Legio XVII: Battle of the Danube (43 page)

Random Tribes were no longer trying to link up with Hannibal who was pretty much bottled up in the south of Italy.  The last attempt by the Carthaginians to reinforce him had ended in disaster at the Battle of Metaurus the previous year.  The only remaining threat was that Mago, Hannibal’s youngest brother, might attempt a similar link up.  Other than that, Scipio was scoring success after success in Spain and was talking about crossing over into Africa to attack Carthage itself.

Manius and the Legions faced a 30 day march back to Rome.  He estimated they would arrive mid September, 206.  They had been gone almost a full year.  The Legionaries were thrilled with the thought of seeing Rome.  Their pockets were full of money and Rome would provide ample opportunity to spend it all.

As they walked, each man was consumed with his own thoughts of what he would do when the eternal city came into view and they were released.  Manius knew there would be no crowds to cheer his arrival and no Senate ovation.  He would revert from Proconsul to Praetor.  In time, the Legions would disperse to fight against Hannibal; his expedition to the Danube would fade from memory.  But he, his Legates, and staff knew they had accomplished something worthwhile for themselves, the Suevi, the Teutons, and Rome.

As long as Hannibal was in Italy and Carthage continued to pose an existential military and economic threat to Rome, smaller less important operations like the one he just concluded, would only be of interest to a select few. In time, Joseph published the history of the Expedition.  It was read primarily by those who took part.

When the long return trip to Rome finally ended, Manius bade farewell to his Commanders and staff over dinner at his estate.  They relived many stories, which only grew with exaggeration as time passed.  They had grown quite fond of each other and wanted the evening to last as long as possible.

Finally, Manius said it was time for the party to end.  He spoke privately to each Commander and Staff Officer.  He thanked them for their dedicated service and expressed a strong desire to serve with them in the future.  One by one, they left and walked out of Manius’ life, some forever.  He was 53 and would live another 15 years.  He would be known as a great tactician and caring Commander.  His men idolized him.  He was even tempered and fair.  To his family, he would be remembered as a loving husband and father.

*******

Once the Suevi and Romans departed Regensburg, Timur called for a general meeting in seven days at Two Lakes for all the Military, Tribal, and Clan Leaders.  He said he had a big announcement to make.

Ever since he learned of the two disasters at Augsburg and Landshut, he doubted his ability to continue leading the two Tribes.  The defeat at Regensburg and Bethica’s comment about his failure to properly supervise his Army struck him particularly hard.  She was correct.  If he had done his job properly, none of this would have happened.  He felt personally responsible for the death of 65,000 young Cimbri/Teuton warriors who counted on him.  They trusted him with their lives and he had failed them.

He discussed his decision with Jennike and other trusted advisors. They tried to dissuade him, but his mind was made up.

On the seven day, he stood before the assembled Leaders and said, “I have decided to step down as your Chief.  I have made too many grave errors of judgment to continue.  Yes, I successfully led you from Jutland to Regensburg, and, perhaps, that was my purpose, but I have grievously failed you ever since we arrived.  It is time for a new Chief to lead you over the Danube and into your new land.”

“I will stay on this side of the Danube here at Two Lakes with Jennike and my family.  The Marcomanni Chief has approved my request and promises there will be no more raids from the Quadi.  Your new Chief will lead you from now on.  I pray Odin will grant you many children, good crops, and peace.”  He lifted his crown from his head, set it down, then turned and walked away.

The assembly stayed for two more hours to discuss the ramifications of Timur’s message.  Some agreed that he should step down, while others wanted him to continue.  In the end, they selected a few core leaders to identify candidates for Chief.

The vast majority of people loved Timur and was heartbroken that he was stepping down.  A few were happy with his decision.  They had lost sons and husbands in battle and blamed Timur.  About 10,000 families decided to stay at Two Lakes with Timur and Jennike and not cross the Danube; similarly, about 5,000 of the remaining 25,000 soldiers requested permission to stay at Two Lakes with their families.  Their request was approved.

One month later, the wagons began to roll for one final time.  The people were moving to the river and the Roman Bridge.  Clan Leaders and Army scouts directed them to their specific areas once they were on the other side of the river.  Winter was rapidly approaching and they had a lot of work to do.

Epilogue

Upon his return to Rome, Proconsul Manius Tullus reverted to his permanent rank of Praetor and retired to his estate.  He was anxious to begin his new life.  He dreamed of expanding his estate, nurturing and mentoring his growing children, and living peaceably to an old age with Lucia.

