# Arminius

> 1st century chieftain of the Germanic Cherusci tribe, defeated the Romans in 9 AD

**Wikidata**: [Q68880](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q68880)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arminius)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/arminius

## Summary
Arminius was a 1st-century chieftain of the Germanic Cherusci tribe best known for defeating the Romans in 9 AD. Also referred to as Hermann, Herman, or Gaius Julius Arminius, he led a coalition of Germanic peoples against the Imperial Roman army and served as a key military and political leader for his people.

## Biography
- **Born:** 17 BC
- **Nationality:** Germanic (Cherusci tribe)
- **Education:** [No data available]
- **Known for:** Defeating the Romans in 9 AD; serving as chieftain of the Cherusci
- **Employer(s):** Cherusci tribe
- **Field(s):** Military leadership, Tribal governance

## Contributions
- **Military Victory:** Led the Germanic coalition to victory against the Imperial Roman army in 9 AD, a pivotal event associated with the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest.
- **Tribal Leadership:** Served as chieftain of the Cherusci, succeeding his father Segimer and establishing a lineage of leadership followed by Italicus.
- **Conflict Participation:** Engaged in the Great Illyrian Revolt (1st century AD) and the Battle of Idistaviso (16 AD).

## FAQs
- **Who was Arminius's father?**
  Segimer, who was also a Cheruskian chief.
- **What are the different names used for Arminius?**
  He is known by the aliases Hermann and Herman, as well as the formal name Gaius Julius Arminius.
- **When did Arminius die?**
  Historical records list his death as occurring in 21 AD, though some sources indicate 19 AD.
- **What battles was Arminius involved in?**
  He was involved in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, the Great Illyrian Revolt, and the Battle of Idistaviso.
- **How is Arminius connected to Berlin?**
  The Berlin locations Hermannstraße (inception 1875) and Hermannplatz (inception 1885) are named after him.

## Why They Matter
Arminius is a defining figure in the history of Germanic resistance against Ancient Rome. His defeat of the Roman army in 9 AD halted Roman expansion into Germania, altering the course of European history. His legacy persists in modern culture and geography, evidenced by the naming of significant landmarks like the Hermannsdenkmal, Hermannstraße, and Hermannplatz, as well as his extensive cataloging in historical and academic records.

## Notable For
- **Lineage:** Son of Segimer and predecessor to Italicus as chieftain of the Cherusci.
- **Roman Name:** Held the name Gaius Julius Arminius, suggesting complex interactions with the Roman state.
- **Historical Documentation:** Widely cataloged in global authority control systems, including the ISNI, VIAF, GND, and LCCN.
- **Geographic Legacy:** Commemorated in Berlin via Hermannstraße and Hermannplatz.

## Body

### Identity and Names
Arminius was a human member of the Cherusci tribe, a group of Germanic peoples. Throughout history, he has been recognized by several names, including the Germanic Hermann, the Dutch Herman, and the Romanized Gaius Julius Arminius. He is extensively documented in academic and library systems, identified by numerous authority control numbers such as ISNI 0000000117812273, VIAF 122336943, GND 118504037, and LCCN n79126889.

### Lineage and Leadership
Born in 17 BC, Arminius was the son of Segimer, a Cheruskian chief. He inherited a leadership role within the tribe, eventually becoming a chieftain himself. His position was later succeeded by Italicus, another Germanic chieftain of the Cherusci. His leadership was central to the organization of Germanic forces against foreign powers.

### Military Conflicts
Arminius's military career was marked by significant conflicts with the Roman Empire:
*   **Great Illyrian Revolt:** He participated in this 1st-century AD military conflict.
*   **Battle of the Teutoburg Forest:** Arminius is most famous for his role in this battle, where a coalition of Germanic peoples defeated an Imperial Roman army. While the battle entity is dated to 9 BCE in some datasets, Arminius is recorded as defeating the Romans in 9 AD.
*   **Battle of Idistaviso:** In 16 AD, he engaged in combat against Roman legions in this battle.

### Geographic and Cultural Legacy
The impact of Arminius, often referred to by the name Hermann, is evident in modern geography, particularly in Germany. The Hermannstraße, a street located in Berlin-Neukölln established in 1875, and the Hermannplatz, a square linking Kreuzberg and Neukölln established in 1885, are named in his honor. Additionally, the Hermannsdenkmal statue serves as a physical monument to his legacy.

### Death and Historical Records
Arminius died in 21 AD, though some historical records suggest the year 19 AD. His life and deeds are preserved across a vast array of bibliographic and archival databases, including identifiers such as the BNE (XX1225815), BNF (1452159474211527661763), NLA (66121794), and SELIBR (393867), among dozens of others used for international cataloging.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. Arminius
3. Herman, leader of the Cherusci
4. EB-11 / Arminius
5. Arminius 1 (Pauly-Wissowa)
6. Q45272657
7. [Source](http://viaf.org/viaf/data/viaf-20170101-links.txt.gz)
8. Virtual International Authority File
9. [The Annals, 1876 English translation](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Annals_(Tacitus)/Book_2#88)
10. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
11. CERL Thesaurus
12. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line
13. Quora
14. Enciclopedia Treccani
15. LIBRIS. 2016
16. Dizionario di Storia
17. Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands
18. Arminius (leader of the Cherusci)