Hm, good points Thiu.

Rome had five legions under the command of Varus in 9 BC. We must remember that these forces also had the duty of keeping the Gauls quiet.

So how many men?

We can safely assign 4000 as the standart strenght of a veteran legion -though the figure is high.

This would mean that Varus had 20 000 Roman troops under his command. When we look the area and the population of Gaul and Germania this is a small force. Varus had one of the most important commands. These forces were probably so small because of the Illyrian rebellion -Augustus had to recruit freedmen to the legions.

So, lets say a careful figure; one cohort from each legion is sent to Illyricum.

This will reduce the forces to 18 000.


So how where they placed?

2 legions under the command of the Legatus Nonius Asprenas in Moguntiacum. They would have been kept there to guard the Rhine border and because they could strike to inland Gaul fast. its probable that some vexillations were garrisoning forts on the Rhine.

3 legions in the new province of Germania. Because the province was new and had dangerous borders Varus himself commanded the forces there. There would have been forts garrisoned by Roman troops to keep a watch on the tribes.



averege strenght of a legion is ca. 3 700.

so, two legions with Asprenas= 7 400 men. of these a few cohorts garrisoning forts. This would leave Asprenas ca. 6 000 men in Moguntiacum.

this would leave Varus ca. 10 500 men. of these 2000 garrisoning forts. This would leave Varus ca. 8 500 Roman legionaries in the Teutoburgerwald.


a hypothesis:

8 500 legionaries

1 800 auxiliaries

800 cavalry

4 000 miscellanous

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ca. 15 100 men with Varus in the Teutoburgerwald