Romans had a difficult history with Germany, and was repeatedly dragged into battled with the tribes from Germania.
The Roman Empire stretched from Italy westwards through Iberia and into Britain and Eastwards into modern-day Syria and Turkey.
However, for the most of the duration of the Empire, Germany was not conquered or ruled, maintaining relative independence.
Attempts to bring Germania to heel were originally attempted in the first century AD by Julius Ceasar.
Repeated excursions to the Germanic region were met with resistance from the various tribes.
It was not a singular coherent nation, as is seen today, but was instead ruled by scattered Teutonic tribes throughout the vast wilderness.
Romans knew little of this densely forested territory governed by fiercely independent chieftains.
Between 6BC and 4 BC, Roman legions eventually established a chain of bases on the Lippe and Weser rivers.
This tentative alliance was uneasy and discontent soon grew.
A famed ambush from the Germanic tribes, led by a 25-year-old called Arminius is inscribed into history.
He spoke Latin and was familiar with Roman tactics.
In September of the year 9AD, he met the imperial Roman legate Publius Quinctilius Varus in battle.
the ambitoius young man conducted an ambush to establish himself and expell the Romans.
In his role working for the Romans, he was granted citizenship and the honour of knight for his valour, he reported a fictitious ‘uprising’ in an area unfamiliar to the Romans.
He then lead them into a deadly trap.
Over three days more than 15,000 Romans were slaughtered and the leaders fell on their swords.
Romans abandoned their bases in the region following the crushing defeat and rarely returned to Germania.