12-06-2006, 12:51 PM
Ave omnes,
on http://www.teudogar.com/lex039.htm I found this description of Drusus campaing in 12 B.C., ending abruptly at the river Ems.
This was new to me, and because I was born in the city of Emden (located at the mouth of the river Ems), it is very interesting. I never learned a Roman naval expedition got stuck in that very area.
Are there more detailed sources about that topic? The coastline around there was moving and changing a lot due to storm tides in the last two thousand years, so perhaps finding out the location might be as difficult as finding the true Varrian disaster place ;-) ) . Was Tiberius also visiting that site on his expedition in 5 A.D.?
on http://www.teudogar.com/lex039.htm I found this description of Drusus campaing in 12 B.C., ending abruptly at the river Ems.
Quote:Immediately afterwards (summer 12 B.C.) Drusus set out with his fleet, reached the North Sea over his channel, and now sailed eastwards along the Germanic coast. The Germanic Frisians were so impressed by his fleet and army that they immediately asked for peace. Drusus made them pay a mild tribute (they would have to deliver a certain number of cattle skins every year), and accepted them as allies: During the rest of this campaign, a Frisian army marched along the coast, accompanying the Roman fleet, which was slowly sailing further eastwards.
Arriving at the delta of the river Ems, Drusus' plan probably was to subdue the Germanic Chaucians, who settled there. Then he might have sailed upstream towards the south, defeating the Ampsivarians, who settled along the Ems. Leaving his fleet and marching further southwards, he might have attacked the Bructerians, who settled between Ems and Rhine, and finally once more the Sugambrians along the Rhine, in whose territory he had started this campaign.
But during low tide, his fleet ran aground near the Ems delta, and was now stuck. If the Frisians hadn't rushed to assist the Romans, the onsetting high tide could have caused a catastrophe for fleet and army. But the Romans still seem to have suffered considerable casualties: For Drusus immediately retreated (it's unclear whether with the remainder of his fleet or on foot), without daring even a single battle against a single tribe. He then returned to Rome to spend the winter there.
This was new to me, and because I was born in the city of Emden (located at the mouth of the river Ems), it is very interesting. I never learned a Roman naval expedition got stuck in that very area.
Are there more detailed sources about that topic? The coastline around there was moving and changing a lot due to storm tides in the last two thousand years, so perhaps finding out the location might be as difficult as finding the true Varrian disaster place ;-) ) . Was Tiberius also visiting that site on his expedition in 5 A.D.?
Greetings from germania incognita
Heiko (Cornelius Quintus)
Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?
Heiko (Cornelius Quintus)
Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?