Germanicus's Rhine Campaigns — Vengeance and Retreat
When Augustus died in 14 CE and Tiberius became emperor, Germanicus — commanding the Rhine legions — used a mutiny crisis to reassert authority through battle. He led his forces across the Rhine in aggressive strikes against Germanic tribes. In 15 CE Germanicus visited the site of the Teutoburg disaster, now six years overgrown. He found the bleached bones of the legionaries scattered across the forest, the horses' heads nailed to trees, Roman altars where prisoners had been sacrificed. He gave them burial — an act of profound piety. The campaign climaxed in 16 CE with two major battles. At Idistaviso the Romans caught Arminius's forces in the open and won a clear victory. A second battle at the Angrivarian Wall involved fierce fighting but ended in Roman success. Arminius was wounded; Germanicus recovered one of the three captured eagles. Tiberius then recalled Germanicus, awarding him a triumph. The recall was politically motivated — Germanicus's popularity with the troops was threatening. Tacitus believed the recall was disastrous: given one more campaign season, Germanicus could have destroyed Arminius. Instead, Germany remained unsubdued.
- Year: 14 CE
- Category: Military