He enjoyed his bucolic, stress free life for three years when he was directed to report for active duty and to prepare to assist Scipio in Africa.  He was appointed Legate of Legio XVII and sailed to North Africa where he took part in the Battle of Zama that ended the 2nd Punic War.

Calvus was exonerated of his past crimes against the Republic and given the rank of Tribune in the Roman Army.  He eventually became an excellent Legion Legate.  Manius told Justus’ parents that he died honorable on the field of battle and they were satisfied.  Silvius’ wife mourned her husband’s death and never remarried.

Bethica married Davenhardt in a simple Suevi ceremony in Innsbruck.  As a sign of good faith, Timur and Jennike attended as well as Timo and Rosa.  Following the marriage, Bethica began to rebuild Innsbruck to reflect what she had seen in Rome.  Her Army continued to grow and maintained the Roman style of fighting and organization.

Tomaeus taught the Suevi to operate the groma and the four teams set out in early August.  They linked up with members of the Cimbri/Teuton Tribes and began to survey the dividing line and to set the markers in place.  Each team was comprised of two surveyors, four assistant surveyors, 10 Suevi soldiers, and three horsemen.  Each team required five wagons and 10 oxen to pull the load of food, fodder, tents, and fuel.  They completed the job in mid November.  The idea to mark a similar boundary establishing a two mile buffer zone was quietly dropped.

The Cimbri/Teutons followed up on Bethica’s offer to go to Augsburg and bury their dead.  In August, 5,000 men went to gather the bones and transport them back to Cimbri/Teuton territory north of Augsburg.  They were interred at Donauworth on the south side of the Danube.  Another team of 5,000 men went to Landshut and interred the fallen warriors in the field where they died.

The Cimbri/Teuton people moved from Two Lakes in August 206 and settled in their new homeland along the banks of the Danube.  Clans established their area and set about preparing for the coming winter.  The timber from the abandoned huts and barns were used to build new structures in the Cimbri/Teuton tradition.  Fodder was gathered for the animals and men began to hunt and fish in earnest.  Firewood was stacked and families helped one another with the big jobs.  The people were busy and happy.  They still mourned the loss of so many young warriors, but the living had to continue with their daily chores.

Donar, the late Army Commander, was hailed as a hero and his memory was honored.  Memorials were erected at Donauworth, Landshut, and Regensburg to honor the dead.  True to his word, the Tribes of Cimbri, Teutons, and Suevi enjoyed peaceful relations.  The cordial relationship benefitted all three Tribes.

In April 205, Bethica rode along the marked border between the Tribes to select locations for her military garrisons.  She intended to man them with only 100 men each.  They were there to ensure her neighbors to the north remained the good neighbors they promised to be.  She selected six sites by major north-south roads and cross roads that would enable her to keep track of the traffic between Suevi and Cimbri/Teuton territory.

As promised by Manius, in August 205 BC, a Roman cavalry escort arrived at Regensburg to escort Timur to Rome.  They did not know that Timur was no longer the Chief.  After meeting with the new Chief of the two Tribes, the Roman escort was informed that Timur would go to Rome as the Cimbri/Teuton Ambassador and represent the Tribes.  Timur agreed to this arrangement.  Shortly thereafter, Timur, Jennike, their children, and a small group of friends eagerly rode south.  Along the way, they visited Bethica and Davenhardt and Timo and Rosa.  As they approached Rome, Manius met them and escorted them to his estate.

For the next month, they were his house guests.  They visited Rome, received briefings from high level Roman officials, and were taught rudimentary Latin.  Prior to returning to Regensburg, Timur was given the title, “Friend of Rome” by the Senate.  He returned with three extra wagons filled with valuable gifts.  Jennike and Lucia often took side trips to visit places of interest to Jennike.  Jennike also filled two wagons of personal items.

Upon Timur’s return to Regensburg, he met with the new Chief and Council and briefed them on the results of his trip.  From then on, he was often called upon to comment on Tribal policy and frequently attended Council meeting.  He was still held in high esteem by most members of the two Tribes.

Sergius helped Bethica build a Roman style military encampment closer to Innsbruck and managed it for three years.  He also advised her as she established a Basic Training Program for the Army’s new recruits.  Her Army grew in numbers and professionalism.  She also kept her word and began a profitable trading relationship with Rome.  The Suevi shipped their raw materials to Patavium where it was then shipped to Rome by boat.

