Germans first became known to the Romans--about B.C.
112--they showed themselves as warlike tribes along the northern
borders of Italy and in various parts of Gaul, where Caesar
afterward had frequent encounters with them, driving them across
the Rhine into their own country. But Caesar's knowledge of them was
confined to those tribes whose dwellings were near the Rhine,
beyond which he did not pursue them.

Augustus fortified against the Germans along the Rhine, and Drusus,
his step-son, took command against them, defeating them in several
expeditions (B.C. 13-9). As a reward, he received for himself and
his posterity the surname of Germanicus, conqueror of Germany. He
died at the age of thirty.

His son, Germanicus, born B.C. 14, was sent, in A.D. 12, to command
the forces on the Rhine. After quelling serious mutinies among his
legions he crossed the Rhine and attacked and routed some of the
German tribes who had been actively aggressive against the Romans.
During the following year he defeated other tribes, and after his
return across the Rhine he was persuaded by Segestes to aid him
against his son-in-law Arminius (the Latin name for Herman), by
whom Segestes was besieged and who, according to Tacitus, became in
the end the deliverer of Germany from the power of the Romans. But
before he was able to render this service to the German peoples he
had many hardships to endure, and at the hands of Germanicus he met
with severe reverses.

Arminius had defeated Varus, who, by reason of that disgrace,
killed himself (A.D. 10), and the despatch of Germanicus to command
the German legions was ordered in the first instance to revenge the
overthrow of his predecessor. Although it required several
campaigns, the work of Germanicus was so effectual that he withdrew
in the end, at the command of Tiberius, with advantage on his side,
and, returning to Rome, enjoyed a triumph (A.D. 17). His name is
preserved in history, alike for his military talents and services,
for his attainments in literary pursuits, and his nobleness of
mind.

In the consulship of Drusus Caesar and Caius Norbanus a triumph was
decreed to Germanicus; the war continuing. He was preparing with all
diligence to prosecute it in the summer, but anticipated it by a sudden
irruption early in the spr