, that keeping his force in a tight disciplined formation would be the most important task before him over the coming days.
—OOO—
Amazon Preparations
Gabrielle had placed the majority of her forces deep in the forest some way to the West of the winding Kalkriese Ridge. The trees here were in no way comparable to the enormous thickly-set giants of the Northern forests, but they did give cover over a wide area. The trees spread out for parasangs in every direction; intermingled with low hills, heaths, broad tracts of swamp, and the occasional line of higher hills forming barriers to easy progress for all but the most determined traveller.
At the moment she sat on the stump of a freshly fallen tree, the trunk of which lay along the ground beside her. Next to her stood the tall figure of an Amazon, looking down at her with one hand clasped in her leather belt. They were both dressed in deerskin trousers and jerkins, with steel helmets of the type used by Roman auxiliaries.
"Let's be sure we have everything sorted." Gabrielle glanced up at the other Greek woman as she continued idly passing a flat stone over the blade of the short sword she clasped on her lap. "My warriors are well-placed along the route leading to the Ridge. We can follow Varus when he arrives; then join in when the attack begins. And you?"
"My warriors are further up towards the ridge escarpment, as we agreed." Otrera smiled thinly as she went over the disposition of her Amazons in her mind. "The Calessi group are mainly near the ridge itself, while my Torrequa Amazons are spread out along the barricaded trail, manning the earthwork barrier; along with the various tribal warriors who'll eventually be under Arminius's command when he arrives."
"That's good." Gabrielle nodded, shrugging her shoulders a little under the chainmail shirt that covered her chest. This was another item from the equipment that had come with Arminius's alliance of mostly battle-hardened warriors; many of whom had served at one time or another as Roman auxiliaries, and had retained their kit. "You've done well in training your two tribes of Amazons to work together efficiently over the past year. They'll do fine over the next few days."
"Thanks. Yes, I have confidence in them." The brown-haired woman moved slightly to the side of the seated Amazon Queen. "They've mingled well. Almost one tribe, now. Hopefully this'll be the exploit that moulds them together once and for all."
Gabrielle gazed around the small clearing. There were some three or four hundred or so warriors milling about, sorting out weapons and making sure of last minute changes. They were mostly Amazons, but a large contingent of Germanic warriors had arrived to strengthen this particular section and the men were making jokes and amusing themselves quietly in converse with the women. The Amazons, on their side, gave as good as they received and Gabrielle could hear all round the muted laughter as they all got to know each other. She was glad that the Germans, in particular, had blended so easily with the sudden influx of women. But, as she had quickly come to realise, these grizzled veterans of years of fighting all knew professional warriors when they saw them; and the army which Gabrielle and Otrera had brought North contained the best women-warriors from the tribes under each's rule.
"All your section-leaders know the signals?" Gabrielle believed in making sure of the most insignificant detail in such matters; even if she had to repeat herself often.
"Yes, my Queen, they know the colours of the signal-flags and each of the horn notes." Otrera glanced round at the crowds of warmly clad warriors under the trees. "They are ready, and willing!"
Both women looked out over the wide glade at the variety of warriors. Most of the men wore the ordinary woollen shirts, jerkins and trousers of the Germanic tribes; the Amazons were generally clad in a mix of deerskin leggings and loose long-sleeved tops; while many other of the Germans sported various pieces of Roman equipment from their days as auxiliaries. Some had helmets; some breast-plates; others linen or woollen clothing of markedly Roman origin; while a few were so well equipped they looked exactly like Roman legionaries.
These latter had created a problem for Gabrielle and Otrera in that they had to find some way to make clear that they were not, in fact, Roman. In the end Gabrielle had gone with the idea of wrapping a thin length of blue-dyed linen round their left arm. This, accompanied by the fact they all had the long hair and beards of the German warrior-tribes, would hopefully be enough to distinguish them in the heat of battle.
Gabrielle put her sword aside and rose to stand beside her second-in-command. Her blonde hair and complexion made a strong contrast with the sunburnt and dark-haired woman beside her; but they stood together as friends and comrades, whose closeness had been forged in the heat of battle and hard times. As such they knew and respected each other's character and expertise.
