Give Me Back My Legions!

Give Me Back My Legions! is a 2009 historical novel by Harry Turtledove. While Turtledove is mainly known for alternate history novels, this is a historical novel, in which the real-life events leading up to the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, as well as the battle itself, are re-told.

Explanation of the title

The title refers to Emperor Augustus' alleged words in the aftermath of the battle, in which he was so devastated by the annihilation of three Roman legions that he spent the next several weeks in a stupor, repeating the phrase "Give me back my legions!" (some translators replace "legions" with "Eagles").

Plot

Publius Quinctilius Varus, formerly the governor of Syria, is appointed to the governorship of Germania, a hold-out full of what the Romans think of as barbarians. During a brief assignment to the Legions in Dalmatia, Varus befriends the Germani auxiliary commander Arminius, unaware that the latter has plans of his own for the Romans occupying Germany. The Roman army is misled by talk of a revolt in a nearby village to the west. When Varus decides to give it precedence and detours from the normal path into the forests, his three legions are quickly entrapped. 20,000 heavily armed Roman infantry, and auxiliaries, are brutally ambushed by Germanic forces. Though the legions are not well trained, it is Arminius' tactics that prove to be decisive. For three days the Germanic Tribes surround the legions, killing Roman soldiers along with civilians, family members of the soldiers; some are even taken captive— most of whom are sacrificed on an altar to the Germanic Gods. Forty years later the Romans attack Germania again.

Style

As with many of Turtledove's novels, there are several viewpoint characters, including Arminius, Varus, and others.

References