Legio XVII: Battle of the Danube (4 page)

The Semnones Tribal land extended some 60 miles (96.5km) south and included more open, but more difficult terrain than that of the Langobardi’s in the form of steeper hills and many more small streams.  The scouts reported that the roads were very poor and the makeshift bridges washed out in the spring floods.

Timur assembled his General Council to announce the decisions reached by the leaders.  “Tomorrow,” he stated, “I will meet with the Semnones Chief and his Tribal Council to negotiate crossing their land.  I will take 250 horsemen with me for protection and as a show of force.  In the meantime, I have instructed Commander Donar to prepare the people of each column to implement the following actions once we resume the march south.”

“Each night when we stop, the columns will circle every 10 wagons into a defensive perimeter.  This will mean clearing a sufficient portion of the forest on each side of the roadway to make space for the circle of wagons and to establish makeshift barriers.  Two soldiers will be assigned to each group of 10 wagons to assist in repelling attackers.  The men occupying each circle must be prepared to participate in their own defense.”  Timur was particularly concerned with the eastern most column since it would be some 10 miles (16km) away from the nearest column.  He decided to supply it with additional mounted troops as well as infantry because of their vulnerability.

“As you may have heard, 5,000 young men from the Langobardi and Caridi Tribes have joined our ranks as we passed through their land and have been incorporated into our Army.  As of today, we are announcing a new policy: all young men 17 years of age and all men who turn 17 will become soldiers for the duration of our journey.  This will impose a hardship on some of the families, but it cannot be helped.  They will be told where and when to report for training.”  The Army just grew from 70,000 men to 80,000 and would become 90,000 by the time they reached the Danube.

The Army itself had few wagons and no food stocks.  Families of the soldiers were expected to feed their husbands and sons.  Another unexpected event occurred while crossing the Langobardi’s land.  Young teenage boys and girls approached the columns in large numbers asking for asylum from their husbands or masters.  Many of the girls had been forced into unhappy marriages against their will and young boys and girls had been sold as servants by desperate parents.  For the Teutons and Cimbri, who loved their children, this was an outrageous injustice and act of pure cruelty.  The youth were welcomed with opened arms, but it did cause some problems.  There were now more mouths to feed.  The young people were equally distributed among the columns and expected to do their share of the work.  At least they were young and strong and could easily walk alongside the wagons and carry packs of fodder and care for the animals.  Everyone was very protective of the young people and watched that they not be unfairly used or abused.

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15 July 215 BC

The next morning, Timur rode out of camp to meet the Semnones’ Chief.  His settlement was a good five hours of hard riding away.  He arrived at noon and pulled up at the outskirts of a large group of huts.  The people in the immediate area scattered and sent up a shout of warning.  The 250 Teuton horsemen made them feel they were under attack.  Timur waited and shortly two men approached Timur and asked his purpose.  Based on the Semnones’ reputation, Timur decided to be strong and demanding.  “I am here to see your Chief and I am tired of waiting,” he declared angrily  The two men scurried off and were shortly replaced by another man who instructed Timur and his men to follow him to a large meeting hut in the center of the settlement.  Timur boldly walked into the hut followed by his 10 personal body guards.  Once inside, he looked around and asked rather loudly, “Who is the Chief?”

A man in his late 40s, a little overweight, but tall and strong looking stood up and said, “I am over here Timur, we’ve been expecting you.  Bring Timur something to drink,” he said to no one in particular.

Timur thought, “Good, he knows my name!”

A young girl appeared with a mug of wine.  Timur said angrily, “I am not here to socialize” and took the cup and poured the wine on the floor.  “I am here to talk about 300,000 of my people and 80,000 warriors passing through your land.  I’ve been told that you have 100,000 warriors and that you said you could use them to stop us at your border.  Let me be clear, I do not like to be threatened.  If you want to fight, we will fight, but know this, regardless of the outcome, both our armies will suffer huge losses that will take years to recover.  You don’t want that and neither do I, so let’s stop the threats and get down to business.  Is anyone going to offer me a place to sit?”

