Cherusci

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The Cherusci (German: Cherusker) were a Germanic tribe inhabiting parts of the northern Rhine valley and the plains and forests of northwestern Germany (between near modern Osnabrück and Hanover) during the 1st century BC and 1st century AD. The name describes a deer, German: Hirsch.

Their first known documentary mention occurs in Caesar's "De Bello Gallico", Book 6.10, which deals with events in 53 BCE.

As Rome tried to expand its reach in northern Europe beyond the Rhine, it exploited divisions within the tribal leadership of the Cherusci, and for some time the tribe was considered a Roman ally. By about 8 CE, however, the advocates of independence gained the upper hand.

In 9 CE, in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, an army of allied Germanic tribes (the Cherusci, Bructeri, Marsi, and Chatti) under the young Cheruscian war leader Arminius (Hermann der Cherusker) annihilated three Roman legions commanded by Publius Quinctilius Varus.

Germanicus defeated Arminius at the Battle of the Angrivarian Walls in 18 and Arminius was assasinated in 19 by german Princes allied of Rome.

Aftermath

Obtaining the defeat of Arminius was costly to Rome who no more wanted to rule directly in Germany at the East of the Rhine Valley and at the North of the Danube Valley; Roman prefered to rule indirectly through Client Kings, so the Client King Italicus, nephew of Arminius, was appointed king of the Cherusci; Vangio and Sido became vassal princes of the the powerful Suebi, (etc.), according to the [[Annals]] of Tacitus, Book 12 [verse 27 to 31]

Under prudent Emperor Hadrian, the Limes fortification was built to close the gap between the two river borders and prevent raids subsequent to uprisings in unstable Outer Germany.

Sources: http://www.unrv.com/provinces/germania.php http://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/tac/a12020.htm http://www.runestone.org/armin.html