Lower Ems

The Ampsivarii, sometimes referenced by modern writers as Ampsivari (a simplification not warranted by the sources), were a Germanic tribe mentioned by ancient authors. The Germanic peoples are a historical group of Indo-European -speaking peoples originating in Northern Europe and identified by their use of the Germanic Their homeland was originally around the middle of the river Ems, which flows into the North Sea, at the Dutch-German border. The Ems (Ems Eems is a River in northwestern Germany and northeastern Netherlands. The North Sea is a marginal, Epeiric sea of the Atlantic Ocean on the European Continental shelf. Most likely they lived between the Bructeri minori (located at the delta of the Yssel) and the Bructerii maiori that were living south of them at the end of the Ems. The Bructeri were a Germanic tribe located in northwestern Germany (Soester Börde between the Lippe and Ems rivers south of the Teutoburg The name for them is supposed to be a Latin rendering of the Germanic "Ems-werer", meaning "men of the Ems". Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Reconstruction of the location of other tribes in the area places the Ampsivarii at the lower Ems. In fact at least two modern cities are names after the Ems there: Emden (German) and Emmen (Dutch). Emden is a City and Seaport in the northwest of Germany, on River Ems. Emmen ( is a Municipality and a Town in the northeastern Netherlands.

Tacitus

The first history tells us of this Germanic identity is very nearly its end. Tacitus in Annales Chapter 13. Publius (or Gaius) Cornelius Tacitus (ca 56 &ndash ca 117 was a senator and a Historian of the Roman Empire. 54,56, relates the sad fate of the men of the Ems, at which they arrived because they refused to accept a greater identity than that of a tribesman; i. e. , to become part of a nation. The problem began with their refusal to support Arminius in his surprise attack on three Roman legions at the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest in the year 9. Arminius, also known as Armin or Hermann (18 BC/17 BC - AD 21) was a chieftain of the Cherusci who defeated a Roman army in the The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest took place in the year 9 A The tribes that did support him later became the greater alliance of the Franks and Saxons. The Franks or Frankish people (Franci or gens Francorum) were West Germanic tribes first identified in the 3rd century as an Ethnic group The Saxons or Saxon people were a Confederation of Old Germanic tribes.

Subsequently the Chauci attacked them (the year 58) and drove them from their lands on the Ems. The Chauci were a populous Germanic tribe that inhabited the extreme northwestern shore of Germany between Frisia in the west and the Elbe estuary They became refugees, hosted by various tribes in the west of Germany. Meanwhile, the Roman army had cleared out the lower Rhine, which they were using as a no-man’s land between Germany and Belgium. The Rhine (Rhein Rijn Rhin Reno Rain Rhenus is one of the longest and most important Rivers in Europe at 1320 kilometres (820 mi with an average discharge The principate had resolved to stop imperial expansion at the Rhine.

The Frisii, however, misinterpreted Roman inaction. The Frisians are an ethnic group of Germanic people living in coastal parts of The Netherlands and Germany. Believing a rumor that the Roman army had been ordered not to move against them, they occupied some lands along the Rhine, and were told in no uncertain terms to get out. When they refused a troop of Roman cavalry swept them out.

The Ampsivarii now made a bid for the land, petitioning the Roman commander in the region. Their chief, Boiocalus, having personally refused Arminius (spending some time in prison for it and then serving Rome in some capacity) had received the status of friend of Rome. The petition went sour, but Tacitus does not clarify the reason. The Romans were insisting on the meliorum imperia, the "authority of betters", which seems to imply that the Ampsivarii were being invited to throw in their lot with the Romans.

Privately Boiocalus was informed that, as a memento of his 50-year friendship, the fields would be given. It isn’t clear whether Boiocalus was being offered a separate peace or whether subordination was the price of a gift to the tribe. In any case Boiocalus rejected the offer on the grounds that it would make him a traitor. It is possible that his Celtic name reflects a Celtic origin of his family, in which case the question of betrayal might have been an issue, or it might simply have been that he was known to have been loyal to Rome. Celts (ˈkɛlts or /ˈsɛlts/, see Names of the Celts As it turned out the Roman offer was to be the last the Ampsivarii would receive.