This unexpected show of bravado and directness by Timur unsettled his audience. Timur sat down and said, “I understand the hardships that this large host will impose on your people and lands and I am prepared to compensate you.  I can’t give you silver or gold, but I can improve your roads and bridges.  My Army will lay down wooden roads where required and build sturdy bridges over your streams.  Your people will be able to move their products to market and travel much faster and with less inconvenience.  These improvements will reflect well on your leadership and enable you to move your Army across your land that much more quickly.  We can move 10-12 miles (19 to 19km) a day and should be out of your area in six days.  That is my proposal.”

The Semnones Chief was interested in Timur’s proposal, but felt he had lost face and been disrespected by Timur’s directness.  It appeared that Timur was in charge and not him.  He also felt insulted that Timur did not bring any gifts specifically for him.  Not a single cow or copper item.  His anger grew.  “Timur,” he said, as he rose slowly from his chair “My warriors could easily defeat your Army and slaughter your people.  We know the land and my warriors have been hardened by constant warfare against our neighbors to the east.  I think we should fight your Army and claim your wagons as spoil.  My men will enjoy your women and your children will make good servants.”

Timur stood and spoke slowly in a lowered tone.  “I am tired of this!  Let’s settle this man to man, you and I; if you kill me my wagons will detour around your area, if I win, we will drive straight through your land and pillage the countryside as we go.”  Timur continued while raising his voice; “We will burn your settlements and take your livestock and women.”  Then Timur spoke with an intensity that even Donar had never heard. “Let’s settle this right now.  Draw your sword!”

The Semnones’ bluff had been called and he knew Timur meant it.  He stared at Timur, his face turning an angry red.  He put his hand on his sword’s hilt, but something deep inside told him not to draw it.  He realized that he feared Timur.  Timur saw the hesitation and fear in the Semnones’ eyes and quickly offered him a way out.  “Look, let’s share a cup of wine and talk about this.  Surely two brave men can reach an agreement.”

The Chief grabbed at the life line and said, “Two cups of wine, now!”  The talk went well and Timur was given permission to travel through the land and make the promised improvements.  Timur brought up the status of the hostage and was told that he would be returned when the convoy was completely out of Semnones’ territory.

On the ride back to the camp, Timur recognized that he had been willing to fight and die if need be for the sake of his people. He felt proud of that.  He felt stronger and more confident than ever.  He turned to Donar and said, “I do not trust that Semnones.  I think he will attack one or more of our columns.  I also doubt our hostage is still alive.”

Despite Donar’s loyalty to Timur, he felt he had to speak up.  “Timur, listen to me.  I speak as a friend.  No one doubts your leadership ability or bravery.  You are a good leader and respected by your people.  I want to caution you though that your pride is obscuring your good sense.  You provoked and insulted that Semnones.  We neglected to bring him gifts and your directness with him was uncalled for.  You could have been killed and your people would then have been leaderless.”

Timur was stunned by Donar’s honest and bold comments, but not surprised.  He knew Donar had spoken the truth.  He said, “Thank you Donar, you are an honest man and I respect you for it.”

Upon his returned to camp, Timur assembled the Council to report on his trip.  “The Semnones reluctantly agreed to let us pass,” he stated, “but we must improve their roads and build bridges that can withstand summer floods.  I will leave that challenge to the Army.  I expect that elements of the Semnones’ Army will attack at least one of our four columns and it will probably be the vulnerable eastern one.  To counter this expected attack, the Army will deploy a minimal number of soldiers, if any, to the two center columns.  Just enough troops to help with the wagons and improve the roads and bridges.  The bulk of the Army will travel with the eastern column and the remainder with the western.  After you Commanders have had time to work the numbers, report your findings to me.”

