s in the Black Forest neighbourhood in order that
invasion might be resisted from that side. But as the Empire began to
exhibit signs of decadence the barbarians were quick to recognize the
symptoms of weakness in those who barred their advance to the wealthy
South, the objective of their dreams, hurled themselves against the
boundary, now rendered feeble by reason of the withdrawal of its most
experienced defenders, and, despite a stern resistance, flooded the rich
valleys of the Rhine, swamped the colonies on the left bank which had
imbibed Roman civilization, and made all wholly Teutonic.

The Rebellion of the Barbarians

This was, however, a process of years, and by no means a speedy
conquest. The closing years of Augustus' reign were clouded by a general
rising of the Rhine peoples. Quintilius Varus, an officer who had been
entrusted with the government of the provinces beyond the Rhine, proved
totally unequal to curbing the bolder spirits among the Germans, who
under their chief, Arminius, boldly challenged the forces of this
short-sighted officer. Arminius belonged to the Cherusci. He had served
with the German horsemen in the Rhenish armies, and was conversant with
the Latin language. Observing that half, at least, of the Roman forces
were on leave, he incited the tribes of Lower Saxony to revolt. The weak
Varus, who had underestimated the influence of Arminius, attempted to
quell the rising, but without success, and the bank of the river was
the scene of a wholesale slaughter. Varus, completely losing his nerve,
attempted to separate the cavalry from the infantry and endeavoured to
escape with three squadrons of the former; but the Germans surrounded
them, and after a hand-to-hand struggle of three days the Roman army
was annihilated. The news of this disaster prompted the aged Emperor
to dispatch his son Tiberius to suppress what appeared to be a general
rising of the North. The Rhenish tribes, however, were too wary to meet
the powerful force now sent against them in the open field, and during
the remainder of the year Tiberius, left in peace, occupied himself in
strengthening the Rhine fortifications.

He was soon after recalled to Rome to assume the purple on the death of
Augustus. Germanicus, who had taken command of the legions on the Rhine,
became conscious of discontent among the soldiers, who threatened to
carry him into Rome and thrust him into the seat of empire. But he
soothed the passions of his