Battle of the Teutoburg Forest

Germanic tribes led by Arminius ambushed three Roman legions commanded by Publius Quinctilius Varus in the Teutoburg Forest in northwestern Germany on September 9-11, 9 CE. The Germanic coalition used terrain knowledge to separate and destroy the Roman column over several days. Rome lost approximately 15,000-20,000 soldiers. Emperor Augustus abandoned expansion plans beyond the Rhine River, which became Rome's northeastern frontier. The defeat altered the Empire's territorial expansion policy.