Alexander Demandt

The battle of Teutoburg was caused by the rise of Rome to world power and by the migration of the Germans to central Europe. The intention of extending its own civilization in the pax Romana engaged the determination to preserve their freedom and warlike spirit. The battle stopped a provincialization and urbanization in progress, as it is clear from the excavations at Waldgirmes (1993). The defeat plunged Augustus and Rome into excessive panic. As a consequence of Teutoburg Rome abstained from plans of conquest of Germany, and Arminius failed in the enforcement of his authority on his people, the Cherusci. The Germans did not accept to be ruled by the liberator Germaniae. Tacitus established a myth of Arminius which survived and encreased in the German culture until the renowned monument at Detmold (19th Century). Modern nationalisms erected several such monuments to opponents of the Romans: e.g. Boudicca, Decebalus, Vercingetorix; but the one and only victor is Arminius.