His son, Germanicus, born B.C. 14, was sent, in A.D. 12, to command
the forces on the Rhine. After quelling serious mutinies among his
legions he crossed the Rhine and attacked and routed some of the
German tribes who had been actively aggressive against the Romans.
During the following year he defeated other tribes, and after his
return across the Rhine he was persuaded by Segestes to aid him
against his son-in-law Arminius (the Latin name for Herman), by
whom Segestes was besieged and who, according to Tacitus, became in
the end the deliverer of Germany from the power of the Romans. But
before he was able to render this service to the German peoples he
had many hardships to endure, and at the hands of Germanicus he met
with severe reverses.
Arminius had defeated Varus, who, by reason of that disgrace,
killed himself (A.D. 10), and the despatch of Germanicus to command
the German legions was ordered in the first instance to revenge the
overthrow of his predecessor. Although it required several
campaigns, the work of Germanicus was so effectual that he withdrew
in the end, at the command of Tiberius, with advantage on his side,
and, returning to Rome, enjoyed a triumph (A.D. 17). His name is
preserved in history, alike for his military talents and services,
for his attainments in literary pursuits, and his nobleness of
mind.
In the consulship of Drusus Cæsar and Caius Norbanus a triumph was
decreed to Germanicus; the war continuing. He was preparing with all
diligence to prosecute it in the summer, but anticipated it by a sudden
irruption early in the spring into the territories of the Cattians: for
he had conceived a hope that the enemy was divided into opposite parties
under Arminius and Segestes, both remarkable for perfidy or fidelity
toward us: Arminius was the incendiary of Germany, but Segestes had
given repeated warning of an intended revolt at other times and during
the banquet immediately preceding the insurrection, and advised Varus
"to secure him and Arminius and all the other chiefs; that the
multitude, bereft of their leaders, would not dare to attempt anything;
and Varus would have an opportunity to separate the guilty from the
innocent." But fate decreed it, and he was slain by Arminius. Segestes,
though drawn into the war by the universal agreement of the nation in
it, yet continued to disapprove of it; his detestation being augmented
by motives of a domestic nature, for Arminius had carried away the
daughter of Segestes, already betrothed to another: the son-in-law
hated, the fathers-in-law were at enmity; and those relations which are
bonds of affection between friends fomented the animosities of enemies.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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