The Battle of Teutoburg forest is a story of betrayal, of one man’s vehement desire to liberate his people from Roman rule and the brutal, bloody lengths he would go to achieve it.

Tristan Hughes heads to Germany to investigate how these German 'barbarians' beat one of history’s most powerful and well trained armies. With contemporary writing and expert historians on hand he walks in the footsteps of what's now remembered as the Varian disaster.

In the early first century the Romans saw Germania as a land of forests and swamps full of backwards people, a place easy for them to conquer and control for their growing empire. German tribes were paying taxes, giving tributes and sending their high born sons to Rome, it was all going so well…but within this flourishing empire was a growing resentment of ruthless Roman rule.

In early 9AD Roman forces led by Roman General Publius Quinctillius Varus crossed into the area of Germania run by the Cherusci tribe. Luckily for them they had a high profile Cherusci on their side who had been educated in Rome, he was the perfect tamed barbarian, Arminius. Arminus would be their guide to all things Cherusci, helping negotiate trade deals with the area’s Germanic tribes and ensuring safe passage throughout Barbaricium.

To control this potentially hostile area, Varus and Arminius were aided by three legions, roughly 15,000 men, who were highly efficient trained killers. By Summer this team of Cherusci and Roman’s had hacked their way further into the heartlands of Barbaricium, spending time in ‘friendly’ territory…but little did they know there was a traitor in their midst…Arminius aided by thousands of Germans had a plan that was about to change Roman history…forever!

At the end of the summer Varus and his men were dismantling their camp ready for a return to the safety of the Rhine, but shock erupted through the camp as news broke of an uprising. A group of Germans had risen in revolt against Roman rule!

Varus and his legions decided they had one more fight in them before they headed back for a restful winter. They marched into Barbaricum, ready for an easy win against these troublesome Germans.

Varus and his men headed deeper and deeper into Germania unaware of the impending danger that lurked for them within the dense forest ahead.

Episode two will be coming at the end of April.

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Fancy finding out more:
- Teutoburg Forest - www.land-des-hermann.de
- Haltern Am See - https://www.lwl-roemermuseum-haltern.de/en/
- Varus Museum - https://www.kalkriese-varusschlacht.de/en/museum-park.html
- British Museum - www.britishmuseum.org

See the Kalkriese Armour and other incredible Roman artefacts at the British Museum’s Legion exhibition until June 23rd www.britishmuseum.org/exhibitions/legion-life-roman-army