English Germanicism

[Menydh]

Originally Posted by Marulus

Germanicus?

You think so?

During each of the next two years, he led his 8-legion army into Germany against the coalition of tribes led by Arminius, which had successfully overthrown Roman rule in a rebellion in 9. His major success was the capture of Arminius' wife Thusnelda in May AD 15. He let Arminius' wife sleep in his quarters during the whole of the time she was a prisoner. He said, "They are women and they must be respected, for they will be citizens of Rome soon". He was able to devastate large areas and eliminate any form of active resistance, but the majority of the Germans fled at the sight of the Roman army into remote forests. The raids were considered a success since the major goal of destroying any rebel alliance networks was completed.

After visiting the site of the disastrous Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, where 20,000 Romans had been killed in 9, and burying their remains, he launched a massive assault on the heartland of Arminius' tribe, the Cheruscans. Arminius initially lured Germanicus' cavalry into a trap and inflicted minor casualties, until successful fighting by the Roman infantry caused the Germans to break and flee into the forest. This victory, combined with the fact that winter was fast approaching, meant Germanicus's next step was to lead his army back to its winter quarters on the Rhine.

In spite of doubts on the part of his uncle, Emperor Tiberius, Germanicus managed to raise another huge army and invaded Germany again the next year, in 16. He forced a crossing of the Weser near modern Minden, suffering heavy losses, and then met Arminius' army at Idistoviso, further up the Weser, near modern Rinteln, in an engagement often called the Battle of the Weser River. Germanicus's leadership and command qualities were shown in full at the battle as his superior tactics and better trained and equipped legions inflicted huge casualties on the German army with only minor losses. One final battle was fought at the Angivarian Wall west of modern Hanover, repeating the pattern of high German fatalities forcing them to flee. With his main objectives reached and with winter approaching Germanicus ordered his army back to their winter camps, with the fleet occasioning some damage by a storm in the North Sea. Although only a small number of soldiers died it was still a bad ending for a brilliantly fought campaign. After a few more raids across the Rhine, which resulted in the recovery of two of the three legion's eagles lost in 9, Germanicus was recalled to Rome and informed by Tiberius that he would be given a triumph and reassigned to a different command.

Not a very pro-Germanic name for an English.

But then again, it is not said that all English are pro- or even anything Germanicists.

[Lutiferre]

Originally Posted by Menydh

You think so?
Not a very pro-Germanic name for an English.

But then again, it is not said that all English are pro- or even anything Germanicists.

Perhaps it also has some value to separate proto-history and present day cultural realities. After all, the "Germanics" of BC are as much a stranger to present day Germanics, as are Celtiberians to present day Spaniards, or a Turk to a German. Now, rather than barbarian pagan peoples, we are sterillized feminists, allowing invasions instead of fighting them off.

[Aptrgangr]

Germanicus is a Roman title given to generals having defeated the Germanics.

Well, not all English are Germanics you know

[Germanicus]

Originally Posted by Aptrgangr

Germanicus is a Roman title given to generals having defeated the Germanics.

Well, not all English are Germanics you know

I assure you my surname is Anglo Saxon, .....and a friend of mine has the surname "Thane"

[Aptrgangr]

Originally Posted by Germanicus

I assure you my surname is Anglo Saxon, .....and a friend of mine has the surname "Thane"

Well this might be - but your nickname here isn't

[Germanicus]

Originally Posted by Aptrgangr

Well this might be - but your nickname here isn't

My nick is to honour a great Roman that tried to bring culture and the Roman way to Germania.......Plus he brought back 3 lost Eagles.

[Aptrgangr]

Originally Posted by Germanicus

My nick is to honour a great Roman that tried to bring culture and the Roman way to Germania.......

Well, he better had cared to save his own culture in his own country - and the Germanics volunteerly adapted to many Roman customs anyway.

Originally Posted by Germanicus

Plus he brought back 3 lost Eagles.

And buried those having been sacrificed to Wodan

Anyway, he was given a triumph parade despite he had not won a military vicory but just slain some Germanic families settling east of the Rhine that were drunk after a feast day.

[Susi]

Originally Posted by Germanicus

My nick is to honour a great Roman that tried to bring culture and the Roman way to Germania.......Plus he brought back 3 lost Eagles.

But I liked being an uncultured lout.

[Menydh]

Originally Posted by Lutiferre

Perhaps it also has some value to separate proto-history and present day cultural realities. After all, the "Germanics" of BC are as much a stranger to present day Germanics, as are Celtiberians to present day Spaniards, or a Turk to a German.

Speaking of it, I remember reading that on one occasion during a conference of archeologists about the Celtiberians, one man from the public suddently stood and cried that he was proud to be a descendent of the Celtiberians. Needless to say, this provoked the laughters of the attendants to the conference after the initial disbelief.

