Imperious
Varus
1. Prologue
It was the year 9 anno domine. The roman empire spread itself from western Europe to the mediterranean territories. Also the germanic tribes were under roman administration.
But a storm of desperation, wrath and the longing for freedom raged over the legions and the pride of the empire.
By the unexpected loss of about 20,000 soldiers, the romans had to bear one of their hardest defeats ever.
And for this disgrace, one man will be held responsible forevermore…
2. Publius Qunctilius Varus
"The roman governors ambition in Germania was to further colonization, collect taxes and to preserve peace by putting down riots of the tribes.
He was known for his arrogance, insensitivity and false pride. These traits should be the prelude of his downfall..."
Legatus Augusti pro praetore.
Noble blood flows through his veins.
To hold the property they keep
Was his pursuit and his aim.
At this time the tribes disputed,
The sword replaced every word.
But only if peace found its way
He could fulfill the will of Rome.
With levity the grave was dug.
Arrogance switched the mind.
Publius Quinctilius Varus,
Doomed for his demise.
Known as a strategic master,
A genius in arts of war.
Publius Quinctilius Varus,
Of what avail that was for you?
Time has come for you.
Prove the roman steel.
Will the eagle fly
When it hears their battle cry?
Varus!
In this age of battles
Many men did rule the fight,
But the name of Varus
Now stands for the defeat of roman might.
With levity the grave was dug.
Arrogance switched the mind.
Publius Quinctilius Varus,
Marked for all time.
Known as a strategic master,
A genius in arts of war.
Publius Quinctilius Varus,
Of what avail it is for you?
3. Arminius
"Arminius, chieftain of the Cherusci, was educated by romans since his youth. He served as leader of ger-manic alliances for the empire and got familiar with roman art of war.
But the arrogance and the might of Varus grew and Arminus feared the threatening decline of culture and
freedom of his tribe. So he decided to go to war..."
Was it honour what pushed you?
What let you break the band?
Was it treason what brought the change?
And wrote history?
Born as the son of Segimer
You served for Rome in many fights.
They tought you the lore of warfare,
But your roots they couldn’t deny.
Depredated legacy
Of his ancestry.
Constrained slavery
- A life for the enemy!
Enemy!
Was he a hero, who broke the chains?
The chains of slavery, oppression and pain?
Was he a traitor who deceived
The ones who made him become a man?
Once on the side
Of the conquerors
You turned against them there.
Shattered - the empire’s fortress.
Your name will always sound through time.
Arminius: “Follow me to victory!
Rome exploited long enough!
Take your courage, sword and axe!
Legionnaires will feel our rage!
Our forests are on our side!
We will lure them into the trap
And attack them part for part!
As soon they’ll see us, we’ll be gone!”
Depredated legacy
Of his ancestry.
Constrained slavery
- A Life for the enemy!
Enemy!
Raise the fist, edge the sword!
Gather the tribes around you!
Assembled and decided...
Cherusci, let battle commence!!!
4. Segestes’ Charge
"The uncle of Arminius, Segestes, was inducted by Arminius into the rebellion and asked to join it.
Due to the fact that he dreaded a war against the superior roman legions, he informed Varus about Arminius' plans..."
Segestes:
“Varus, listen to me!
Treason will befall you!
Rebellion arises
In the ranks of the tribes!
Only one is the leader!
His sword held high!
The one is called Arminius!”
Varus:
“Keep silent, Segestes!
Guard your tongue!
It seems to me
That you are the one,
The one who wants to betray me!
Arminius is a loyal friend of Rome!
Don’t you know
What happens to liars?
To liars like you?”
Segestes:
“Believe me, Varus! Believe me!
Or you will perish!
Listen to me and you will live!
Not one false word I told you!
Not one false word passed my lips!
Oh Believe me, Varus!
Or you will perish!
Listen to me and you will live!
Not one false word I told you!
Not one false word
Passed my lips!”
Varus:
“Out with you! Back to your heathens!
Your words will never become true!
Arminius is under protection of Rome!
And I trust him eternally!”
Segestes left with sorrow in mind.
He knew that blood will flow.
Though I wanted to betray his tribe
He joined the rebellion.
Arminius:
“Brothers, we’re going to war!
Brothers, we will never fall!
Roman blood for our steel!
We will have them kneel!”
5. 3 Legions March
"Without regarding Segestes' warning, Varus set out with Legiones XVII, XVIII and XIX for their winter camp at the river rhine. But they never arrived..."
And so the day had come
On which the demise commenced.
Moribund legionnaires
Prepared for the march.
Peace in front of their eyes,
Castrum Vetara waited for them.
Varus lead the legions
Without Segestes’ word in mind.
Varus:
“Fellow comrades!”
Legionnaire:
”Our fortune?”
Varus:
“It lies ahead!
We leave our castrum
For women, cosiness and wine!”
Legionnaire:
“Too long we’ve shivered!”
Varus:
“The winters here are merciless!
So build the trek and get your arms!
Out of that swamp...
Legionnaire:
“...We will march!”
So they trekked into perdition
Like cattle being lead to slaughter.
Is your power of avail
When a man of arrogance
Guides you to your grave?
They never arrived
Because they left their way.
A message of a riot
Let Varus lead them into the woods.
Into the Woods.
