Arminius
Sobriquet: Chieftain -- Hermann der Cheruskerfürst (Hermann the Cheruscan Prince) -- Arminius (Roman)
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History: Arminius was born around 18 B.C. He was the son of a German Cheruscan chief named Segimerus. Sometimes referred to as Hermann (man of war in German), Arminius was a child hostage. In 1 A.D., Arminius was forced to join the Roman Army as a hostage. He was trained in Roman military tactics and obtained Roman citizenship. The military training would later bite the Romans in the rear.
The battle that Arminius is most widely known for is the Battle of Teutoburg Forest where the 25-year-old Arminius brought to Varus (his enemy) a fake report of rebellion in northern Germany. He persuaded Varus to divert the three legions under his command from their original route to where Arminius was to fend off the made-up rebellion. Varus walked right into Arminius’ trap. And having been a Roman Soldier for as long as he was, Arminius was well versed in the way of Roman battle and had taught it to his men.
Arminius and his men ambushed Varus and his men and annihilated them to the tune of 20,000 dead men. When Varus realized that he had been outsmarted and was heading down the road of defeat, he did what any nobleman would do. He fell squarely on his sword taking his own life so nobody else could. Arminius’s success in destroying three entire legions and driving the Romans out of Germany was one of the most devastating defeats for Rome and they weren’t going to just take it lying down.
Rome decided to retaliate. So there was more battle and Arminius had a few more victories. He even married, but before he could get his happily ever after, his wife was captured and his son was forced to grow up in Roman custody. Arminius was eventually killed by rival Germanic chiefs, but his short-lived battle prowess lives on.
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