The batavian Revolt

Welcome back, everyone, to the history of Cologne. Last episode we talked about all the turbulent events/

that led to the beginning of the Batavian revolt in the gallic-germanic border region in 69 CE.

This episode all these events of this conflict will unfold right in front of Cologne’s doorstep and soon, inside its city walls.

INTRO

With Vespasian becoming emperor as well in the east of the empire, now two men were fighting over the throne. Vitellius in the West, former governor of Lower Germania who had come from his command post in Cologne. And Vespasian, general of the roman forces in the east, mainly Judäa, Syria and Egypt. Vespasian had encouraged the Batavians to revolt against Vitellius. True to the motto: the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

With Vespasian becoming emperor as well in the east of the empire, now two men were fighting over the throne. Vitellius in the West, former governor of Lower Germania who had come from his command post in Cologne. And Vespasian, general of the roman forces in the east, mainly Judäa, Syria and Egypt. Vespasian had encouraged the Batavians to revolt against Vitellius. True to the motto: The Batavian Revolt caught the Romans on the Rhine totally off guard. Everyone’s eyes had been on Italy.

With Vespasian becoming emperor as well in the east of the empire, now two men were fighting over the throne. Vitellius in the West, former governor of Lower Germania who had come from his command post in Cologne. And Vespasian, general of the roman forces in the east, mainly Judäa, Syria and Egypt. Vespasian had encouraged the Batavians to revolt against Vitellius. True to the motto: The civil war of the year of the four emperors was on its peak.

With Vespasian becoming emperor as well in the east of the empire, now two men were fighting over the throne. Vitellius in the West, former governor of Lower Germania who had come from his command post in Cologne. And Vespasian, general of the roman forces in the east, mainly Judäa, Syria and Egypt. Vespasian had encouraged the Batavians to revolt against Vitellius. True to the motto: With most of Vitellius’ rhine army fighting in Italy,

With Vespasian becoming emperor as well in the east of the empire, now two men were fighting over the throne. Vitellius in the West, former governor of Lower Germania who had come from his command post in Cologne. And Vespasian, general of the roman forces in the east, mainly Judäa, Syria and Egypt. Vespasian had encouraged the Batavians to revolt against Vitellius. True to the motto: Cologne and the whole of the germanic-gallic border region was militarily neglected carelessly. When the Batavi revolted, they were not the only one to follow the call. Soon other tribes from both sides of the Rhine would join them.

With Vespasian becoming emperor as well in the east of the empire, now two men were fighting over the throne. Vitellius in the West, former governor of Lower Germania who had come from his command post in Cologne. And Vespasian, general of the roman forces in the east, mainly Judäa, Syria and Egypt. Vespasian had encouraged the Batavians to revolt against Vitellius. True to the motto: The eight cohorts of the Batavi were still on their way back home to today’s Rhine region in the Netherlands. On their way up north along the Rhine, they got to today’s German city Mainz. At that time still a roman military fort and not a city for the next 300 years.

With Vespasian becoming emperor as well in the east of the empire, now two men were fighting over the throne. Vitellius in the West, former governor of Lower Germania who had come from his command post in Cologne. And Vespasian, general of the roman forces in the east, mainly Judäa, Syria and Egypt. Vespasian had encouraged the Batavians to revolt against Vitellius. True to the motto: Surprisingly, the commander of the fort let the 8 batavian cohorts pass.

With Vespasian becoming emperor as well in the east of the empire, now two men were fighting over the throne. Vitellius in the West, former governor of Lower Germania who had come from his command post in Cologne. And Vespasian, general of the roman forces in the east, mainly Judäa, Syria and Egypt. Vespasian had encouraged the Batavians to revolt against Vitellius. True to the motto: So, the Batavians continued their march up north to today’s Bonn, just 30 cilometers or 20 miles away from Cologne.