Arminius’ plan became real
And they marched into the trap.
Thousands of heathen warriors
Swung their sword when they were near.
When they were near.
Forests unknown.
Grass, trees and stones.
High on his horse
He lead the course.
Legions subsided
While cheruscian warriors did hide.
And a storm set in...
So they trekked into perdition
Like cattle being lead to slaughter.
Is your power of avail
When a man of arrogance
Guides you to your grave?
It started to rain.
Varus was still so vain.
6. The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest
"Surrounded by undergrowth and trees legionnaires marched on and on through mud so deep. Led by Varus right into Arminius' trap.
And so the battle began..."
Rain soaked soldiers tried to advance
In forests unknown and treacherous.
No arrays of the troops anymore.
A violent rain separated them.
In the highest state of confusion
The attack found its way.
Barbarians from everywhere
Surrounded the legions.
First the arrows
Then the swords
Hit the legions.
A sudden assault.
As fast they attacked
As fast they were gone.
Like ghosts in the night.
Ghosts in the night.
At last they found a place to rest
From where they reached
Open country the next day
In a way better order.
They plunged into the woods again
To defend themselves.
Varus sent the cavalry to run them down,
But the trees thwart their horses.
On the fourth day a storm set in.
Preventing the romans from marching on.
Depriving them to use their weapons.
The demise was near.
Arminius and his men were lightly armed.
They suffered less from the storm.
The roman forces had greatly increased.
Their ranks were thinned.
Four days, three nights the battle took.
Four days, three nights legions resisted.
In the end Varus saw no resort.
He stabbed himself with his sword.
Three legions annihilated.
The soil soaked their blood.
20.000 legionnaires
Buried forever here
On foreign ground.
7. 9 A.D., Autumn
"The battle is over.
The fields are drenched in blood and gore.
The mourning for the fallen brothers was still pre-sent, nevertheless the germanic tribes celebrated their victory.
The following words in this song are just impressions of what they might have thought after the battle.
After the bloodshed.
After all this cruelty."
...Here we stand victorious
At our fallen brothers’ graves,
Headstones of the brave...
...The autumn leaves of our oaks
Will gently cover their last homes
In colors of demise...
...Farewell my brothers, rest in peace!
Your names will live eternally...
...You died for freedom not in vain.
Next to the gods you found your seats
Of golden wood...
This silence, tangible.
These fields of emerald green ahead.
The home of thousands who had to bleed.
...Not only courage filled our hearts.
Some eyes were full of fear.
Considering the spear...
...How could we know we would prevail
Against this superior roman force...
...So here we stand victorious
At our fallen brothers’ graves.
The autumn leaves of our oaks
Will gently cover their last home...
...Farewell my brothers, rest in peace!
Your names will live eternally!
You died for freedom not in vain.
Next to the gods you found your seats...
This silence, tangible.
These fields of emerald green ahead
Where blood of thousands once was shed.
...Imperious was the enemy,
But we were strong and brave in will!
Our hearts do pound for freedom still...
...Where are our marks in history?
What do we contribute to see?
Our footsteps left in the sand of time...
...And we were stronger than we thought.
We allied with every tribe, cohesion in our minds...
...We knew their tactics, we knew their mind.
He told us where their weakness lies...
...Cherusci, Chatti, Bructeri united.
All together stood as one.
A gathering of strength...
...Let the world hear our battle cry.
A legacy in blood and tears...
...These fields of emerald green
Covered with the dead...
...Imperious was the enemy,
But we were strong and brave in will!
Our hearts do pound for freedom still...
...Here are our marks in history!
That’s what we contribute to see!
Our footsteps left in the sand of time...
...Broken swords and axes, arrows and bows.
Memories of bloodshed, massacres disposed.
The sound of warcries still hangs in the air.
Anthems for the fallen, anthems for the scared...
...Broken swords and axes, arrows and bows.
Memories of bloodshed, massacres disposed.
The sound of warcries still hangs in the air.
Anthems for the fallen, anthems for the scared...
...Imperious enemy
Strong and brave in will we are...
...Our marks in history
Left in the sand of time...
8. Quinctili Vare, Legiones Redde
"It is said that emperor Augustus shouted these words when he got the news of Varus' defeat and the loss of his legions.
He entombed the head of Varus in his own mauso-leum after it was sent to him by Marbod, the king of the Marcomanni and rival of Arminius.
12 years later Arminius was stabbed to death by relatives."
Augustus:
“Quintili Vare, legiones redde!
Varus, bring my legions back!”
After the victory over rome
Varus’s head was cut off
And sent to Marbod,
The marcomanni king.
Arminius:
“Behold the head.
The giant is dead.
Died by own hands.
His sword prevailed!”
The rival of Arminius
Sent it to the family of Varus.
Augustus the emperor saw the head.
He couldn’t believe
That his legions were dead.
Dishonour for the empire.
Desperation sparked a fire.
Revenge was born for this defeat.
The wrath of rome they would meet.
3 years later they came back,
Germanicus on the head.
They took revenge for this defeat.
The wrath of rome the tribes had met.
Augustus:
“Quintili Vare, legiones redde!
Varus, bring my legions back!
Quintili Vare, legiones redde!
Varus, bring my legions back!”
And here it ends,
The history of Varus.
Arrogance and pride.
Doom and demise.
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