05-07-2019, 09:25 PM
I am wondering what happened to the civilians that accompanied the Varus legions during the massacre. I know that there were civilians with the army, and that in this instance, if current theories are to be believed, Varus was marching out of his summer camp for the season, with the intent of putting down a reported rebellion on the way to his Rhine bases. The civilians, many being family members of the legionaries, would presumably have gone with them.
Is there any evidence or even speculation as to what their ultimate fate was? Would they have stuck with the Legions to the bitter end or would they have been abandoned at some point to their own fate? If they were left, at what point was that?
To my own mind, the best candidates for the civilians being abandoned would be the second camp after the first ambush. They would have been left with the wounded and the burned baggage train as the army left under the cover of darkness. The other thought would be the third camp where the last of the cavalry under Vala rode out to their doom, and the Legions knew things were near hopeless.
I have seen some accounts say that Arminius left the civilians alone, not wanting to slow his own forces with captives. This makes some sense to me as his army was expected to by highly mobile to strike the Roman column wherever it went. I have seen other accounts say that they were killed and/or captured by Arminius and the survivors sold into slavery. None of the main English language sources really say one way or another.
Does anyone have any sources, or even speculation on the topic? Any ideas would be welcome.
Is there any evidence or even speculation as to what their ultimate fate was? Would they have stuck with the Legions to the bitter end or would they have been abandoned at some point to their own fate? If they were left, at what point was that?
To my own mind, the best candidates for the civilians being abandoned would be the second camp after the first ambush. They would have been left with the wounded and the burned baggage train as the army left under the cover of darkness. The other thought would be the third camp where the last of the cavalry under Vala rode out to their doom, and the Legions knew things were near hopeless.
I have seen some accounts say that Arminius left the civilians alone, not wanting to slow his own forces with captives. This makes some sense to me as his army was expected to by highly mobile to strike the Roman column wherever it went. I have seen other accounts say that they were killed and/or captured by Arminius and the survivors sold into slavery. None of the main English language sources really say one way or another.
Does anyone have any sources, or even speculation on the topic? Any ideas would be welcome.
Daniel DeVargas
