The bloody struggle of Caecina

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"The bloody struggle of Caecina"

The tension and struggle of Caecina's march through hostile territory, as described by Tacitus, paints a vivid picture of the dire circumstances faced by the Roman forces.

As the Romans faced obstacles and attacks from Arminius’s men, Tacitus highlights the adverse conditions that worked against them:

"Everything alike was to the disadvantage of the Romans — the ground, [...]the weight of armour on their backs — their inability amid the water to balance the pilum for a throw. [...]In fact, the legions were already wavering when night at last released them from the unequal struggle." (*Annals*, 64).

The Germanic forces, capitalizing on their advantage, further disrupted the Romans by diverting streams to flood their territory, a tactic that destroyed much of the progress the Romans had made.

Despite these setbacks, Caecina, experienced from his many years of service, remained resolute:

"Still, it was Caecina's fortieth year of active service as commander or commanded, and he knew success and danger too well to be easily perturbed. On balancing the possibilities, he could see no other course than to hold the enemy to the woods until his wounded and the more heavily laden part of the column passed on." (*Annals*, 64).

The night before the crucial moment of decision was filled with unease. The Germanic warriors celebrated their apparent victory with loud revelry, while the Romans were left to wrestle with their anxieties. Caecina himself experienced a troubling dream:

" [...]for he imagined that he saw Quintilius Varus risen, blood-bedraggled, from the marsh, and heard him calling, though he refused to obey and pushed him back when he extended his hand." (*Annals*, 64).

This ominous dream reflected the deep-seated fears and pressures facing Caecina and his men as they prepared for the decisive actions of the following day.