The Epic Battle of Fort Flevum: Romans vs Frisians

TLDRIn 28 AD, the Fort of Flevum on the lower Rhine border between the Roman Empire and the Germanic tribes faced a rebellion by the Frisians. The Romans, led by Commander Alinius, violated the peace treaty by demanding large oxides as tribute. The Frisians launched multiple attacks on the fort, but the Roman Garrison successfully defended it. The siege was intense, and the Romans ran out of ammunition, resorting to making sling bullets on the spot. The Garrison eventually repelled the attackers and sealed the breach, but the siege continued.

Key insights

⚔️The Fort of Flevum was a strategically important Roman fort on the lower Rhine.

🤝The Romans signed a treaty with the Frisian tribe, granting them access to build the fort in their lands.

🛡️The fort was crucial in defending Rome's largest border and monitoring the native Frisian aristocracy.

🏰The fort had a unique trapezoidal shape and featured a naval squadron to control river traffic.

🔥The Frisians rebelled against the Romans due to a change in the tribute demands, resulting in a siege on the fort.

Q&A

What was the strategic importance of the Fort of Flevum?

The Fort of Flevum served as a crucial Roman fort on the lower Rhine, defending the empire's largest border and monitoring the native Frisian aristocracy.

What led to the rebellion by the Frisians against the Romans?

The rebellion was triggered by the Romans violating the initial peace treaty with the Frisians by demanding large oxides as tribute, which greatly affected the Frisians' wealth and way of life.

How did the Roman Garrison defend the fort during the siege?

The Roman Garrison used various defensive tactics, including mounted artillery, firing from high towers, and a desperate counter-attack when the fort was breached. They ran out of ammunition and resorted to making sling bullets on the spot.

What was the outcome of the battle and siege?

The Roman Garrison successfully repelled the Frisian attackers and sealed the breach, but the siege continued. The final outcome is not mentioned.

What were the key features and defenses of the Fort of Flevum?

The fort had a trapezoidal shape, defensive ditches filled with water, wooden ramparts with a crenellated palisade, towers for line of sight, and access through drawbridges and tower gates. It also had a naval squadron and docking facilities.

Timestamped Summary

00:00The video is about the battle and siege of the Fort of Flevum on the lower Rhine in 28 AD.

01:00The Romans signed a treaty with the Frisian tribe, granting them access to build the fort in their lands.

03:00The fort had a trapezoidal shape, defensive ditches filled with water, and wooden ramparts with a crenellated palisade.

09:00The Frisians rebelled against the Romans due to a change in the tribute demands, leading to a siege on the fort.

11:00The Roman Garrison successfully defended the fort, repelling multiple attacks and sealing breaches.

12:00The Romans ran out of ammunition during the siege and resorted to making sling bullets on the spot.