![]() He forced a crossing of the Weser near modern Minden, suffering heavy losses, and then met Arminius' army at Idistoviso, further up the Weser, near modern Rinteln, in an engagement often called the Battle of the Weser River. In spite of doubts on the part of his uncle, Emperor Tiberius, Germanicus managed to raise another huge army and invaded Germany again the next year, in 16 AD. This victory, combined with the fact that winter was fast approaching, meant Germanicus's next step was to lead his army back to its winter quarters on the Rhine. Arminius initially lured Germanicus' cavalry into a trap and inflicted minor casualties, until successful fighting by the Roman infantry caused the Germans to break and flee into the forest. The raids were considered a success since the major goal of destroying any rebel alliance networks was completed.Īfter visiting the site of the disastrous Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, where 20,000 Romans had been killed in 9, and burying their remains, he launched a massive assault on the heartland of Arminius' tribe, the Cheruscans. He was able to devastate large areas and eliminate any form of active resistance, but the majority of the Germans fled at the sight of the Roman army into remote forests. His major success was the capture of Arminius' wife in May 15. In a bid to secure the loyalty of his troops and his own popularity with them and with the Roman people, he led them on a spectacular but brutal raid against the Marsi, a German tribe on the upper Ruhr river, in which he massacred much of the tribe.ĭuring each of the next two years, he led his 8-legion army into Germany against the coalition of tribes led by Arminius, which had successfully overthrown Roman rule in a rebellion in 9. ![]() But he chose to honour Augustus' choice and put an end to the mutiny, preferring to continue only as a general. Refusing to accept this, the rebel soldiers cried for Germanicus as emperor. A short time after, the legions rioted on the news that their recruitments would not be marked back down to 16 years from the now standard 20. ![]() In the year 12 he was appointed consul after five mandates as quaestor.Īfter the death of Augustus in 14, the Senate appointed Germanicus commander of the forces in Germania. He is recorded to have been an excellent soldier and inspired leader, loved by the legions. Germanicus assumed several military commands leading the army in the campaigns in Pannonia and Dalmatia. Upon his adoption by Tiberius his name was changed to Germanicus Julius Caesar. Augustus compelled Tiberius to adopt Germanicus as a son and name him as his heir (Tacitus, Annals IV.57). In 4, at the persuasion of Livia (Augustus' wife), Augustus decided in favour of Tiberius, a stepson from Livia's first marriage. He was also a favourite with Augustus, his great-uncle and his wife's grandfather, who, for some time, considered him as heir to the Empire. Germanicus became immensely popular among the citizens of Rome, who celebrated enthusiastically all his victories. The other six survived to grown age:Īgrippina the Younger, mother of Emperor Nero Two died whilst very young, another Gaius Julius Caesar died in early childhood. Germanicus married Agrippina the Elder, a granddaughter of Augustus, who gave him nine children. Livilla and Emperor Claudius were his siblings. Germanicus' parents were general Nero Claudius Drusus (son of Empress Livia Drusilla, third wife of Emperor Augustus) and Antonia Minor (daughter of triumvir Mark Antony and Octavia Minor, sister of Augustus). He was the father of the Roman emperor Caligula, brother of the emperor Claudius, and grandfather of the emperor Nero. At birth he was named either Nero Claudius Drusus after his father or (less likely) Tiberius Claudius Nero after his uncle, and received the agnomen Germanicus, by which he is principally known, in 9 BC, when it was awarded to his father in honour of his victories in Germania. ![]() Germanicus Julius Caesar (24 May 16 BC or 15 BCOctober 10, 19) was a member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty of the early Roman Empire. Natural - Claudia Antonia, Claudia Octavia, Britannicus Adoptive - Gaius Caesar, Lucius Caesar, Agrippa Postumus, Tiberius
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