Battle at Pontes Longi

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Battle at Pontes Longi
Part of the Early Imperial campaigns in Germania
Kalkriese location map..png
Location of Kalkriese archeological site
Date15 AD
Location
Near Bramsche, Germany
Result Inconclusive[1]
Belligerents
Roman Empire

Germanic tribes

Commanders and leaders
Aulus Caecina Severus Arminius
Strength
Legio I Germanica
Legio V Alaudae
Legio XX Valeria Victrix
Legio XXI Rapax
Total: 28,000–30,000		 Unknown
Casualties and losses
10,000–15,000 Unknown

The Battle at Pontes Longi was fought near Bramsche, Germany in 15 AD between the Roman general Aulus Caecina Severus and an alliance of Germanic peoples commanded by Arminius. It was part of a three-year series of campaigns by Germanicus in Germania. The battle was inconclusive.

After fighting an indecisive battle with Arminius, Germanicus ordered Caecina to take his original forces and march back to the Rhine. Arriving at a spot referred to as the "long causeways" and finding it impassable, Caecina began repairs to the causeways so that he could continue his march towards the Rhine.[2] However, he was attacked by Arminius and just managed to hold him off when night fell. The next day, the two armies joined in battle again. The Roman legions became separated and were again almost defeated. Caecina, trying to hold the front line against the Germans, had his horse killed under him, and he only survived due to the timely intervention of the First Legion.[3] When Caecina saw many of the Germans turning from the fighting to plunder the baggage carts and pack mules, he gave orders for the baggage to be abandoned. This was the key reason the First and Twentieth legions were able to withdraw and rejoin the Fifth and Twenty-First legions on dry land by nightfall.[4]

During the night a rumour spread that the Germans had broken into the camp, causing the troops to rush the gates in an attempt to escape. Caecina, unsuccessful in attempting to convince the soldiers that there was no attack underway, was forced to throw himself on the ground under the gateway to persuade the soldiers to stop and listen.[5]

During the night Arminius counselled in favour of letting the Romans leave their camp in the morning and resume their march to the Rhine. Arminius explained that once the legionaries were in the open and clear of the camp, the Cheruscans could wipe them out. But Arminius’ uncle, Inguiomerus, did not want to give the Romans a chance to escape. He advised attacking their camp at dawn and over-running it. Other chiefs concurred. So Arminius, outvoted, agreed to lead a dawn attack on the Roman camp.[6]

In the morning, with Caecina having stiffened his army’s morale, the Romans managed to defeat the Germans attacking the camp and caused them to flee the battlefield. Caecina was then able to complete the repairs to the Long Bridge and return to the Rhine. As a result of this victory, he was awarded triumphal honours.[7]


Sources[]

  • Tacitus, The Annals
  • Smith, William, Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, Vol I (1867).
  • Wells, Peter S. (2003), The Battle That Stopped Rome, New York: Norton, ISBN 978-0-393-32643-7

References[]

  1. ^ Tacitus claims that the Romans won the battle at pontes longi; however, Wells says the battle was inconclusive (Wells 2003, p 206).
  2. ^ Smith, pg. 530; Tacitus, I:63–64
  3. ^ Tacitus, I:65
  4. ^ Wells 2003, pp. 205–206
  5. ^ Tacitus, I:66
  6. ^ Wells 2003, pp. 205–206
  7. ^ Smith, pg. 530
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