The Battle of Arbalo was a fight between the Romans and the

Germani The Germanic peoples were historical groups of people that once occupied Central Europe and Scandinavia during antiquity and into the early Middle Ages. Since the 19th century, they have traditionally been defined by the use of ancient and ear ...

in 11 B.C. It was part of the Drusus Campaigns (12 – 8 B.C.) This campaign started with the unstable north of the Roman empire near Gaul, with the Germanic from the east of Gaul constantly attacking Rome, Augustus would send Drusus. As part of operations by

Augustus Caesar Augustus (born Gaius Octavius; 23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14), also known as Octavian, was the first Roman emperor; he reigned from 27 BC until his death in AD 14. He is known for being the founder of the Roman Pri ...

to secure the borders of the

Roman Empire The Roman Empire ( la, Imperium Romanum ; grc-gre, Βασιλεία τῶν Ῥωμαίων, Basileía tôn Rhōmaíōn) was the post-Republican period of ancient Rome. As a polity, it included large territorial holdings around the Mediterr ...

Drusus Drusus may refer to: * Claudius (Tiberius Claudius Drusus) (10 BC–AD 54), Roman emperor from 41 to 54 * Drusus Caesar (AD 8–33), adoptive grandson of Roman emperor Tiberius * Drusus Julius Caesar (14 BC–AD 23), son of Roman emperor Tiberius ...

, military commander and stepson of Augustus, was given the order to pacify the region on either side of the

River Rhine ), Surselva, Graubünden, Switzerland , source1_coordinates= , source1_elevation = , source2 = Rein Posteriur/Hinterrhein , source2_location = Paradies Glacier, Graubünden, Switzerland , source2_coordinates= , sourc ...

. In spring 11 B. C. he crossed the Rhine with his army and defeated the

Usipetes The Usipetes or Usipii (in Plutarch's Greek, Ousipai, and possibly the same as the Ouispoi of Claudius Ptolemy) were an ancient tribe who moved into the area on the right bank (the northern or eastern bank) of the lower Rhine in the first century B ...

. He built a bridge over the

Lippe Lippe () is a ''Kreis'' (district) in the east of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Neighboring districts are Herford, Minden-Lübbecke, Höxter, Paderborn, Gütersloh, and district-free Bielefeld, which forms the region Ostwestfalen-Lippe. The d ...

and marched through the territory of the

Sugambri The Sicambri, also known as the Sugambri or Sicambrians, were a Germanic people who during Roman times lived on the east bank of the river Rhine, in what is now Germany, near the border with the Netherlands. They were first reported by Julius Cae ...

and the

Cherusci The Cherusci were a Germanic tribe that inhabited parts of the plains and forests of northwestern Germany in the area of the Weser River and present-day Hanover during the first centuries BC and AD. Roman sources reported they considered themsel ...

to the Weser. During its return march to the Rhine the army was lured into an ambush at a place called Arbalo. It was attacked in a narrow pass by

. Using the element of surprise and their advantageous position, the Germans were winning until they decided to retreat for some time, allowing the Romans to break through the force defending one of the exits and escape.After the battle, Drusus would build a fortified fort where the battle take place. However, only 2 years after the battle of Arbalo, Drusus would pass away after falling off a horse. Arbalo is thought to be near modern-day Hameln or Hildesheim.At the end of the campaign, The Roman was able to secure their lands to the north. Drusus the Elder, Altes Museum Berlin (8379438625)

Drusus the Elder, Altes Museum Berlin (8379438625)

References

Citations

{{reflist, 30em

Bibliography

Pliny Pliny may refer to: People * Pliny the Elder (23–79 CE), ancient Roman nobleman, scientist, historian, and author of ''Naturalis Historia'' (''Pliny's Natural History'') * Pliny the Younger (died 113), ancient Roman statesman, orator, w ...

, '' Nat. Hist.'' 11, 28, 55. *

Cassius Dio Lucius Cassius Dio (), also known as Dio Cassius ( ), was a Roman historian and senator of maternal Greek origin. He published 80 volumes of the history on ancient Rome, beginning with the arrival of Aeneas in Italy. The volumes documented the ...

, '' Rom. Hist.'', 54, 32–36 and 55, 1–2. Arbalo Arbalo 11 BC 1st-century BC battles 10s BC conflicts Roman campaigns in Germania (12 BC – AD 16)