Early Roman Empire, Rome, Julio-Claudian Dynasty (27-00-68), Augustus, Western Provinces and Frontiers: Illyrian Revolt, Teutoburg Forest

Great Illyrian Revolt (7-9)

The revolt began when the Daesitiates (Bosnia and Herzegovina), led by Bato mutinied and defeated the local Roman troops. The Daesitiates were soon joined by the Breuci (Croatia) and as their leader was also called Bato, the war became known as the bellum Batonicum.

They gave battle to a Roman force from Moesia, led by its governor Caecina Severus (cos.1 BC), and despite their defeat they inflicted heavy casualties at the Battle of Sirmium (Pannonia). Augustus, fearing an Illyrian invasion of Italy, ordered Tiberius to withdraw from Germania and move his army to Illyricum. Tiberius agreed a peace with Maroboduus and sent ¹⁸Valerius Messalla (cos.03 BC), the governor of Illyricum, ahead with troops and Augustus raised a second task force under Tiberius’ nephew Germanicus.

After two years of war, in the summer of AD 8, Bato of the Breuci surrendered to Tiberius on the bank of the Bathinus (=Bosna?) River. Tiberius and Germanicus began capturing one Illyrian city after another, eventually besieging Bato the Daesitiate at Andetrium. After heavy casualties on both sides, Tiberius finally succeeded in taking the city. The final resistance took place in the city of Arduba. Facing defeat, Bato the Daesitiate surrendered to the Romans in AD 9.

Battle at Teutoburg Forest (AD 9)

With Germania now apparently peaceful, Augustus appointed Quinctilius Varus to be its governor. Varus decided that Germania, an allied area under Roman influence, should be a Roman province. When he attempted to consolidate imperial control by imposing taxation (paid in metal) and jurisdiction on the recently conquered inhabitants, the tribes began to plot revolt under Arminius (38/9; fl.4-21), a prince of the Cherusci tribe (north Germania) and  an officer in the Roman army.

When Varus heard reports of a local revolt he set out with three legions and Arminius, who accompanied him, deceitfully directed him along a route that would facilitate an ambush. In September AD 9 in the Teutoburg Forest (supposedly near Detmold, central-northwest Germany) his supply wagons became mired and the Roman troops broke formation. On the second day of fighting Varus’ cavalry was annihilated. By the end of the third day some twenty thousand infantrymen had been slain. Varus, humiliated, committed suicide.

This Roman defeat forced Augustus to set the Rhine instead of the Elbe as the eastern limit of his domain in Germania. In AD 12 Tiberius and Germanicus successfully reorganised the defences of the Rhine. The narrow area west of the river was divided into two districts: Upper (southern) Germania having four legions with a headquarters at Moguntiacum (Mainz), and Lower (northern) Germania having four legions with a headquarters at Castra Vetera (Xanten). In AD 14 Augustus retired to Nola and after a short illness died on 19 August.

Agrippa Postumus (26; fl.9-14), son of Augustus’ daughter ⁰³Julia the Elder and Vipsanius, had been adopted by Augustus and considered as a potential successor until his scandalous behaviour led to his banishment from Rome. After Augustus’ death, Postumus was executed by his own guards.