“Clan Leaders, tell the people to circle the wagons quickly at the first hint of trouble; that will be their best defense.  The cavalry will screen around the column to provide early warning.  The terrain opens up as we travel south so there should be no problem forming circles.  This tactic will help the Army to concentrate their forces more quickly.  Archers will be critical in blunting an attack.  Most of them will be positioned with the eastern column.  Tell the people to feed the archers and Army that’s moving with them.  The columns will move in two days.  Prepare the people.”

When Jennike found out that Timur had offered single combat with the Semnones’ Chief, she was proud of her husband.  He was fearless and she felt secure.  The people were in good hands.  She was also furious with Timur for putting his life and the future of their children in jeopardy.  No matter what Timur said, her anger overcame the pride she felt in him.  She held up her new baby girl and said, “Do you want her to grow up without a father?”

Timur had learned long ago not to argue with his Cimbri wife.  She was usually right on most matters, especially this one, but sometimes they just had a different perspective on life.  His perspective was that of a leader of his people and Army.  Her perspective was that of a wife and mother.  There were different priorities inherent in their roles.  She loved him and he loved her and both recognized that the other had to follow their own imperative.  That night as he held her close to him, it was all forgotten for a little bit of time.

The next day, Donar and the Army Commanders sat down with Timur to explain their strategy.  Donar did the talking: “We have 80,000 infantry, 5,000 archers and 500 horsemen.  We propose sending 50,000 infantry, 3,000 archers and 250 horses to the eastern and most vulnerable column.  We suspect that the Semnones’ attack would strike at the rear of this column with 20,000 to 30,000 warriors.  Therefore, I will lead the bulk of the Army and will travel with the last quarter of the column.  The horsemen will screen the entire column, but focus their strength on the end of the column.  If we get early enough warning from the horsemen of an approaching Semnones’ Army, I can rapidly concentrate our forces at the point of the attack.”

“The remaining 30,000 infantry and 2,000 archers will travel with the western most column.  Until this threat is over, we cannot spare soldiers to help the wagons in the two center columns.  The people will have to help each other and fix the roads themselves.  We expect that the attack on our western column will be a diversion to draw away our forces from the main attack in the east.”

Timur was not pleased with the fate of the center two columns, but saw the wisdom in the recommendation.  He approved it and forces began to relocate.  Timur then met with the leaders of the center two columns to explain the dilemma.  They too understood the emergency of the situation and said they would prepare the people.  When Timur returned to his camp, he and Donar discussed an idea he had.

“I noticed,” said Timur, “that the settlement where we met the Semnones’ Chief was not fortified and only lightly defended.  No more than 50 men.  If we are attacked as I expect we will be, I want you to immediately dispatch 200 horsemen carrying 200 archers to the Chiefs hut.  Kill all the guards and mount the Chiefs head on a pole in the center of the settlement. I think this will deter future attacks.  If the Strike Force finds the camp too heavily reinforced, they are to abandon the mission and return.”

“Select a leader for this mission who is smart, innovative, bold, and can get things done.  When it becomes known that we have killed the Chief, I think their Army will back off and leave us alone.  Meanwhile I want the leader of this force to discreetly scout out his route, staging area, and rally point after the attack.  He also needs to select his men carefully.  They must be like ghosts passing through the forest and then disappear as rapidly as they came.  Get on this right away.  This could be the key to our safe passage.”

The four columns moved out of the fortified settlements on their respective routes and planned for the worst.  Fortunately, very quickly, the dense forest that enclosed the roads on each side opened up to reveal rolling hills and broad grassy meadows.  Some wagons drove off the roads and began going cross country.  The eastern most column was able to shrink to 20 miles (32km) in length versus the original 44 miles (70.8km).  There was now an abundance of fodder and the animals were permitted to graze freely around the wagons in the evenings.  At night, each 10 wagons circled and established guards to patrol the perimeter.  Despite the fact that everyone was on heightened alert, there was a sense of merriment among the circled wagons.  Food was shared with the Army and families were reunited for a few hours.  Comforting fires blazed.  The weather was in the 60s F (15.5C) and the rain held off.  Compared to the miserable 12 days crossing the sea of mud, the going was relatively easy.