With Vespasian becoming emperor as well in the east of the empire, now two men were fighting over the throne. Vitellius in the West, former governor of Lower Germania who had come from his command post in Cologne. And Vespasian, general of the roman forces in the east, mainly Judäa, Syria and Egypt. Vespasian had encouraged the Batavians to revolt against Vitellius. True to the motto: We don’t really know why the roman commander did that. Maybe he thought that it was just someone else’s problem then, if he let the Batavians pass further up north.

Well, it didn’t help though. Just as a side note: This roman commander of Mainz would not survive the following year.

In Bonn, things were different: The Roman soldiers that guarded the fort near todays Bonn were loyal to Vitellius.

In Bonn, things were different: They tried to stop the 8 batavian cohorts. But against the Batavians, who were veterans of so many battles and well known about how Romans fought, they were totally obliterated. The fort was burned to the ground

In Bonn, things were different: Civilis at the same time laid siege to the military fort of today’s German town of Xanten that was the most important and northernmost fort in the Germanic-gallic border region. Since Xanten or how the Romans called it, Vetera, was 100 kilometers / 60 miles up north of Cologne, our young settlement of the Ubii was now in great danger.

In Bonn, things were different: This was now the situation in the Rhineland.

In Bonn, things were different: At the end of the year 69 these early victories by the Batavians would convince other Germanic tribes that were settled as allies on the left bank of the Rhine, like once the Ubii had been, to join the Batavian cause.

In Bonn, things were different: For example the Treviri we had talked about in a previous episode. The conflict was spreading like a wildfire.

In Bonn, things were different: The region of conflict now involved today’s western Germany, parts of Belgium and the southern Netherlands.

For a wonder, the 8 batavian cohorts that had destroyed Bonn, bypassed Cologne moving up north and left our young city unharmed. They joined forces with Civilis further North. This gives us two assumptions:

For a wonder, the 8 batavian cohorts that had destroyed Bonn, bypassed Cologne moving up north and left our young city unharmed. They joined forces with Civilis further North. This gives us two assumptions: Cologne was still loyal to Vitellius, so the Batavians could not enter the city.

For a wonder, the 8 batavian cohorts that had destroyed Bonn, bypassed Cologne moving up north and left our young city unharmed. They joined forces with Civilis further North. This gives us two assumptions: Cologne was already well fortified, so that the Batavians were not ready and strong enough for a siege.

For a wonder, the 8 batavian cohorts that had destroyed Bonn, bypassed Cologne moving up north and left our young city unharmed. They joined forces with Civilis further North. This gives us two assumptions: Or, maybe, there was another reason, why Cologne was spared so far.

For a wonder, the 8 batavian cohorts that had destroyed Bonn, bypassed Cologne moving up north and left our young city unharmed. They joined forces with Civilis further North. This gives us two assumptions: Civilis’ son, his name is unknown to us, had been taken prisoner by the citizens of Cologne when they had heard of Civilis’ betrayal.

For a wonder, the 8 batavian cohorts that had destroyed Bonn, bypassed Cologne moving up north and left our young city unharmed. They joined forces with Civilis further North. This gives us two assumptions: They kept his son in good conditions though. He was more under house arrest in an estate inside the city than rotting in a cell in jail.

For a wonder, the 8 batavian cohorts that had destroyed Bonn, bypassed Cologne moving up north and left our young city unharmed. They joined forces with Civilis further North. This gives us two assumptions: And when the Batavian revolt began, the citizens of Cologne refused to hand him over to the Roman officials of the province. That would have probably to his death or at least torture. This is quite remarkable. It shows that in these uncertain times, the citizens of Cologne thought not only in the category of being on one side or the other, but also to consider to be a side of their own in this conflict.

For a wonder, the 8 batavian cohorts that had destroyed Bonn, bypassed Cologne moving up north and left our young city unharmed. They joined forces with Civilis further North. This gives us two assumptions: But who are the citizens of cologne? Did they talk with one voice? It would be wrong to think that there was just one unanimously opinion among the citizens of Cologne. Being loyal to Vitellius, but at the same time refusing to hand over Civilis’ son to Vitellius in Rome? This might give us the assumption, that there were indeed different opinions in the Cologne that had to be pondered.

