Batavian Revolt

Revolt of the Batavi
Part of the Year of the Four Emperors
The Conspiracy of Claudius Civilis, completed by Rembrandt in 1661
Date 69–70 Location Germania Inferior and Gaul Result Roman strategic victory; subjugation of the Batavi
Belligerents
Batavi Cananefates Frisii Lingones Treveri	Roman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Gaius Julius Civilis Brinno Julius Tutor Julius Classicus Veleda	Marcus Hordeonius Flaccus Claudius Labeo Munius Lupercus Quintus Petillius Cerialis
Strength
Depending on definition of loyalty: One Batavi ala and eight cohorts; 5,000+ Batavi (mostly cavalry) Two defecting Roman legions; 10,000 Varying support from other tribes; likely thousands Total: 5,000–20,000	Initially: Four Roman legions and attempted reinforcements; 10,000–15,000+ Later: Eight Roman legions; 40,000 Total: 60,000–65,000
Casualties and losses
Relatively light; Batavi army survives to later serve Romans again	10,000–20,000+

Depending on definition of loyalty:

Initially:
Four Roman legions and attempted reinforcements; 10,000–15,000+

Later:
Eight Roman legions; 40,000

The Revolt of the Batavi took place in the Roman province of Germania Inferior (S. Netherlands/North Rhineland) between AD 69 and 70. It was an uprising against the Roman Empire started by the Batavi, a small but militarily powerful Germanic tribe that inhabited the delta of the river Rhine; and soon joined by some neighbouring Germanic tribes, from both inside and outside the empire's borders, and also by some Celtic tribes from Gallia Belgica.

Under the leadership of their hereditary prince Gaius Julius Civilis, an auxiliary officer in the Imperial Roman army, the Batavi and their allies managed to inflict a series of humiliating defeats on the Roman army, including the destruction of two legions. After these initial successes, a massive Roman army led by the Roman general Quintus Petillius Cerialis eventually defeated the rebels. Following peace talks, the Batavi submitted again to Roman rule, but were forced to accept humiliating terms and a legion stationed permanently on their territory, at Noviomagus (modern day Nijmegen, The Netherlands).

The Batavi were a sub-tribe of the Germanic Chatti tribal group who had migrated to the region between the Old Rhine and Waal rivers (still today called the Betuwe after them) in what became the Roman province of Germania Inferior (S Netherlands/Nordrhein). Their land, though potentially fertile alluvial deposits, was largely uncultivable, consisting mainly of Rhine delta swamps. Thus the Batavi population it could support was tiny: not more than 35,000 at this time.

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