Sergius completed his contract with Bethica and was preparing to return to Rome when Timo invited him to build a similar camp and training center in Trento.  Facing retirement if he returned to Rome, Sergius jumped at the new opportunity.  Within four years, he constructed a camp, training center, and acquired a Raeti wife.  Eventually, Sergius retired and lived out his life in Trento.

After the Carthaginians suffered several military reversals in 206 BC at the hands of Scipio in Spain, Mago, Hannibal’s brother, fled Spain in 205 BC with 15,000 troops and went to the Balearic Island of Minorca (or Menorca) in the Mediterranean Sea.  From there, he sailed for Liguria and captured Genoa on the northern Italian coast. His intention, like his brother Hasdrubal’s two years earlier, was to reinforce Hannibal in southern Italy.

Rome responded by sending seven Legions to contain Mago, but not to engage him.  A Roman defeat would open the door for a Mago-Hannibal link up and a continuation of the Carthaginian occupation of Italy.  The Legions blocked Mago’s every attempt to move south without becoming involved in a decisive battle.

Mago was actively recruiting tribes from the Cisalpine to join him, while fighting those who resisted him.  In 204 BC, Carthage sent Mago reinforcements consisting of 6,000 infantry and some cavalry, but these additional forces were insufficient to break the Roman blockade.

In 202 BC, Mago was wounded in a skirmish and decided to return to Carthage by sea.  While enroute, he died of his wounds.

Shortly thereafter, Hannibal set sail for Carthage to reverse Scipio’s battle field successes in Spain.  That same year, Hannibal met his match and was decisively defeated by Scipio at the Battle of Zama.

*******

Eighty-six years after the Battle of the Danube, when Manius, Timur, and Bethica had long since passed, another group of Cimbri and Teutons began a second migration out of the Jutland Peninsula, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea area.  Evidence indicated that they undertook the arduous migration because a tidal wave had inundated their land and because of over population.

They began their journey in 120 BC and they arrived at the Danube near Vienna, Austria in 113 BC.  They crossed the river, traveled east, and temporarily occupied parts of Croatia, Slovenia, and Hungary before returning to Austria.  The Raeti, who now occupied Austria, requested and received six Roman Legions to force the Cimbri/Teutons back across the Danube.  They met in 112 BC at the Battle of Noreia, which is located 150 miles (241km) south of Vienna near the Slovenia border.  Only a sudden rain storm prevented the total annihilation of the Legions.  Rome lost 24,000 men out of about 30,000.

The Cimbri/Teutons re-crossed the Danube and settled for a while near the Main River south of Schweinfurt in 109 BC.  They joined forces with the Marcomanni Tribes, as they had done with other Tribes, and continued west into Switzerland and eventually southeast Gaul.  Since they did not enter northern Italy, the Romans had time to rebuild their Army.

Rome sent eight Legion, 80,000 men, and 40,000 Auxiliaries to stop the Cimbri/Teuton from crossing the Alps into Italy.  They met on 6 Oct 105 BC at the Battle of Arausio (modern day Orange), which is about 70 miles northwest of Marseille and 120 miles (112.6km) west of Italy.  Not since the Battle of Cannae against Hannibal had Rome suffered such a devastating defeat.  Unexpectedly, after the battle, the Cimbri/Teutons continued west into Spain and did not follow up their victory with an attack into Italy.  Once again, Rome had a chance to recover.

After a few years, the Tribes left Spain and returned to Gaul.  Then inexplicably, the two Tribes separated.  At the same time, the famous and highly capable Roman General Gaius Marius assumed command of the war.  In 102 BC, his six Legions met the Teutons at Aqau Sextiae (modern day Aix-en-Provence), 15 miles (24km) north of Marseille and totally destroyed the Teuton Army: 90,000 dead and 26,000 captured.  The Tribe ceased to exist.

Meanwhile, the Cimbri crossed back into Germania and eventually descended into Italy via the Brenner Pass.  For some reason, they turned west towards Milan instead of continuing south towards Rome.  The following year, 101 BC, Gaius Marius and eight Legions met them 45 miles (72km) west of Milan at the Battle of Vercellae (modern day Vercelli).  The Legions had about 50,000 men and the Cimbri 210,000.  It is reported that the Legions killed 140,000 men and captured 60,000.  Roman dead numbered 1,000.  The Cimbri women fearful of captivity reportedly killed their children and themselves.  The Cimbri ceased to exist.

One hundred and sixteen years after the Battle of the Danube, and 11 years after the Battle of Vercellae, Roman armies occupied Regensburg and constructed forts and watch towers all along the Danube to prevent further incursions by hostile tribes.  These defenses stood for hundreds of years.

###