Well, well, it only takes a quick visit to some internet fora to find out that the man is not alone in his madness..

Now, rather than barbarian pagan peoples, we are sterillized feminists, allowing invasions instead of fighting them off.

Neither of the two a good option I suppose.

Originally Posted by Aptrgangr

Germanicus is a Roman title given to generals having defeated the Germanics.

I've heard that in the "germanicist" fora they call me Germanicus. I wonder what I've done to deserve such an honour!

But you may call me Caligula after last night!

Well, not all English are Germanics you know

I do, I do. Precisely last night, while I was having some drinks at an Irish pub over here, at first it occured to me that the bar tender who served us, though he looked Spanish, he had to have some serious problem with his diction (see definitions 2 and 3a)...

Of course he did. Don't all English do? He turned up to be from the Isle of Wight. And I thought that only bird lived there! Alright, maybe he lied to me..

Anyway, it is not as if our part-time nothern English resident looks much of a Germanic Anglo-Saxon himself.. Llywarch? Where are you hiding old boy?

Originally Posted by Germanicus

I assure you my surname is Anglo Saxon, .....and a friend of mine has the surname "Thane"

A servant in Middle Age Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon culture?

I suppose that it doesn't make him more Anglo-Saxon than what it makes "Walah" Anglo-Saxon to a Welshman.

Originally Posted by Germanicus

My nick is to honour a great Roman that tried to bring culture and the Roman way to Germania.......Plus he brought back 3 lost Eagles.

For which the Roman zoo will always be indebted to him.

Originally Posted by Aptrgangr

Well, he better had cared to save his own culture in his own country - and the Germanics volunteerly adapted to many Roman customs anyway.

Quitters!

And buried those having been sacrificed to Wodan

Has anyone given it a thought the state of the corpses? The 20,000 had been left to rotten for some 5 years!!!

You barbarians you!

Anyway, he was given a triumph parade despite he had not won a military vicory but just slain some Germanic families settling east of the Rhine that were drunk after a feast day.

Remind me to watch behind my back the next night that I go out for a feast day with a Roman, like I did last night!

Originally Posted by Susi

But I liked being an uncultured lout.

The worst part of it was the lack of dental hygiene. Other than that, you could still flirt if you remembered to keep your mouth shut.

[Susi]

Originally Posted by Menydh

The worst part of it was the lack of dental hygiene. Other than that, you could still flirt if you remembered to keep your mouth shut.

Well things have improved since then :p

[Aptrgangr]

Originally Posted by Menydh

I've heard that in the "germanicist" fora they call me Germanicus. I wonder what I've done to deserve such an honour!

Well, I have no clue about which Germanics you defeated in your past...

Originally Posted by Menydh

But you may call me Caligula after last night!

Wasn't he that emperor that only trusted his Germanic bodyguards?

Originally Posted by Menydh

I do, I do. Precisely last night, while I was having some drinks at an Irish pub over here, at first it occured to me that the bar tender who served us, though he looked Spanish, he had to have some serious problem with his diction (see definitions 2 and 3a)...

Makes me think about the question whether German or English is more Romanized ie. Latinized.

Originally Posted by Menydh

Of course he did. Don't all English do? He turned up to be from the Isle of Wight. And I thought that only bird lived there! Alright, maybe he lied to me..

Well, where the birds are there are the cockerills not far...

Originally Posted by Menydh

Anyway, it is not as if our part-time nothern English resident looks much of a Germanic Anglo-Saxon himself.. Llywarch? Where are you hiding old boy?

Did he ever claim to be an Anglo-Saxon anyway?

Originally Posted by Menydh

Quitters!

Why?

Originally Posted by Menydh

Has anyone given it a thought the state of the corpses? The 20,000 had been left to rotten for some 5 years!!!

Well, many were sunk into bogs, others were nailed at trees so ravens comfortably could pick the meat - no easy and pleasant job to bury them indeed.

Originally Posted by Menydh

You barbarians you!

Well, that surely is true, I just don't know any empire not being qualified for the title barbarian.

Originally Posted by Menydh

Remind me to watch behind my back the next night that I go out for a feast day with a Roman, like I did last night!

Hm, well you are seen as a foederate, no worries then.

[Lutiferre]

Originally Posted by Menydh

Neither of the two a good option I suppose.

Indeed not. But we must not forget either, the periods of respectable civilization in between.

Originally Posted by Aptrgangr

Well, not all English are Germanics you know

Originally Posted by Menydh

Anyway, it is not as if our part-time nothern English resident looks much of a Germanic Anglo-Saxon himself.. Llywarch? Where are you hiding old boy?

A little swarthyness doesnt disqualify your Germanicity

After all, the Germanic barbarians, and Gaullics, dyed their hair blond. Perhaps a black Dane was hiding beneath?