For a wonder, the 8 batavian cohorts that had destroyed Bonn, bypassed Cologne moving up north and left our young city unharmed. They joined forces with Civilis further North. This gives us two assumptions: Adding to that we should not just simply assume that the Roman settlers in Cologne were in favour of Vitellius. And we should not, on the other hand think that all of the germanic Ubii in the city were in favour of Civilis just because he was a German too.

For a wonder, the 8 batavian cohorts that had destroyed Bonn, bypassed Cologne moving up north and left our young city unharmed. They joined forces with Civilis further North. This gives us two assumptions: It was in fact not that simple and the coming events will show that.

Back to the Batavian revolt, the conflict that had now a tight grip in the region: Ancient Cologne as an independent subject in the region was a thorn in the flesh of the revolting Batavians.

Back to the Batavian revolt, the conflict that had now a tight grip in the region: Using Cologne as a safe haven and headquarter, the Romans coordinated their counter attacks from here. For a second time in that year of 69 CE, Cologne became totally packed with all kinds of people. Military personell, soldiers, logistic experts, carts, horses and mules.

Back to the Batavian revolt, the conflict that had now a tight grip in the region: Soldiers that were gathered from all across Gaul camped outside the city in makeshift camps. All citizens of Cologne were obliged to do their share in supplying the troops with food and material.

Back to the Batavian revolt, the conflict that had now a tight grip in the region: But a drought in that year did not really comfort the situation for the citizens of Cologne. And because of that the water level of the Rhine, the most important road of the city, was so low, that it was not navigable (na-vi-gabel) for ships.

Back to the Batavian revolt, the conflict that had now a tight grip in the region: Not only that. All the territory, like farms and plantations around Cologne, had been pillaged, raided, burned and destroyed by the Batavians.

Back to the Batavian revolt, the conflict that had now a tight grip in the region: But where is war, there are war profiteers. The black market rose to unprecedented levels.

Back to the Batavian revolt, the conflict that had now a tight grip in the region: For a moment, we must leave Cologne. Just for a short moment, I promise. We jump back to the stage world politics. Well, roman world politics.

Back to the Batavian revolt, the conflict that had now a tight grip in the region: Because in October 69 CE, the decisive battle between emperor Vitellius and anti-emperor Vespasian took place near the city Cremona in Northern Italy. It was nearly at the same place where Vitellius had won against Otho several months ago. This second time Vitellius’ legions got crushed by Vespasian’s troops who outnumbered their opponents. Vespasian’s troops were now also backed up by the troops stationed all along the Danube. The hunger for gold can never be appeased. After the battle the city of Cremona was sacked and destroyed. The once mighty and beauty city of Cremona, a jewel of Rome in the northern part of the Italian peninsula, that had been founded by the Romans nearly 300 years ago would never again recover from this.

Back to the Batavian revolt, the conflict that had now a tight grip in the region: After this blowing defeat and against those superior numbers, Vitellius had lost the war. In December 69 CE Vespasian’s troops conquered Rome. It is said that Vitellius had already abdicated the throne. But his supporters had forced him to continue the senseless fight anyway. So the fighting went on, up into the streets of Rome itself.

Back to the Batavian revolt, the conflict that had now a tight grip in the region: When Vitellius’ enemies entered the imperial palace on the capitol hill in Rome, they searched the whole place. But at first, Vitellius was nowhere to be found.

Back to the Batavian revolt, the conflict that had now a tight grip in the region: It is said by the historian Cassius Dio that Vitellius hid himself in a dog kennel. Eventually he was found. Then Vitellius was dragged out of the palace into the public. In front of the Roman people he was tortured to death and his body was thrown into the river Tiber among with the dead bodies of his brother and son according to the historian Sueton.

Back to the Batavian revolt, the conflict that had now a tight grip in the region: Vitellius’ head was put on a spike and paraded through the streets of Rome.

