Read Online Legio XVII: Battle of the Danube by Thomas A. Timmes - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Thomas A. Timmes
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the Teutons and had observed the river crossing and ongoing construction of the winter camp. The Chief of the Marcomanni asked to know the final destination of the Cimbri/Teuton migration. When told it was Regensburg, he approved. When the scouts asked him if his Army would allow the Tribes to stay by the river and not be attacked, he told them yes. He said he has no ill will towards the two Tribes and will even tell his people to trade with the Cimbri/Teuton people. He thanked the scouts for the gifts and sent them back with gifts of his own.
The scouts learned later while talking to several men guarding the Marcomanni encampment that they had just suffered a devastating defeat at the hands of the Boii Tribe to the east. Their Army had been decimated and the people wanted to replace the Chief. There was no desire to initiate another war for any reason.
This was exciting news for Timur and the Army, but Timur wanted confirmation to ensure they were not being lulled into a false sense of security. Riders went out in all direction to talk to the people and their Clan Leaders in the guise of establishing a system for the people to barter and trade goods. When they returned, the stories were the same. The Marcomanni had been badly beaten and posed no threat to the migrants. Now it was time to rejoice! Still, Timur insisted that the Army not lower its guard.
Timur left the pontoon bridge standing to allow hunters to cross and look for game north of the Main River. He ordered a gate constructed on the south side of the bridge and manned with 100 warriors. Four gates were constructed on the four mile (6.4km) wall to protect the migrants from any attack coming from the south. The walls and gates were manned 24 hours a day. Soldiers were also directed to help the people build barns for their animals and wagon.
*******
A story began circulating among the people about an incident that occurred three months earlier in column number 3, the same column in which Timur and Jennike traveled. It was not uncommon to hear of a wagon with a broken axel, but this one had personality and spread like a summer fire. Initially it was more gossip than anything else. Before the year was out, just about everyone had heard the story about Gloggr and his family.
The incident happened during the muddy passage through the Langobardi’s land. A man named Gloggr was sitting in his wagon holding the reins while his wife, two boys, and two daughters walked alongside the wagon or pulled handcarts. The mud was about 6 inches (15.2c) deep and deeper in spots. It had rained without ceasing for days. When Gloggr heard his rear wheels begin to scrape the side of the wagon, a sure sign of a broken axle, he reined in the oxen. Since the surrounding forest came right up to the road, when he stopped his wagon, everyone behind him had to stop. There was no way to pass. Tempers immediately began to flare. People far in the rear of the column had no idea as to the cause of the halt, but were used to the constant delays some, of which, lasted for hours.
Gloggr stepped down from the wagon into the mud and saw that the two rear wheels were canted inward and leaning heavily against the sides of the wagon. He got down on all fours and crawled under the wagon to look at the rear axle. When he was directly beneath it, he rolled onto his back for a better look. At that moment the cracked axle gave way, the wheels snapped off and the full weight of the wagon dropped heavily onto his chest, pushing him down into the mud. Hundreds of pounds rested on his sternum, which cracked under the pressure. Gloggr screamed in pain. Only his eyes, nose, and mouth were above the mud. He could barely breathe.
The driver of the wagon behind Gloggr’s saw what had happened and began calling for men to help lift the wagon. Within seconds men came running from the wagons lined up behind Gloggr’s. The man who
The scouts learned later while talking to several men guarding the Marcomanni encampment that they had just suffered a devastating defeat at the hands of the Boii Tribe to the east. Their Army had been decimated and the people wanted to replace the Chief. There was no desire to initiate another war for any reason.
This was exciting news for Timur and the Army, but Timur wanted confirmation to ensure they were not being lulled into a false sense of security. Riders went out in all direction to talk to the people and their Clan Leaders in the guise of establishing a system for the people to barter and trade goods. When they returned, the stories were the same. The Marcomanni had been badly beaten and posed no threat to the migrants. Now it was time to rejoice! Still, Timur insisted that the Army not lower its guard.
Timur left the pontoon bridge standing to allow hunters to cross and look for game north of the Main River. He ordered a gate constructed on the south side of the bridge and manned with 100 warriors. Four gates were constructed on the four mile (6.4km) wall to protect the migrants from any attack coming from the south. The walls and gates were manned 24 hours a day. Soldiers were also directed to help the people build barns for their animals and wagon.
*******
A story began circulating among the people about an incident that occurred three months earlier in column number 3, the same column in which Timur and Jennike traveled. It was not uncommon to hear of a wagon with a broken axel, but this one had personality and spread like a summer fire. Initially it was more gossip than anything else. Before the year was out, just about everyone had heard the story about Gloggr and his family.
The incident happened during the muddy passage through the Langobardi’s land. A man named Gloggr was sitting in his wagon holding the reins while his wife, two boys, and two daughters walked alongside the wagon or pulled handcarts. The mud was about 6 inches (15.2c) deep and deeper in spots. It had rained without ceasing for days. When Gloggr heard his rear wheels begin to scrape the side of the wagon, a sure sign of a broken axle, he reined in the oxen. Since the surrounding forest came right up to the road, when he stopped his wagon, everyone behind him had to stop. There was no way to pass. Tempers immediately began to flare. People far in the rear of the column had no idea as to the cause of the halt, but were used to the constant delays some, of which, lasted for hours.
Gloggr stepped down from the wagon into the mud and saw that the two rear wheels were canted inward and leaning heavily against the sides of the wagon. He got down on all fours and crawled under the wagon to look at the rear axle. When he was directly beneath it, he rolled onto his back for a better look. At that moment the cracked axle gave way, the wheels snapped off and the full weight of the wagon dropped heavily onto his chest, pushing him down into the mud. Hundreds of pounds rested on his sternum, which cracked under the pressure. Gloggr screamed in pain. Only his eyes, nose, and mouth were above the mud. He could barely breathe.
The driver of the wagon behind Gloggr’s saw what had happened and began calling for men to help lift the wagon. Within seconds men came running from the wagons lined up behind Gloggr’s. The man who
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