7.9

Egypt was added to the empire in 30 BCE, between 27 and 25 BCE Northeast Spain was finally subdued, in 25 BCE the Salassi and Vindelici were conquered and Galatia annexed and between 22 and 19 BCE an agreement was reached with Parthia which saw the restoration of Crassus’ lost standards (May 12, 20 BCE) and the establishment of a Roman protectorate in Armenia. In 19 BCE the Garamantes were defeated, in 16 and 15 BCE Rhaetia and Noricum were made provinces, in 14 BCE the Bosporus was given to Polemo of Pontus, between 13 and 9 BCE Illyricum was taken over and in Germany Drusus advanced to the Elbe. Finally, in 6 CE Paphlagonia was added to Galatia and Judaea was annexed. No mention is made of Varus' disaster in 9 CE with the loss of three legions, for that would have spoiled the positive picture of this exemplary ruler (Bird).

Whether in person or at his behest, he conquered Cantabria, Aquitania, Pannonia, Dalmatia as well as all Illyrica, as well as Raetia and the Vindelici and Salassi (Alpine tribes). He put a stop to the Dacian raiders, slaughtering three of their leaders as well as a large number of their troops. He relocated the German tribes to the opposite shore of the Albis River; of these, the Suebi and the Sigambri submitted to Roman rule and were relocated to Gaul in territory close to the Rhine River. He subjugated other tribes in turmoil and brought them into his control (21.1–9).

Drusus was sent into the province and conquered the Usipetes first, then ran through the Tencteri and the Catti. He constructed a monument—in the same vein as a war trophy—made of booty and spoils from the Marcomanni. Then he attacked the mighty tribes the Cherusci, Suebi, and Sugambri. Together they had started hostilities by crucifying twenty centurions, using this act to seal their alliance. They had such an expectation of victory that they had already divided the booty before they even set out for battle; the Cherusci chose horses, the Suebians chose gold and silver, and the Sugambri chose prisoners of war. But it didn't work out in their favor. For when he conquered them, Drusus divided the horses, flocks, torques, and the rest of their booty and sold it. To monitor the province, he set garrisons and forts all along the Mose, Elbe, and Visugin rivers; he put more than fifty defensive fortifications along the Rhine. Moreover, he put bridges along the Borma and Gesoriacum rivers, and defended them with fleets of warships. He made the Hercynian forest accessible, which at that time was inaccessible and unknown.

At last Germany had peace; the people were transformed, the climate and geography itself seemed softened and less threatening. And when the brave young commander died, the senate honored him with the name of the province, Germanicus, something never done before. They did this because he deserved the honor, not out of flattery.

But it is more difficult to hold onto a province than it is to create one; provinces are created by force, but held by justice. Peace in Germania was short lived. The Germans were beaten, but not subdued under Drusus' leadership; they respected our ways more so than our force. But once he was dead, the Germans grew to hate Varus' lust and arrogance more than his cruelty. Varus dared to hold an assembly, foolishly ordering them in an edict, as if he could keep the barbarians in check with a voice of a herald and the trappings of bureaucracy.

But the Germans were aggravated that their swords had grown rusty from disuse and that their horses had grown fat from lack of exercise. As soon as they saw the toga and laws more cruel than warfare, they took up arms under Arminius' leadership.

Varus was so confident in peace, he was not even bothered by the rebellion even when it was told to him by Segestes, one of the German leaders. So when the rebellion occurred, unforeseen and unexpectedly, Varus feared nothing—oh how carefree!—he summoned them to the tribunal. Instead they attacked from all sides, besieged the forts, overwhelmed three legions. Realizing that all was lost, Varus did the same as Paulus did at the battle of Cannae [i.e., he took his own life]. Nothing was more bloody or cruel in this forest, nothing was more intolerable than the effrontery of these barbarians, especially what was inflicted on the bureaucrats... Because of this disaster, the empire, which before had not stopped even at the shores of the Ocean, now stood checked by the Rhine (Epit. 2.30.7–47).

His glory was amplified by the fact that Quintilius Varus perished with three legions in Germany at the same time. No one doubted that these German victors would have allied themselves with the Pannonians, if Illyricum hadn't been subdued first. Because of this, Tiberius was granted a triumph as well as many other military honors. The senate also decreed that he receive the honorary title Pannonicus, and some even wanted  to add the titles Invictus and even Pius. But Augustus refused, assuring Tiberius he would gain these honors after he was dead. Tiberius himself refused the triumph out of respect to the Varus disaster; he did, however, enter the city wearing his toga praetexta and laurel crown, and sat down beside Augustus and the two consuls, while the senate stood in approval in a ceremonial tribunal held in the Saepta. From there he made his way to various temples as he was flocked on all sides by the adoring public. (Vit. Tiber. 17.1.6–2.10)