|
|
Object Metadata
| Conflict type : | other |
| |
| Involved Person : |
-
Cruptorix Origin: Germanic, Age: adult, Activity: mercenary
-
Cethegus Labeo Origin: Unknown, Age: adult, Activity: mixed
-
Lucius Apronius Origin: Unknown, Age: adult, Activity: mixed
-
Olennius Origin: Unknown, Age: adult, Activity: mixed
|
| Involved Group : |
Roman Soldiers Origin: Mixed, Age: adult, Activity: soldier
Frisii The Frisians Origin: Germanic, Age: mixed, Activity: mixed
|
| |
| Source : | Cornelius Tacitus, Annals 4.72-73Cornelius Tacitus Annals 4.72-73 Paste CTS-Link |
| Location : | Germania Magna (Germany) |
| Time Periode : | Roman Empire |
| Century : | A.D. 1 |
| Year : | A.D. 28 |
| |
| Motivation : | ambition
economical
emotional
ethnical
following orders
other
political
self-defence
religious
survival |
| Long-Term Consequence : | battle
campaign
death
exile
feud/hatred
other
plunder
revolt
treaty/agreement/pact |
| |
| Original Text : | Eodem anno Frisii, transrhenanus populus, pacem exuere, nostra magis avaritia quam obsequii impatientes. tributum iis Drusus iusserat modicum pro angustia rerum, ut in usus militaris coria boum penderent, non intenta cuiusquam cura quae firmitudo, quae mensura, donec Olennius e primipilaribus regendis Frisiis impositus terga urorum delegit quorum ad formam acciperentur. id aliis quoque nationibus arduum apud Germanos difficilius tolerabatur, quis ingentium beluarum feraces saltus, modica domi armenta sunt. ac primo boves ipsos, mox agros, postremo corpora coniugum aut liberorum servitio tradebant. hinc ira et questus et postquam non subveniebatur remedium ex bello. rapti qui tributo aderant milites et patibulo adfixi: Olennius infensos fuga praevenit receptus castello cui nomen Flevum; et haud spernenda illic civium sociorumque manus litora Oceani praesidebat.Quod ubi L. Apronio inferioris Germaniae pro praetore cognitum, vexilla legionum e superiore provincia peditumque et equitum auxiliarium delectos accivit ac simul utrumque exercitum Rheno devectum Frisiis intulit, soluto iam castelli obsidio et ad sua tutanda degressis rebellibus. igitur proxima aestuaria aggeribus et pontibus traducendo graviori agmini firmat, atque interim repertis vadis alam Canninefatem et quod peditum Germanorum inter nostros merebat circumgredi terga hostium iubet, qui iam acie compositi pellunt turmas socialis equitesque legionum subsidio missos. tum tres leves cohortes ac rursum duae, dein tempore interiecto alarius eques immissus: satis validi si simul incubuissent, per intervallum adventantes neque constantiam addiderant turbatis et pavore fugientium auferebantur. Cethego Labeoni legato quintae legionis quod reliquum auxiliorum tradit. atque ille dubia suorum re in anceps tractus missis nuntiis vim legionum implorabat. prorumpunt quintani ante alios et acri pugna hoste pulso recipiunt cohortis alasque fessas vulneribus. neque dux Romanus ultum iit aut corpora humavit, quamquam multi tribunorum praefectorumque et insignes centuriones cecidissent. mox compertum a transfugis nongentos Romanorum apud lucum quem Baduhennae vocant pugna in posterum extracta confectos, et aliam quadringentorum manum occupata Cruptorigis quondam stipendiari villa, postquam proditio metuebatur, mutuis ictibus procubuisse. |
| |
| Translation : | That same year the Frisii, a nation beyond the Rhine, cast off peace, more because of our rapacity than from their impatience of subjection. Drusus had imposed on them a moderate tribute, suitable to their limited resources, the furnishing of ox hides for military purposes. No one ever severely scrutinized the size or thickness till Olennius, a first-rank centurion, appointed to govern the Frisii, selected hides of wild bulls as the standard according to which they were to be supplied. This would have been hard for any nation, and it was the less tolerable to the Germans, whose forests abound in huge beasts, while their home cattle are undersized. First it was their herds, next their lands, last, the persons of their wives and children, which they gave up to bondage. Then came angry remonstrances, and when they received no relief, they sought a remedy in war. The soldiers appointed to collect the tribute were seized and