In Our Time

Battle of the Teutoburg Forest

Feb 13, 2020

In this engaging discussion, historian Peter Heather, classicist Ellen O'Gorman, and military expert Matthew Nicholls delve into the legendary Battle of the Teutoburg Forest. They unravel how Arminius' remarkable ambush led to a catastrophic defeat for Rome, reshaping both the empire's ambitions and the identity of Germanic tribes. Interestingly, they also explore the aftermath of this battle, including its impact on German nationalism and how figures like Tacitus presented moral critiques of Roman society. History comes alive through their captivating analysis!

51:10

Creator website

Episode guests

Matthew Nicholls

Ellen O'Gorman

Peter Heather

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Episode notes

Intro

2min

Arminius and the Rise of Roman Resistance

12min

The Teutoburg Forest: Rome's Foiled Ambition

14min

Tacitus and the Moral Critique of Rome

2min

Roman Imperialism and the Teutoburg Impact

15min

Arminius: Hero or Villain?

3min

The Roots and Reinterpretations of German Nationalism

2min

Examining Varys: A General's Legacy and Challenges

2min

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the great Roman military disaster of 9 AD when Germanic tribes under Arminius ambushed and destroyed three legions under Varus. According to Suetonius, emperor Augustus hit his head against the wall when he heard the news, calling on Varus to give him back his legions. The defeat ended Roman expansion east of the Rhine. Victory changed the development of the Germanic peoples, both in the centuries that followed and in the nineteenth century when Arminius, by then known as Herman, became a rallying point for German nationalism.

With

Peter Heather Professor of Medieval History at King’s College London

Ellen O'Gorman Senior Lecturer in Classics at the University of Bristol

And

Matthew Nicholls Fellow and Senior Tutor at St John’s College, Oxford

Producer: Simon Tillotson

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