III. Britain. It was the succeeding reign of Augustus, CHAP. which was the actual æra of the establishment of the Roman power in Germany, as that of Claudius afterwards introduced it into our island. The reign of Augustus was, therefore, as important in its consequences to the Barbaric as it was to the Roman mind. It spread an intellectual cultivation through the outer circle of his civilized empire, superior to that which its varying provinces had before enjoyed; and it began the improvement of the German intellect and society, by adding to the principles, customs, and spirit of the Barbaric continent, whatever its uncivilized tribes could successively imbibe, of the literature and arts of the Roman world. The Germans had much, which the wild savages of the New World have been found without, and in which even the Romans were deficient, for they had some of the noblest principles of social polity and morals; but they had scarcely any literature, few arts, few luxuries, and no refinement. When these became united to their own nobility of spirit and political principles, kingdoms arose in many parts of Europe, whose peoples have far transcended those of the Grecian states, and of the Roman empire. UNDER Augustus, Gaul, or France was completely reduced to Roman provinces; and most of its natives adopted the Roman appearance, language, and modes of life, and polity. Many colonies of the Romans were planted both in France and Spain, each a little image of Rome'; and the natives assisted him to subdue the Germans. 9 Thus Thoulouse became famous both for its great temple to Pallas, which Strabo mentions, 1. 4., and also Martial, 1.9. ep. 10., and for its rhetorical schools, where Sidonius remarks that Theodoric was educated. Budæus, p. 39. 41. This city became afterwards celebrated for its floral games of eloquence and poetry. Tacitus BOOK II. THE Country between Gaul and the Rhine was also subdued into Roman provinces, and roads were constructed in every part. Eight of these were made in Belgium, diverging from a single town. All these parts were formed into two grand divisions, called Germania Prima, and Germania Secunda. CASTLES and forts were built all along the Rhine, nearly fifty, and chiefly on its left bank, over which several bridges were thrown. A whole nation, the Ubii, was transplanted from beyond the Rhine to live along its left side: a Roman colony was placed among them, which increased afterwards into the city of Cologne. Other towns, as Mentz, Bonn, Worms, and Spires, arose from Roman stations. Eight legions were divided and placed in the most commanding spots to watch and overawe the Germans; and Augustus expressed and cultivated so strong an attachment to this people, that he had a body of Germans for his guard. THUS the Reign of Augustus completely reduced all the regions up to the Rhine into the condition of Roman provinces: all within that boundary were debilitated into a state of subjection of peaceful life, and of beginning civilization.10 praises the liberal studies at Autun, whose schools in Diocletian's time were destroyed by the Bagaudæ, but restored by Constantius. Apollo was worshipped there, ib. p. 25. Narbonne became also distinguished. The inscription which has been found there is a complete instance of the Roman deification and adoration of their emperor. It orders sacrifices to Augustus, and appoints the days of the worship, ib. p. 34. Bourdeaux was repeatedly the theme of the panegyric of Ausonius. Sidonius praises the schools at Auvergne and Lyons. Others are noticed, as Triers and Besançon. 10 It was most probably from the new policy adopted by Augustus, and from its effects, and with a complimentary reference to it, that Virgil penned the celebrated lines, which, conceding to Greece III. THE natives immediately beyond the Rhine CHAP. stretching to the ancient country of our ancestors, were the Batavi, in the present Holland; the Frisii, in Friesland; the Bructeri, towards the Ems; the Catti, and the Cherusci, who extended to the Weser; and the Chauci, who inhabited the shores from the Weser to the Elbe; while the Suevi spread from the Main to the Danube. The German nations nearest to the Rhine frequently passed it in the reign of Augustus, to attack the stations of the Romans; and these as willingly crossed the same river to defeat, plunder, and ravage, as far as they could penetrate. AUGUSTUS often visited these parts of Germany; but operated more decisively on its southern regions. From the progress of his legions, the southern part, from the Alps to the Danube, became a Roman province, under the name of Noricum; and two other contiguous provinces, called Rhetia and Vindelicia, were also established from the Alps to the Rhine, the Inn, and the Adige." The capital of Vindelicia was the present Augsburg, which Tacitus then called a most splendid colony. The Roman dominion being thus established in the southern district of Germany, the Emperor's sonin-law, Drusus, felt and cherished the same spirit the superiority in arts and eloquence, called thus upon Rome to subdue the world to a state of social tranquillity. Tu regere imperio populos, Romane ! memento. Hæ tibi erunt artes: pacisque imponere morem : Parcere subjectis, et debellare superbos. Æn. L. 6. 