Back to the Batavian revolt, the conflict that had now a tight grip in the region: At the same time the city was sacked by Vespasian’s troops. It is said that the city took heavy damage and that 50,000 people were killed.

Back to the Batavian revolt, the conflict that had now a tight grip in the region: What an advanced civilization the Romans were.

Back to the Batavian revolt, the conflict that had now a tight grip in the region: But as always, we have to take these exact numbers with a grain of salt.

Back to the Batavian revolt, the conflict that had now a tight grip in the region: With these events taken place in Rome, everything could have ended peacefully. Well not for the cities of Cremona and Rome but for the Rest of the empire. And Civilis uprising, the Batavian revolt, could now be over. Vespasian had won. Mission accomplished.

Back to the Batavian revolt, the conflict that had now a tight grip in the region: But as several times before this did not happen.

Back to the Batavian revolt, the conflict that had now a tight grip in the region: Now being the new and fourth emperor of Rome in the year 69 CE, Vespasian had promised the Batavians to become an independent nation.

Back to the Batavian revolt, the conflict that had now a tight grip in the region: Yet again we don’t really know why the following events happened. But in December 69 CE it showed that now, the Batavians were not fighting just against Vitellius in the Rhineland and neither for Vespasian.

Back to the Batavian revolt, the conflict that had now a tight grip in the region: They fought against Roman rule in general. The motives of Civilis and the Batavians are unclear to us today. Did they really think they could form an independent nation in northeastern Gaul at the Rhine at the expense of the most powerful empire that just had consolidated itself under the sole rule of emperor Vespasian?

Back to the Batavian revolt, the conflict that had now a tight grip in the region: Maybe Civilis and the Batavi did just think that. Maybe they had come to the conclusion that the Romans were stuck in never ending conflicts for now. So enough space to take advantage from it. And for quite some time, here, in the plains and forests of Germania and Gaul, Rome had been absent. Even after that short time, Rome seemed to be far far away.

What the Batavians and their allies didn’t know: not for too long.

At the end of the year 69 CE, one thing is certain: Roman rule was now totally gone in the region. The remaining forces of the Rhine army that had gone with Vitellius to Italy and had surrendered to Vespasian were not send back. As punishment they got transferred far away to the Danube river in today’s Romania.

At the end of the year 69 CE, one thing is certain: Still remember that roman commander of Mainz I mentioned earlier that had been Vitellius’ commander in chief on the Rhine? He, for example was killed by his own soldiers, just because they were not okay with him leading them anymore.

At the end of the year 69 CE, one thing is certain: For a moment, just imagine, you are a roman soldier near Cologne. You have been loyal to Vitellius and you were meant to fight Vespasian and the Batavians. Now Vitellius was dead. Should you join Vespasian whom you fought? Or should you join Civilis? Wasn’t he an enemy as well?

At the end of the year 69 CE, one thing is certain: The effect from those circumstances? Roman troops in the region defected; some even joined the cause of Civilis because they didn’t want to join their former enemy Vespasian. The region around Cologne was now in total chaos.

At the end of the year 69 CE, one thing is certain: The remaining roman legions in the hasty rebuild camps of Bonn or Vetera had to decide. Some had capitulated. Parts of them had joined ranks with Civilis.

At the end of the year 69 CE, one thing is certain: The legions in Vetera for example had surrendered to Civilis with the promise of a safe-conduct through their territory back to Italy. But after the Romans had marched five miles out of the abandoned camp, they got totally slaughtered by the Batavians. This meant basically the end of Roman rule for the time being.

At the end of the year 69 CE, one thing is certain: It now in deed seem that Rome was really far away.

At the end of the year 69 CE, one thing is certain: And the city of Cologne? It had been spared by direct war and destruction in the Batavian revolt so far in late 69 CE when the Year of the Four emperors concluded.

At the end of the year 69 CE, one thing is certain: But now, with the current situation of undisputed rule of the Batavians in the region, it seemed that Cologne had to act in some kind of way to survive. And so they did.

