ARMINIUS, the German national hero celebrated by his fellow-countrymen as their deliverer from the Roman yoke: b. 17 a.c.; d. 21 A.D. He was the son of Segimer, a prince of the Cherusci, a tribe inhabiting parts of what is to-day Brunswick and Hanover. His early life was spent in the Roman army where he served with distinction and attained the rank of eques. This period was one of great peril for Germany. The Romans had advanced far into the territory of the Teutonic tribes and had erected a series of strong fortresses in order to keep the more turbulent districts in subjection. From 9 Lc. to about 4 A.D. Drusus and Tiberius had campaigned against the Ger mans; Tiberius proceeded with great circum spection, however, and induced the Germans to live on good terms with the Romans, to adopt Roman habits and mode of living, etc. Ar minius, during his years of service with the Roman legions had acquired a knowledge of Latin and also gained an insight into the art of war as practised by the Romans. Returning home in 7 A.D. he found his people secretly chafing under the Roman governor, Quintilius Varus, and resolved to deliver his countrymen from Roman rule.
With this object he secretly organized all the tribes as far as the Elbe, induced Varus to scatter his forces, and in 9 A.D. decoyed Varus with three legions into the fastnesses of the Teutoburg Forest, probably between the modern towns of Detmold and Wiederbruck and near the headwaters of the Ems and the Weser. Arminius fell upon the legions un etpectedly and virtually annihilated them. The news of the disaster caused consternation in Rome and gave rise to the Emperor's despairing utterance: eVarus, restore to me my legions.°
The Germans did not follow up their victory, however, and both sides maintained peace until 15 A.D., when Germanicus Caesar led the Ro mans against Arminius and reduced the latter to great straits, capturing his wife, Thusnelda. In 17 A.D. he was recalled by Tiberius and the results of his two years' campaign against Ar minius were lost. After this time no Roman army ever penetrated to the heart of Germany. Arminius' later years were troubled with the internal feuds which broke out among the sev eral tribes, his chief opponent being Marbod. prince of the Marcomanni. By aiming to found a powerful kingdom Arminius drew upon him self the hatred of his countrymen and he was assassinated in 21 A.D. Of him Tacitus says
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fought with the vicis situdes of fortune, and fell at last by the treachery of his own relatives; a man of war like genius, and beyond all question the liber ator of Germany.° In 1875 a great monument to Arminius was completed. It was by Bandel and was erected on the Grotenburg Mountain. near Detmold. The exploits of Arminius have furnished material for the dramas of Klopstock and others. Consult Dfinzelmann, E. 'Der Schauplatz der Varusschlacht> (1889) ; Fischer, F. W. 'Armin and die Romero (1893) ; Kein mer, O., (Arminius' (1893) ; Meyer, E., 'Un tersuchungen fiber die Schlacht im Teutoburger Wald& (1893) ; Uhl, W.,