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Three Roman legions are destroyed in Germany

9 CE, Germania. An event.

Where and when

9 CEGermania

2,017 years ago

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, Germania

Germanic tribes led by Arminius ambush Varus and his three legions in the Teutoburg Forest. Rome stops pushing east of the Rhine.

“O, Quintilius Varus! Give me back my legions!”

Suetonius, Life of Augustus 23Translated by Alexander Thomson, revised by T. Forester (1889)Read the full passage (Suetonius, Life of Augustus 23, opens gutenberg.org)

Background: Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, Wikipedia (opens en.wikipedia.org)

Why it matters

It is considered one of the most important defeats in Roman history, abruptly ending expansion under Augustus. Despite revenge campaigns, the Rhine became the border between the Empire and the rest of Germania.

Based on Wikipedia: Battle of the Teutoburg Forest

Teutoburg Forest is considered one of the most important defeats in Roman history, bringing the triumphant period of expansion under Augustus to an abrupt end.

Retaliatory campaigns were commanded by Tiberius and Germanicus and enjoyed success, but the Rhine became the border between the Roman Empire and the rest of Germania.

Wikipedia, Battle of the Teutoburg Forest (opens en.wikipedia.org), as of 2026-09-25. Text CC BY-SA 4.0. Our line is checked against these sentences only.

Related moments

In time order, with this one in its place. Each says why it is here.

  1. 9 CEThis momentThree Roman legions are destroyed in Germany
  2. set in 9 CESame year Augustus mourns Varus' legions, per Suetonius Rests on this eventAlso about war and empire
  3. c. 10–14 CEabout 3 years later Tacitus on how few had seen the republic Same years
  4. 14 CE5 years later Augustus dies at Nola after 41 years in power Same years
  5. 14 CE5 years later Tiberius succeeds Augustus Same years
  6. 43 CE34 years later Claudius invades Britain Also about war and empire

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