At the end of the year 69 CE, one thing is certain: A first meeting between noble Cologne citizens and some of Civilis allied leaders took place in a private home in Cologne in December 69 or January 70 CE. At that time nothing should give the impression that this was an official meeting between citizens of Cologne and the Batavians and their allies.

At the end of the year 69 CE, one thing is certain: The beginning of the year 70 CE showed that the military situation for the young settlement of the Ubii was really in great danger. And latest archaeological discoveries tell us that before that private meeting happened, things might not have been so peaceful at all in Cologne.

At the end of the year 69 CE, one thing is certain: A graveyard in the western part of Cologne’s oldtown revealed several ubian skeletons that can be dated into the time period of 69/70 CE. Many of these skeletons were male and had arrow wounds. Several similar findings were made throughout the whole territory of the Ubii by archaeologists in the Cologne Lowland.

At the end of the year 69 CE, one thing is certain: We can assume that after some skirmishes the Ubii and the citizens of Cologne had with the Batavians and their allies, they gave in to the current political and military situation.

At the end of the year 69 CE, one thing is certain: “If the remaining former roman legions of Vitellius had defected to the Batavians, why couldn’t we as citizens of Cologne not do the same? Roman rule was totally gone now. And it is yet to be seen when it will come back. If it ever comes back.”

At the end of the year 69 CE, one thing is certain: The thought of joining the Batavian cause might have come just at the proper time. Civilis and his allies strongly considered to sack Cologne. It was still a young but rich and prosperous city. Cologne in its design and sheer existence was a symbol of Roman power that was so despised by the insurgents.

At the end of the year 69 CE, one thing is certain: But Civilis remembered that his son, in the meantime as a goodwill gesture by the citizenry of Cologne, had been given back to him. And Civilis also remembered that for the future it would be of good use to have a prosperous and fortified city in your own realm. It might help to stay in power.

At the end of the year 69 CE, one thing is certain: But the sparing of Cologne came with a high price. Now, in early 70 CE, the situation from the beginning of the last episode occurred. That bad knock knock joke. Now, the Batavians knocked at the city gates with all their might and presented their demands.

At the end of the year 69 CE, one thing is certain: The settlement of the Ubii should return home to the Germanic family. Especially the Tencteri, a Germanic tribe we haven’t talked about before, set high demands. They were a tribe on the right side of the Rhine that had sworn allegiance to Civillis and the Batavians. They were the direct right-bank neighbours of Cologne and hated the wealth and power of the city.

At the end of the year 69 CE, one thing is certain: For many years now they had look over to the other side with jealousy. The Tencteri wanted free trade with Cologne, the destruction of the city wall to verify Cologne’s faithful secession from Rome and adding to that, well, yeah, kill all the Romans in the city.

At the end of the year 69 CE, one thing is certain: The senate in Cologne certainly discussed this in a very controversial manner, obviously. The first demand, free trade between the Batavians and their allies with Cologne, was not a hard thing to do.

At the end of the year 69 CE, one thing is certain: Tearing down the city wall? Well, this couldn’t happen. Not at all.

At the end of the year 69 CE, one thing is certain: Here, the city senate was smart enough to reply, that the walls might be needed pretty soon. Rome would retaliate. Now that Vitellius was gone and emperor Vespasian was the sole ruler of the empire they had to be ready at all times. Let’s destroy the wall… maybe later? Some time?

At the end of the year 69 CE, one thing is certain: But the last demand. Killing all the Romans in the city? This was a topic that must have been discussed in the senate with outmost passion.

At the end of the year 69 CE, one thing is certain: The men who were a part of this board were Roman and/or Ubian descent. The latter, the Ubii, of course were Germanic. But they at least had full roman citizenship since the year 50 CE when Agrippina made Cologne a roman colony. And we have to assume that many Ubian nobles living in Cologne’s territory got the citizenship even earlier than 50 CE when Agrippina’s granddaddy Agrippa resettled the Ubii in his two governorships 120 years earlier.

