Migration and conquest History of Germany

the limes germanicus of roman empire , modern boundaries.





the expansion of germanic tribes 750 bc – ad 1 (after penguin atlas of world history 1988):

the ethnogenesis of germanic tribes assumed have occurred during nordic bronze age, or @ latest during pre-roman iron age. homes in southern scandinavia , northern germany tribes began expanding south, east , west in 1st century bc, coming contact celtic tribes of gaul, iranian, baltic, , slavic cultures in central/eastern europe.

researchers know few details of germanic activity, except through tribes recorded interactions roman empire, through etymological research , archaeological finds.

in first years of 1st century ad roman legions conducted long campaign in germania, area north of upper danube , east of rhine, in attempt expand empire s frontiers , shorten frontier line. rome subdued several germanic tribes, such cherusci. tribes became familiar roman tactics of warfare while maintaining tribal identity. in 9 ad cherusci chieftain known romans arminius defeated roman army in battle of teutoburg forest, victory credited stopping roman advance germanic territories , marking beginning of recorded german history. part of territory of modern germany lay east of rhine remained outside roman empire. ad 100, time of tacitus s germania, germanic tribes had settled along roman frontier along rhine , danube (the limes germanicus), occupying of area of modern germany; however, imperial rome organised territory later included in modern states of austria, baden-württemberg, southern bavaria, southern hesse, saarland , rhineland roman provinces (noricum, raetia, , germania). roman provinces in western germany, germania inferior (with capital situated @ colonia claudia ara agrippinensium, modern cologne) , germania superior (with capital @ mogontiacum, modern mainz), formally established in 85 ad, after long period of military occupation beginning in reign of roman emperor augustus (27 bc - 14 ad).

the 3rd century saw emergence of number of large west germanic tribes: alamanni, franks, bavarii, chatti, saxons, frisii, sicambri, , thuringii. around 260 germanic peoples broke through limes , danube frontier roman-controlled lands.

fresco dionysian scenes roman villa of cologne, germany (site of ancient city colonia claudia ara agrippinensium), 3rd century ad, romano-germanic museum



the porta nigra of trier, capital of roman province of gallia belgica, constructed between 186 , 200 ad

seven large german-speaking tribes – visigoths, ostrogoths, vandals, burgundians, lombards, saxons , franks – moved west , witnessed decline of roman empire , transformation of old western roman empire.

christianity spread western germany during roman era, , christian religious structures such aula palatina of trier built during reign of constantine (r. (306-337 ad). @ end of 4th century huns invaded unoccupied part of present-day germany , migration period began. hunnic hegemony on germania lasted until death of attila s son dengizich in 469.