[The following takes place during the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, also known as the Varus or Varian Disaster, in 9 AD. Here, three entire Roman legions were lured into the deep forests of Germany and slaughtered in a surprise attack led by Arminius.]
With a victorious roar, warriors of the Bructeri tribe carried off the 19th Legion’s eagle, leaving its standard-bearer and numerous other 1st cohort defenders piled dead on the field. Before long, the Cauchi and the Marsi seized the eagles of the 17th and 18th legions. The wounded Varus could see that many surviving officers were also wounded. Clearly, the battle was lost. Emulating his father and his grandfather, who had both taken their own lives in times past, ‘he ran himself through with his sword’.
It seems that the general’s staff then attempted to burn his body so that it did not fall into enemy hands; they were not wholly successful, for a little later his corpse was found to be ‘partially burned’. One of the two camp-prefects, Lucius Eggius, now followed his general’s example and also committed suicide.
When news of Varus’ death spread among the surviving Roman troops, some officers and enlisted men also took their own lives. Others cast aside their shields and weapons and invited the Germans to kill them, which the tribesmen were happy to do.
Source:
Dando-Collins, Stephen. “Part III: The Battles – The Varus Disaster.” Legions of Rome: The Definitive History of Every Imperial Roman Legion. Thomas Dunne Books, 2012. 249. Print.
Original Source(s) Listed:
Velle., II, CXIX.
Dio, LVI, 22.
Further Reading:
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