Gabrielle looked high into the sky, easily seen through the thin widely placed trees. There was no difficulty in viewing the clouds and trying to forecast the weather prospects; unlike the more familiar thickly-set forests of Northern Greece where it was often impossible to see the sky at all!
"Grey and overcast. Just one big, wide-spreading cloud! And raining again!" Gabrielle grunted in disgust and clapped her arms together in an attempt to feel warm. "It's chilly, too! You'd think it was the middle of Winter already, instead of just the end of Summer!"
"Yeah! We ain't used to this climate." Otrera nodded glumly as she too tried to make herself feel as if her feet weren't cold and clammy. "Damp, and muddy, and swamp everywhere!"
"Well, Xena and Serilda are having the same trouble where they are further North." Gabrielle laughed at the thought of the renowned warrior-woman standing under a tree and swearing at the weather. "I can just see her now! Wouldn't like to be within earshot!"
The young German tribes-woman, Serilda, had proved to be a great asset. At first Gabrielle had been somewhat reserved about her role so close to Xena; but a few weeks training with her had shown the German to be a sharp intelligent warrior. When Serilda had confided to Gabrielle, one evening, the fact that she was at present unhappy because she was so far divided from her boy-friend; who was attached to a warrior-group further East along the prepared line of defence, Gabrielle began to feel much more at ease with the woman! She was jerked out of this reflection by Otrera's continuing with the weather topic again.
"Do you know, my Queen, I had to lead my last battalion of warriors almost ten stadia to the North to circumvent a swamp that appeared on our route that wasn't there a month ago!"
"I believe you!" Gabrielle nodded, frowning a little as she brought her attention back to the crowds of warriors all round them. "But Xena seems to think it'll work out in our favour, in the long run! Apparently the worse the conditions become underfoot, the greater chance Varus will lead his army along the Kalkriese Ridge trail! It'll be the only viable route leading him in the direction he needs to go!"
"The earth ramparts we've built along the edge of that trail certainly took enough effort." Otrera shrugged her shoulders as they started walking back towards the long canvas tent which served Gabrielle as her temporary headquarters. "It'll be a blow if Varus heads somewhere else!"
"He won't!" Gabrielle smiled grimly as she looked at her companion. "I have every confidence in Arminius's powers of persuasion! This is the only really likely trail; and Varus is an idiot as far as military tactics go, that's obvious to anyone who knows him! He'll head this way, have no fear! Come, time to get everyone moving!"
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Segestes Leaves
Segestes had not brought many warriors with him when he had arrived a few days before to attempt one last time to talk some sense into the intransigent Roman General. His whole force numbered perhaps three hundred men; just enough to bestow on him the authority of his position as a Germanic Chieftain, without appearing to oppose Varus's Legions in any way. Now, as the morning wore on, he had finished his preparations and was about to leave the Roman base, after his unsuccessful meeting with Varus. For one last time he sat his horse beside that of Varus, outside the General's tent; now at the heart of disarray as everyone nearby put the final touches to their supposedly carefully-planned measures to commence the vast army's move forward towards the forest, just visible on the misty horizon.
"Will you not take heed, Governor Varus?" Segestes still could not believe a Roman General could disregard his oft-repeated words of warning so completely. "For the last time, Arminius is not to be trusted! What he will do, I do not know. But something is in the wind. This rumour he speaks of, about some uprising in the East! Nonsense! The tribes there are hardly above the animals they keep in their fields; mere farmers who couldn't hold a spear or sword if their lives ever depended on it! You go on a pointless expedition in that direction! There is no uprising. Take my word for it, General Varus!"
"On the contrary, I take Arminius's word that there is, Segestes!" Varus sneered openly at the vassal German Chief beside him. "I have watched over the years as he rose through the Legionary ranks, and I trust him as a Roman! Your personal antagonism towards him has reached heights that make a fool of you, Segestes! I will not listen to you! I have experience and power as a Roman Governor; and I have every belief in my capability, and the Roman Legions under my command! Do you wish anything before you leave?"
"No!" Segestes grimaced in disgust as he turned his mount's head. "I wish all the Gods on your side, Varus! I have no grievance towards you, or your Legions! I have said what I came to say. Goodbye!"
