Arminius (Ger. Hermann or Herman), a famous prince or chief of the German tribe of the Cherusci, was born 16 B.C. In the years from 9 B.C. to 4 A.D., Drusus and Tiberius had penetrated into the north-west of Germany as far as the Elbe, laid out a number of military roads, erected fortresses in the country, and reduced the different tribes to such dependence upon Rome as virtually amounted to complete subjugation. The Germans continued to all appearance on the best terms with the Romans, gradually adopted Roman habits, and frequently and readily took service in the Roman armies. Thus Arminius and his brother Flavius had enrolled themselves under the Roman standards, and, as leaders of Cheruscan auxiliaries, had not only obtained Roman citizenship and the rank of knighthood in the country of the Danube, but had likewise acquired a knowledge of the Latin language, and a deep insight into the arts of war and policy as practised by the Romans. When Arminius returned home, he found the state of affairs considerably changed for the worse, through the unskilful despotism of the Roman viceroy, Quintilius Varus. He now conceived the plan of delivering his country from its oppressors. All the tribes and leaders as far as the Elbe were secretly summoned; Varus was lulled into security, and induced to despatch portions of his army to different points, and, with the remaining portion, consisting of three legions and some auxiliaries and cavalry, to quit the highway. He was thus lured into the impassable districts of the Teutoburg Forest, in the north of Westphalia; an engagement took place, probably near Detmold, which lasted for three days. The result was the annihilation of the whole Roman army (9 A.D.). When intelligence of this defeat reached Rome, it excited the greatest consternation and anxiety. Augustus, who was now old and weak, is said to have yielded to transports of grief, repeating the words, 'Varus, Varus, give me back my legions!' The Germans, who had only their own liberation in view, prosecuted their victory no further; but when Germanicus (q.v.) assumed the command on the Lower Rhine, he resolved to crush the barbarians. In two successive campaigns, 15 A.D. and 16 A.D., he reduced Arminius to great straits; but he being recalled to Rome by the Emperor Tiberius, 17 A.D., the results of his victorious activity were lost. From this time no Roman army ever ventured to penetrate from the Rhine into the interior of Germany; and this result must be ascribed chiefly to the Cheruscan prince. Nevertheless, no sooner was the foreign enemy expelled, than internal feuds broke out, in the course of which Arminius was slain by his own kinsmen, in the 37th year of his age and twelfth of his leadership.
Compare Massmann, Arminius (1839); Wietersheim, Der Feldzug des Germanicus (1850); Böttger, Hermann der Cheruskerfürst (1874).—A colossal statue of Arminius, by Bandel (q.v.), placed on a hill near the town of Detmold, was unveiled in August 1875.