In the Teutoburg Forest, several tribes led by the Teutonic Arminius surprised and annihilated three Roman legions: 15,000 soldiers plus 10,000 entourages, women and children. Arminius had the heads of the victims nailed to trees. The Roman Empire never recovered from the shock: it retreated west of the Rhine and never attempted to subjugate Germany again. This terrible setback was the fault of the Roman commander Varus, a soft and compliant man who negotiated with Arminius, invited him to his camp, and was deceived by him; he was in command of the best Roman legions in the Empire.