He rode off without a glance back, and in a few minutes Varus enjoyed the delightful sight of the battalion of Germanic tribesmen riding out behind the blue-caped Chief on his way South towards the frontier with Gaul; where there were other, strongly-manned, Roman forts strategically placed. Soon there was only a dust-cloud to mark the position of the retreating warriors; and within a few minutes, in the damp misty atmosphere, all trace of their presence was gone.
"No loss to the Roman army there!" Varus grunted and turned to a Prefect beside him. "Come, Ceionius, let us go find Arminius. He will himself be almost ready to head out to muster fresh forces for us!"
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Arminius Leaves
There was a great deal of hustle and bustle throughout the remnants of the base as all the camp-followers finished loading their wide-wheeled carts with the last of the provisions and equipment necessary to the smooth–working of a Roman army. Even though the day was rainy there was still a considerable amount of dust thrown up by the squads of marching legionaries, and others intent on last-minute jobs before it was too late. Varus rode through this hurly-burly like a man well-used to such activity, making a bee-line for the Northern corner of the almost broken camp where Arminius had his tent and Germanic auxiliaries stationed. As he rode up the General could see the cavalrymen already in ranks and ready for departure, with the figure of their leader in all the panoply of a Roman Prefect at their head. He wore a silver-plated breastplate that, even on this dull day, shone brightly.
"Ha, Arminius, how goes it?" Varus called, with a note of pleasure in his voice. For he truly respected and trusted this young man who had come, over the years, to be his right-hand commander. "Are you ready to leave? A pity you must search out more warriors in these damned forests; but it will help me when you return with reinforcements!"
"Thank you, General!" Arminius rode to meet the heavy-set Roman and drew his horse up alongside the resplendent General. "My troops are ready. Your own preparations appear to be going well!"
"Ah, uprooting oneself from a well-loved camp and travelling through these dark swamps and forests is a nightmare at the best of times; but it will eventually lead to the Winter camp where we can all finally relax in comfort! I have noted your directions about the route to the East. It will take me along the Northern edge of the Kalkriese Ridge, you say?"
"Aye, General." Arminius nodded with a broad smile; perfectly at ease with the situation. "There isn't much of a trail for several parasangs as you skirt the hill close on its North side; and a nasty swamp on the forest side, but it will open up quickly to allow your army a much easier march from then on, take my word on it!"
"I do, Arminius." Varus smiled complacently. "I am glad to have the knowledge of such an expert, who knows the area intimately. Saves me much trouble and time, I assure you. Well, thank you and good luck in your search for more tribal auxiliaries! I need all the warriors you can muster; but I need to have you back, out in open country further East, in three days or so!"
"As you order, General!" Arminius nodded at the Roman and raised his closed fist to his breastplate in the Roman salute. "May the Gods be with you, Varus! Goodbye, till we meet again!"
Another moment saw him turn his horse and ride forward to the head of the closely-formed ala of auxiliary soldiers under his command. A last wave to the watching General and he rode out at the head of his small force. Within a couple of minutes an intervening copse of pines hid all further view of the departing cavalrymen and Varus once more turned to the Prefect-Commander by his side.
"Well, Ceionius, that idiot Segestes has left us, thank the Gods!" The General laughed chestily as he turned his own horse towards the point where he intended to ride in the newly-forming military line. "And our friend Arminius is now on his way, too! The new auxiliaries he brings on his return will be of great assistance. A fine Roman officer, if I say so myself! Come, let us be on our own way. I have no liking for this proposed trek along the Kalkriese Ridge, and I don't like the sound of those swamps; but needs must and it'll let us reach those damned insurgents in the East all the faster. And won't I know what to do with them, Ceionius! Uprisings like that need to be made an example of, and I am just the man for such a job! Come, send to Legatus Valla to head the vanguard on its way. Those traitorous animals in the East will soon bend before the might of Rome: and a touch of slavery afterwards will do them no harm, eh? Ha! Ha!"