At the end of the year 69 CE, one thing is certain: If you simply look at the constitution of the city senate of Cologne, you would have thought they argued endlessly about agreeing or denying the terms that had been presented to them.

At the end of the year 69 CE, one thing is certain: And maybe that was the goal, especially by the Tencteri. To stir up unrest between Romans and the Ubii in the senate. Without agreeing to an unanimously answer, that might have been the thing the Tencteri wanted. Just to have a reason to nevertheless attack and destroy Cologne, even though the Batavians and especially Civilis had decided not to do.

At the end of the year 69 CE, one thing is certain: But here and now, as many times in ancient history, the integrative power of the Roman way of life was shown.

At the end of the year 69 CE, one thing is certain: There were many senators in Cologne’s highest council with Germanic-ubian but also italic-roman origin. After decades of living together, many or maybe most families in Cologne had intermarried between both cultures.

At the end of the year 69 CE, one thing is certain: In many cases, it was hard to determine who still was only one of both sides. For example it was very common for roman veterans to take an ubian woman as a wife. And even though you might leap to this conclusion, this hardly happened by force but by free will of both sides.

At the end of the year 69 CE, one thing is certain: Imagine, you being an Ubian woman. What would you prefer? Living in a shed your whole life doing hard work like agriculture? Because that was the main thing ordinary Ubii, no matter if male or female, would do all day. Supporting and suppling the roman troops in the region was the original thought and cause of the Ubii being resettled into the Cologne Lowland.

At the end of the year 69 CE, one thing is certain: That was one of the main reasons why Agrippa resettled them 120 years ago. And of course to have some manpower in the region for military service.

At the end of the year 69 CE, one thing is certain: As an Ubian woman you could live a life of hard labor work. Or, would you, as an ubian woman, rather live in ancient Cologne, being married to a roman legion veteran who had money, property and maybe servants? Just like in the early days of the Wild West, most of the roman-italic settlers were young or middle aged men, most of them merchants looking for the big money or veterans of the legions looking for a nice place to retire. In places like this Roman women were a rarity. So, many young Ubian women were happy to find a more comfortable life and accepted the romantic offers they got.

At the end of the year 69 CE, one thing is certain: As a conclusion, you may understand now, that many men that served in Cologne’s senate had their hearts and minds in both worlds. Being children of those marriages.

But I got off track a bit. We are still dealing with the problem: how to handle that demand: Kill all Romans in the city now?

Well, here, a basic characteristic of Cologne’s political system for the next 2,000 years did show:

Well, here, a basic characteristic of Cologne’s political system for the next 2,000 years did show: being flexible in loyalty.

Well, here, a basic characteristic of Cologne’s political system for the next 2,000 years did show: Sorry, for being a little bit of snarky, but this is indeed a key characteristic of Cologne through all the decades and even centuries to survive the struggles and turmoil of human history.

Well, here, a basic characteristic of Cologne’s political system for the next 2,000 years did show: As you will follow this podcast, you will know what I mean. It is a characteristic; we can trace all the way back, even to the year 70 CE where we are at right now.

The answer of Cologne’s city council was simple: “We would kill all Romans inside the city. But as you can see, there are no Romans left in the city. The legions and the merchants from Italy for example already have left because of all the fighting in the region and in Italy. What is left indeed, are our families. And yes, many of them have roman roots, but they are our siblings, parents and children, that also have Germanic blood. Regarding our families had been connected for centuries. We are pretty sure you don’t want us to spill our own family’s blood, don’t you?”

This answer was genius: it killed two birds with a stone. On one hand Cologne was spared as a city and pretended to join the Batavian rebellion. But on the other hand the young city still had a card up their sleeve.

Some in Cologne guessed: In the near future when Rome would successfully restore its rule in the Rhineland, Cologne could walk along and say: “hey, we were really under strong pressure when you left us defenceless, dear Rome. Yes, we joined the Batavians, but only to survive. We even managed to defend all of your citizens against the Barbarians. They even wanted us to slaughter them. Isnt that crazy? But we did not allow that. Lets be friends again.”