gibbeted. Olennius anticipated their fury by flight, and found refuge in a fortress, named Flevum, where a by no means contemptible force of Romans and allies kept guard over the shores of the ocean. As soon as this was known to Lucius Apronius, pro-prætor of Lower Germany, he summoned from the Upper province the legionary veterans, as well as some picked auxiliary infantry and cavalry. Instantly conveying both armies down the Rhine, he threw them on the Frisii, raising at once the siege of the fortress and dispersing the rebels in defence of their own possessions. Next, he began constructing solid roads and bridges over the neighbouring estuaries for the passage of his heavy troops, and meanwhile having found a ford, he ordered the cavalry of the Canninefates, with all the Germany infantry which served with us, to take the enemy in the rear. Already in battle array, they were beating back our auxiliary horse as well as that of the legions sent to support them, when three light cohorts, then two more, and after a while the entire cavalry were sent to the attack. They were strong enough, had they charged altogether, but coming up, as they did, at intervals, they did not give fresh courage to the repulsed troops and were themselves carried away in the panic of the fugitives. Apronius entrusted the rest of the auxiliaries to Cethegus Labeo, the commander of the fifth legion, but he too, finding his men's position critical and being in extreme peril, sent messages imploring the whole strength of the legions. The soldiers of the fifth sprang forward, drove back the enemy in a fierce encounter, and saved our cohorts and cavalry, who were exhausted by their wounds. But the Roman general did not attempt vengeance or even bury the dead, although many tribunes, prefects, and first-rank centurions had fallen. Soon afterwards it was ascertained from deserters that nine hundred Romans had been cut to pieces in a wood called Braduhenna's, after prolonging the fight to the next day, and that another body of four hundred, which had taken possession of the house of one Cruptorix, once a soldier in our pay, fearing betrayal, had perished by mutual slaughter. |
| |
| Remark : | context: Drusus's campaign in 12 BC, though successful in subduing the Frisii and imposing a modest tax, marked the beginning of a troubled relationship. Subsequent Roman governors, driven by avarice, escalated their demands, decimating the Frisii's livestock, confiscating their lands, and even enslaving their families. The oppressed Frisii, reaching their breaking point in AD 28, rebelled. They executed the tax collectors and besieged a Roman fort, forcing the governor to flee.
The Roman response, led by Lucius Apronius, proved disastrous. The Frisii, emboldened by their defiance, inflicted a crushing defeat on Roman forces at the Battle of Baduhenna Wood. Despite this humiliation, Rome chose not to retaliate, perhaps recognizing the futility of further conflict. This unexpected restraint elevated the Frisii's standing among their Germanic neighbors, solidifying their reputation as a formidable and independent people. |
| Notes : | Frisii, a Germanic people, who lived on the North Sea coast from west of the Ijsselmeer eastwards to the Ems. Like the Bructeri and Chauci, they were divided into two sections, maiores and minores, but the significance is unknown. Overrun by *Drusus in 12 bce, they paid their tribute in oxhides. They revolted in 28 ce following extortionate tax demands and maintained their freedom until 47.
https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.013.2731
The F. who had been obliged to pay tribute since Drusus in 12 BC (Tac. Ann. 4,72,1; Cass. Dio 54,32,2f.), revolted in AD 28, besieged the Roman harbour complex castellum Flevum and drove out the Romans (Tac. Ann. 4,72-74).
https://referenceworks.brill.com/display/entries/NPOE/e415260.xml?rskey=ylaDT0&result=1 |
| Violence [0] : |
|
| |
| Basket : | Add to basket... |
| Share/Save : |  |
| |
| Created at : | 2024-12-15 : 11:30:06 |
| Last changed : | 2024-12-15 : 11:30:32 |
| MyCoRe ID : | Antiquity_conflict_00000832 |
| Static URL : | https://www.ancientviolence.uni-hamburg.de/receive/Antiquity_conflict_00000832 |
|
|
|
