Arminius – born as the son of a Cheruscan, abducted as a pawn of the Romans, and raised as a soldier, returns to subdued Germania under Emperor Augustus. He makes himself the leader of the revolt against Rome, resulting in the destruction of the legions of Varus in the year 9 AD.
On the side of Arminius, the audience will experience the “clash of cultures” between the Romans and Germania. In a memorable television event, we accompany him from the simple mud hut of his father to ancient Rome, from the plains of Pannonia to battlefields in the gorges of the Teutoburg Forest.
Arminius – Enemy of Rome – Part 1:
A Province Too Far
The first part deals with the search for Arminius‘ identity. Coming from a simple village of the Cherusci settlement and the dense forests of Germania, the Romans kidnap him under a treaty made in their civilization. They educate him and train him into a soldier. He proved himself in the suppression of a revolt against the Romans in Pannonia, and finally returns to the side of the Roman governor Varus, thereby returning to his homeland.
Arminius – Enemy of Rome – Part 2:
The Battle
Part two is all about the legendary battle in the Teutoburg Forest. Arminius knows that the disciplined Romans are superior to the Germanic warriors. Therefore, he wants to exploit the trust of Varus and lead the Romans into the rugged forests of Germania, where they would attack. They almost see through his trickery: Segestes, the old clan leader of Cherusci and ally of Rome tries to warn Varus. But the thought that a man raised and educated in Rome such as Arminius could switch sides was unimaginable. Varus gives no credence to the accusations, orders the march, and leads his legions into ruin.