Some in Cologne guessed: The Cologne Citizens soon would have a chance to prove this strategy.

Some in Cologne guessed: When the weather got warmer in Spring of 70 CE, since the dawn of time the signal that war season was back, the fighting between the Batavians and the Roman Empire continued.

Some in Cologne guessed: Cologne got spared by the Batavians, but now as their allies it was of course expected that they would supply goods and their own men to the Batavians for the war. But the hearts of these Cologne men were not entirely in the Batavian cause.

Some in Cologne guessed: This would show very soon and then, maybe, you get my snarky comment about Cologne’s basic characteristic of being flexible in loyalty.

Some in Cologne guessed: Now, in the late spring of 70 CE, Emperor Vespasian had enough time and resources to retaliate. Securing the northern border of his empire for once and for all was important.

The empire striked back: Several battles in spring and summer of 70 CE were now won by the Romans. One important battle was fought near the roman city of Augusta Trevorum, today’s Trier, 200 kilometers/ 120 miles away from Cologne.

The empire striked back: The Batavians yet again lost against the Romans. And with their home not far away the Cologne men who had fought in the ranks of the Batavians took to their heels and fled.

The empire striked back: The word of these events soon reached Cologne. Immediately discussions in the city senate began, how to solve this. How do we get out of this alliance with the Batavians? If we don’t get out of it quickly, Rome will destroy us, being traitors.

The empire striked back: It was just a matter of time until Rome would have restored its control. It didn’t matter that a few months ago Cologne still had been a roman city. It was also the city where Vitellius, Vespasians now dead enemy, had gotten the power to proclaim himself as emperor. Yes, the argument of having saved all the roman citizens in Cologne was an important asset.

The empire striked back: Vespasian send one of his generals to the Rhineland to reconquer it. His name being Cerialis. And yes, his name was really Cerialis and it has nothing to do with your breakfast.

The empire striked back: For Cerialis, Cologne’s act of sparing the Romans of getting all killed, was not enough to atone. Not at all.

The empire striked back: Especially after Cologne had fought him recently in open battle alongside the Batavians near Trier. Them defecting afterwards didn’t show any loyalty but their dishonour.

The empire striked back: The members in the city senate of Cologne knew, they had to offer something. Something more. They had one more asset that could be used now.

The empire striked back: To ensure that the Batavians would keep the promise of not destroying Cologne when the had joined their ranks, they had given hostages to the city. Most of them, girls and women, were related to the leaders of the Batavian revolt. Two of those were for example Civilis’ sister and wife.

The empire striked back: And of course, many Batavian or allied soldiers were stationed in Cologne. They all had found lodging in the private homes of Cologne citizens. Another strong force of two Germanic tribes that had fought with the Batavi was stationed in todays Zülpich, which is just south of Cologne.

Maybe, just maybe, if Cologne got rid of all of them, they would redeem themselves and win back the favour of Rome. All of those listed above had to be exterminated. But how to do that? In open battle? Way too risky. So, a plan was made:

Maybe, just maybe, if Cologne got rid of all of them, they would redeem themselves and win back the favour of Rome. All of those listed above had to be exterminated. But how to do that? In open battle? Way too risky. So, a plan was made: These fellow “Germanic brothers” were invited to a big feast. The wine was flowing in huge amounts, but only for the guests. None of the Cologne citizens drank, they stayed mainly sober. When most of the Batavians were wasted or even had passed out, the Cologne citizens barricaded the building from the outside and set it on fire. Burning all of the remaining people in it alive. A giant burnt offering.

Maybe, just maybe, if Cologne got rid of all of them, they would redeem themselves and win back the favour of Rome. All of those listed above had to be exterminated. But how to do that? In open battle? Way too risky. So, a plan was made: At the same time, daggers and swords were drawn inside the city of Cologne. All non Cologne-Germans, and yes, sadly even the primarily female Batavian hostages, were killed inside the homes they had been guests at just moments before.

