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Several other officers drew away from him as though he had the plague. Varus was tempted to dismiss him from the council but held back because he recalled that Augustus had some of the same worries. Instead, he appealed to their pride, indicating that anyone could do an easy job but it required uncommon men to do the harder one and that Augustus had decided they were such men. He again asked if anyone disagreed and was met with silence. He then added that since Augustus wanted it, they would find a way to do it and ended the meeting.
 
Several other officers drew away from him as though he had the plague. Varus was tempted to dismiss him from the council but held back because he recalled that Augustus had some of the same worries. Instead, he appealed to their pride, indicating that anyone could do an easy job but it required uncommon men to do the harder one and that Augustus had decided they were such men. He again asked if anyone disagreed and was met with silence. He then added that since Augustus wanted it, they would find a way to do it and ended the meeting.
   
As advised by [[Arminius (Legions)|Arminius]], whom Varus trusted, the latter led the three legions through the [[Teutoburg Forest (Legions)|Teutoburg Forest]]. What the governor did not know was that Arminius was organizing a major uprising against the Romans and was setting an ambush in the Forest in the time Varus had given him to "to go to his wife in her pregnancy".
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As advised by [[Arminius (Legions)|Arminius]], whom Varus trusted, the latter led the three legions through the [[Teutoburg Forest (Legions)|Teutoburg Forest]]. What the governor did not was that Arminius was organizing a major uprising against the Romans and was setting an ambush in the Forest in the time Varus had given him to "to go to his wife in her pregnancy".
   
 
Arminius made his warriors build breast works in the Forest, partly to conceal his troops. When the last of the Roman vanguard had passed, the Germans loosed a barrage of spears, killing many Romans. At this location, the path had narrowed between the forest and a swamp preventing the Romans from deploying. The Germans then attacked with swords and thrusting spears cutting down individual fighters who could not form to support each other. The ranks broke, some trying to escape through the swamp others back the way they had come but were blocked by their own rear who were thrown into confusion. The Germans fell on them all and only a few survived resulting in one of the largest Roman defeats ever. In fact, Varus himself died in the battle.
 
Arminius made his warriors build breast works in the Forest, partly to conceal his troops. When the last of the Roman vanguard had passed, the Germans loosed a barrage of spears, killing many Romans. At this location, the path had narrowed between the forest and a swamp preventing the Romans from deploying. The Germans then attacked with swords and thrusting spears cutting down individual fighters who could not form to support each other. The ranks broke, some trying to escape through the swamp others back the way they had come but were blocked by their own rear who were thrown into confusion. The Germans fell on them all and only a few survived resulting in one of the largest Roman defeats ever. In fact, Varus himself died in the battle.
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