851. Augustus fulfilled this admonition of Anchises. He fought to pacify, and ruled to civilize. Every Roman before him had warred for power, fame, and destruction; disturbing, not harmonizing the world. 11 Tacitus. II. BOOK of ambitious but unjust enterprise which had incited Cæsar; projected the conquest of the whole Continent, and actually began it. A passage in Tacitus displays the insatiable thirst of distinction, with which the active-minded youths of Rome were urged upon expeditions incompatible with the comforts of the rest of mankind. Drusus crossed the Rhine from Holland, and ravaged around to the Main, while a fleet navigated along the coast into the Zuyderzee, and the Ems. In the ensuing spring he penetrated to the Weser, and in another year to the Elbe; laying the country waste, and building forts on the Maese, the Rhine, the Weser, and the Elbe; but before he passed that river he suddenly received, from natural causes, the fate which he was unsparingly dealing to others. Tiberius succeeded to the station, though not to the abilities of Drusus. He moved several times into Germany. In one year he passed the Weser; and in another, attacking the Chauci and Langobardi, he waved the imperial standards over the Elbe. His fleets triumphantly sailed up the river: he contemplated the collected warriors who lined its northern bank; but hazarded no attack.12 Two of the princes of the Cherusci served in the Roman army; of whom one became the celebrated Arminius, and another, a Roman priest. TIBERIUS was called by other wars to the Danube; and while he was there conflicting with the 12 Dion. Cassius, p. 622-628., and the authors in Mascou's learned history of the Germans, i. p. 78-85. He has selected and arranged the most important passages of the classical authors concerning the transactions and movements of the German nations before the dissolution of the Roman empire. The authorities for most of the events alluded to in this chapter will be found in his work. Marcomanni and their allies, the avarice of Quintilius Varus, combined with his precipitate attempt to civilize them, provoked the Germans of the Rhine to rebel. Arminius stood forward as the champion of Germany; and by his skill and exertions, the Roman general and his army were destroyed. This misfortune struck Rome with consternation, and the horrors of an invasion like that of the Cimbri and Teutones, were anticipated; but Arminius was contented to have merited the title of the deliverer of his country. 13 He had either not the means or the desire to pursue schemes of offensive conquest or of vengeful devastation beyond the precincts of Germany. He drove back the Roman empire from the Weser to the Rhine. He restored to his countrymen the possession of their native soil up to the latter river; destroyed all the Roman forts on the Ems, the Weser, and the Saal; and when Tiberius hastened to relieve the capitol from its dismay, the imperial general could gain no decisive laurels from the cautious patriot. Thus Arminius raised Germany 14 Kenler calls 13 Tacitus gives him this title, Ann. lib. ii. c. 88. him the leader of the Saxons. 1 Schard. H. G. 501.; but he was of the Cherusci. Spen. Not. 297. His character in Paterculus is interesting; "Juvenis genere nobilis, manu fortis, sensu celer, ultra promptus ingenio, ardorem animi vultu oculisque preferens." He had served in the Roman armies, and obtained the equestrian dignity. The pen of Tacitus has completed his fame. For the disaster of Varus, see Dion. Cass. 667., Paterc. ii. c. 117.; and Tac. Ann. lib. i. 14 There is a history of Arminius by Kenler, 1 Schard. p. 501518. In the dialogue on his military merit by Hutt, ib. 426., the German prince says to Hannibal, with some truth, "Nam eorum qui res preclaras gesserunt, nemo majoribus difficultatibus enisus, aut gravioribus circa impedimentis eluctatus est. In summa rerum aut hominum inopia, misera egestate, desertus ab omnibus, impeditus undique, tamen ad recuperandam libertatem, viam mihi communivi; citraque omnem extra opem, omne adjumentum, hoc solo præditus et 127 CHAP. III. |