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A Centurion's Life
Marcus Aius, though still only thirty-two, was an important soldier. Centurion of Cohort 1 of Legion XIX, he had much on his mind as he struggled to maintain some kind of authority and discipline among the small group of his men whom he had managed to keep together this morning. The order from Varus that everyone, including legionaries, should mingle and walk alongside all the other assorted members of the expedition had been met with general disbelief by the soldiers. But there was nothing to be done except obey orders; encourage the men's spirits; and try to sustain his authority over them. Marcus was finding all this somewhat difficult, as soldier after soldier came up to him to ask what in Hades was General Varus thinking of! He himself had no idea of the answer, so found it increasingly difficult to give any comfort to others.
He tightened the belt at his waist; took a reassuring grip of the hilt of his short sword and glanced around at the ever-increasing mayhem.
"Hey, you! Legionary! What in Ares name are you doing? Get over to the other men and stop chatting with those civilians!" Marcus had lost most of his temper an hour or so ago, and was now working on a reserve of mild irritation that gave his language, if nothing else, a flavour of the rich Italian South from which he had sprung. "Gods! This is more like a farmer's convention than a regulated Army on the march! Come on! Get in line; and get in step!"
Marcus groaned in disgust. Whatever else happened on this march through the Germanic forests, he could foresee some real trouble in the ranks over the perceived lack of respect to the legionaries that the soldiers clearly felt General Varus was showing towards them. As the rain began to fall in heavier sheets, and run in drops down his face, Marcus once more turned to the fifty or so soldiers he had managed to hold in one group and shook his head as he took the lead.
"March in close step, men; and keep your eyes on the Eagle Standard beside me! We are Roman soldiers, remember, not a rabble of Germanic tribesmen! Follow me!"
End of Chapter 1.
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Note on the disposition of the various forces.
Publius Quinctilius Varus, infamously, allowed his army to travel in an irregular manner. Instead of the Legions being in close formation; on alert; with out-lying scouts; and the army sections being directed in a disciplined configuration, he let everyone travel mingled together. This included his Legions, which were dispersed among all the other travellers, Cohorts, and Alae with no formal military pattern at all. Why he allowed this we do not know. The army travelled at the pace of the foot-soldiers and extended in a crawling line about 9 miles in length, amazing as this may seem!
Germanic/Amazon attack strategy.
Arminius's tribal forces used a policy whereby they locally outnumbered any single group of Varus's mixed–up soldiers and camp-followers. Because they were caught in such a loose formation, in difficult terrain, the Roman soldiers' usual discipline, experience, and military tactics were ineffective against this guerrilla strategy.
Roman Strength
a. Three Legions (Legio XVII, Legio XVIII, and Legio XIX). Only Roman citizens were allowed to join a Legion. Each Legion comprised 10 Cohorts. A Cohort consisted of six "centuries" of 80 men; each commanded by a Centurion. Cohorts were numbered in each Legion. Each 1st Cohort was almost double-strength, with 800 men. Total 15,360 men.
b. Six Cohorts of auxiliary troops (non-citizens or allies). Total 2,880 men.
c. Three squadrons of cavalry (alae), An Ala comprised 500 cavalry-men. Total 1,500 men.
d. Lucius Caedicius has his own ala of 500 cavalry, from the camp he commands at Alisi.
e. Large numbers of camp-followers. Wagon-drivers, cooks, servants, slaves, road-pioneers, etc. Say about 1,000 men & women.
Total — 21,240 men & women.
Arminius's Germanic Tribal Alliance
Suebi Alliance — Langobardi, Naristi, Marcomanni, Quadi, & others.
Arminius's Alliance — Cherusci, Bructeri, Marsi, Sicambri, Chauci and Chatti.
Total — 24,000 men.
Gabrielle's Amazon Army
The Southern Chalcidice Tribe. Her own tribe. 4,700 warriors.
Otrera's Northern Torrequa & Calessi Tribe. 7,100 warriors.
Total Germanic/Amazon Forces — 35,800 warriors.
Measurements of distance
1 parasang = 3 miles approx. (4.827 km). 10 stadia = 1 mile approx. (1.609 km).
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This story will be approximately 18 chapters in length; and each chapter will be much shorter than this initial chapter.
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