Maybe, just maybe, if Cologne got rid of all of them, they would redeem themselves and win back the favour of Rome. All of those listed above had to be exterminated. But how to do that? In open battle? Way too risky. So, a plan was made: What a bloody end of the Batavian revolt in Cologne. That burnt offering and massacre in the city did please Vespasian’s general Cerialis in the Rhineland. The devious nature of these actions didn’t matter for him. The end justifies the means. And war, war never changes…

Maybe, just maybe, if Cologne got rid of all of them, they would redeem themselves and win back the favour of Rome. All of those listed above had to be exterminated. But how to do that? In open battle? Way too risky. So, a plan was made: This way Cologne redeemed itself and was again spared, this time by the wrath of the new roman emperor Vespasian. Vespasian’s troops secured the region, set up the Rhine as a border and were here to stay. The Batavians were soon submitted back into Roman rule. Other Germanic tribes were expelled.

Maybe, just maybe, if Cologne got rid of all of them, they would redeem themselves and win back the favour of Rome. All of those listed above had to be exterminated. But how to do that? In open battle? Way too risky. So, a plan was made: Here, the accounted story ends for Cologne and the Batavian revolt. This is one example how the loss of transmission of events after 2,000 years clouds our view of what exactly happened. Our main source for these events is Tacitus’ historical chronicle that he simply called “histories”.

Maybe, just maybe, if Cologne got rid of all of them, they would redeem themselves and win back the favour of Rome. All of those listed above had to be exterminated. But how to do that? In open battle? Way too risky. So, a plan was made: Since his “histories” have not been handed down completely or got lost over centuries, it leaves us blank with what happened after. The fate of the man who started the revolt, Batavian noble Civilis, for example is unknown. It is said that Civilis survived the year 70 CE. He fled into inner Germania and was never heard of ever again.

Maybe, just maybe, if Cologne got rid of all of them, they would redeem themselves and win back the favour of Rome. All of those listed above had to be exterminated. But how to do that? In open battle? Way too risky. So, a plan was made: Cologne of course came under Roman rule again. But for some time it was not just love, peace and harmony. The toll of the Batavian on Cologne revolt should not be underestimated. Farms needed to rebuild, the economy was wrecked by war, new settlers had to fill the gaps.

Maybe, just maybe, if Cologne got rid of all of them, they would redeem themselves and win back the favour of Rome. All of those listed above had to be exterminated. But how to do that? In open battle? Way too risky. So, a plan was made: But archaeological finds of that era show that the young city recovered not only quickly but now, that the border at the Rhine had been secured, prospered like never before.

Maybe, just maybe, if Cologne got rid of all of them, they would redeem themselves and win back the favour of Rome. All of those listed above had to be exterminated. But how to do that? In open battle? Way too risky. So, a plan was made: Puh, what an episode, might be the longest I have done so far. I always aim to make an episode not longer than 25 minutes. I totally failed this time. Well, not as bad as many of the people I talked about today. This was some kind of research I had to do, how about something more soft next time? Don’t you agree?

Maybe, just maybe, if Cologne got rid of all of them, they would redeem themselves and win back the favour of Rome. All of those listed above had to be exterminated. But how to do that? In open battle? Way too risky. So, a plan was made: Let’s shift down a gear. After all these episodes being mostly a history of events, we definitely need to need an approach on the meta level.

Maybe, just maybe, if Cologne got rid of all of them, they would redeem themselves and win back the favour of Rome. All of those listed above had to be exterminated. But how to do that? In open battle? Way too risky. So, a plan was made: How did Roman Cologne look like. How did it function, here at the end of the Romanised world. In the next episode I will give you two examples of how Cologne could prosper.

Maybe, just maybe, if Cologne got rid of all of them, they would redeem themselves and win back the favour of Rome. All of those listed above had to be exterminated. But how to do that? In open battle? Way too risky. So, a plan was made: Those two structures are still around, and I will talk about that in detail. So, as always, thank you for listening, stay tuned and Auf Wiedersehen.