| abstract
| - Germania's Imperial history began with Augustus' decree in January 761(8) of first carving the province of Germania out of Gallic Belgica, and then bringing the Germans beyond the Rhenus under Rome's sphere. C. Lorentus, a general advertised by Carico who had proven himself an adept commander in the east was chosen above the other promising leaders to establish Roman control on the eastern shores of the Rhine. In the coming spring, commanding legions XVII-XIX, Lorentus enlisted the aid of the pro-Roman chiefs of Segestes and Arminius (among others) to draw the Germanic tribes into Roman alignment. Arminius was described by Lorentus as being an incessant flatterer while Segestes was a cynical and grudging old man, just like Lorentus and just the kind of man he respected. In early March 761 When Arminius and his sources reported that a rebellion was rising in the north, Lorentus was already suspicious of the circumstances but decided to march north to quell the rebellion anyway. The night before the army's departure, Segestes suggested to Lorentus that Ariminus and several other supposedly allied chiefs were actually proponents of the uprising. Lorentus was reserved at this suggestion as he had known of Segestes' feud over the marriage between Arminius and one of Segestes' daughters, but became acuitly observant of Arminius' behaviour. On the dawn of the march, Arminius notified Lorentus that he would take his cavalry regiment to other Germanic tribes to bring extra reinforcements for the put-down, but Lorentus assured him that three legions and the present auxilia were more than enough to make a point of Roman power and convince the tribes to end the rebellion, he insisted Arminius stay with the troops. As the march began, Lorentus chose an unfamiliar path to take directly to the scene of the rebellion, ensuring that plenty of advance scouts were looking for ambushes. As a cloudy afternoon approached, several scouts returned informing Lorentus that they had been ambushed not far ahead of the army's path. The enemy was heading towards the columns. The area the legions were now in was half steep hills, half dense forest, and Lorentus decided to try his luck, quickly calling for a closing of ranks and preparation for battle. Arminius let Lorentus know he would go take the orders down the long trail of troops, but again Lorentus ordered Arminius to stand at the front lines and allow the regular messengers take the call. Arminius knew Lorentus knew, and Lorentus knew Arminius knew Lorentus knew Arminius knew Lorentus knew Arminius knew Lorentus knew Arminius knew Lorentus knew what Arminius would do next. The estimated 12 000 Germanic warriors attacked from the forested side before the Romans could finish their combat formation, but they did a commendable job considering the circumstances. Losing over a third of his 20 000, Lorentus managed to effect a rout of the Germans and made a gamble of pursuing them into the woods. Over the course of three days his pursuit continued until the Germans were finally lost in the black forests. Ambushes had taken their toll however and Lorentus returned to his camps with around 10 500 men. He was able to secure the alliances with the remaining tribes necessary to form the province. Lorentus' losses deemed him a failure in Germania in the eyes of Rome, and despite his successful formation of the prescribed province up to the Rivers Werra and Lippe and loyalty from the tribes, Lorentus would never command an army again. Soon after, Germania was split into Superior and Inferior provinces to handle the many tribes.
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