They now formed a defensive alliance with the Tencteri and Bructeri, two more tribes of the future Franks, but this hasty relationship was too little and too late. The Tencteri and Usipetes were Germanic tribes located on the eastern bank of the lower Rhine in the 1st century BC The Bructeri were a Germanic tribe located in northwestern Germany (Soester Börde between the Lippe and Ems rivers south of the Teutoburg The Romans entered the lands of the Tencteri and threatened to annihilate them. Both allies withdrew from the alliance, the Romans withdrew from their country, and the Ampsivarii stood alone. Having to chosen to join nether side at the critical moment, they now had all sides against them.

They went on up the Rhine, hosted by some tribes, resisted by others, until the fighting men were all dead. The survivors were distributed as praeda, booty, meaning slaves, to various tribes and so the identity did not go on to appear in Ptolemy. Claudius Ptolemaeus ( Greek: Klaúdios Ptolemaîos; after 83 &ndash ca

Sulpicius Alexander

The name appearing in the title belonged to a historian of Germanic tribes, Sulpicius Alexander, whose works are all lost except for quotes in Gregory of Tours. Sulpicius Alexander (fl late fourth century was a Roman Historian of Germanic tribes. Saint Gregory of Tours ( November 30, c 538 &ndash November 17, 594) was a Gallo-Roman historian and bishop of Tours In one quote the Ampsivarii appear again some few hundred years after their loss in Tacitus. In the quote, a Roman general of Frankish family, Arbogastes (died 394), attacked the Franks across the Rhine and works some devastation. Flavius Arbogastes (died September 6 394) or Arbogast was a Frankish general in the Roman Empire. A force of Chatti and Ampsivarii under Marcomer was seen on a distant hill, but the two did not engage. The Chatti (also Chatthi or Catti) were an ancient Germanic tribe whose homeland was near the upper Weser. Marcomer (Marcomeres Marchomer Marchomir was a Frankish leader ( dux) in the late 4th century that invaded the Roman Empire in the year The circumstances imply that some Ampsivarii had found refuge among the Chatti and still held a tribal identity.

Notitia Dignitatum

Shield pattern of the Ampsivarii. According to Notitia Dignitatum, there was an auxilia palatina, under the command of the magister peditum. The Notitia Dignitatum is a unique document of the Roman imperial chanceries Auxilia palatina were the late Roman Empire infantry units first raised by Constantine I as part of the new field army he created in about 325

Not long after the death of Arbogastes the emperor, Honorius, had little time to spend on the Franks, as Italy was being overrun by Goths. Flavius Arbogastes (died September 6 394) or Arbogast was a Frankish general in the Roman Empire. Honorius may refer to Honorius (emperor (Flavius Augustus Honorius western Roman emperor 395-423 Honorius of Canterbury (Saint Honorius The Goths ( Gothic: Gothic usvg|14px|u]]Gothic asvg|14px|a]]Gothic s Honorius was the emperor who replied to the British request for help against Anglo-Saxon invaders that they should defend themselves as best they could. For their language see Anglo-Saxon language. Anglo-Saxon is the term usually used to describe the invading Tribes in the south The Notitia Dignitatum, which lists Roman units and their heraldry, indicates that the Franks were taken as auxiliaries into the Roman army. The Notitia Dignitatum is a unique document of the Roman imperial chanceries A unit of Ampsivarii appears there.

See also

• List of Germanic peoples

External links

• Book XIII Chapter 55: Events in the North. The Ampsivarii(AD 58)
• The Annals by P. Cornelius Tacitus
• "SIR AUGUSTUS WOLLASTON FRANKS." LoveToKnow 1911 Online Encyclopedia. © 2003, 2004 LoveToKnow.