Editing Chauci (section)

==Classical Roman history==
The record is incomplete. The bulk of historical information about the Chauci is from the ''[[Annals (Tacitus)|Annals]]'' of [[Tacitus]], written in 117. Many parts of his works have not survived, including an entire section covering the years AD&nbsp;38&ndash;46, as well as the years after AD&nbsp;69.

The earliest mention of the Chauci is from 12&nbsp;BC and suggests that they were assisting other Germanic tribes in a war against the [[Roman Empire|Romans]]. [[Nero Claudius Drusus|Drusus]] campaigned against those Germans along the lower Rhine, and after devastating the lands west and north of the Rhine he won over (or defeated or intimidated) the [[Frisii|Frisians]]. He was in the process of attacking the Chauci when his vessels were trapped by an [[Tide|ebb tide]]. Drusus gave up the attack and withdrew.<ref>{{Harvcolnb|Cassius Dio|229|pp=365}}, ''Roman History'', Bk LIV, Ch 32.</ref>

===Aftermath of Teutoburg Forest, c. 15===
The Germans under [[Arminius]] had destroyed 3 [[Roman legion]]s under [[Publius Quinctilius Varus|Varus]] at the [[Battle of the Teutoburg Forest]] in AD&nbsp;9. The Romans recoiled at first but then [[Germanicus]] initiated destructive campaigns against those Germans whom the Romans blamed for their defeat. The Chauci were not among them, and were said to have promised aid, and were associated with the Romans in "military fellowship".<ref>{{Harvcolnb|Tacitus|117|pp=30}}, ''The Annals'', Bk I, Ch 60. Events of AD 15&ndash;16.</ref> However, in defeating Arminius' own tribe (the [[Cherusci]]) the Romans were unable to capture or kill Arminius, who escaped. There were Chauci among the Roman auxiliaries, and they were rumored to have allowed the escape.<ref>{{Harvcolnb|Tacitus|117|pp=48}}, ''The Annals'', Bk II, Ch 17. Events of AD 16&ndash;19</ref> In one of the campaigns a Roman fleet (probably riverine, not ocean-going) was broken up by a storm, causing many casualties. Germanicus himself managed to survive by reaching the lands of the Chauci, who provided him with a safe haven.<ref>{{Harvcolnb|Tacitus|117|pp=50}}, ''The Annals'', Bk II, Ch 24. Events of AD 16&ndash;19.</ref> Germanicus' campaigns  had resulted in recovery of two of three Aquila lost in the [[Battle of the Teutoburg Forest]] defeat; the third legionary standard was recovered in AD&nbsp;41 by Publius Gabinius from the Chauci during the reign of [[Claudius]], brother of Germanicus.<ref>[[Cassius Dio]], [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Cassius_Dio/60*.html#8 ''Roman History'' Book LX, Chapter 8]</ref>

A parenthetical note concerns the [[Ampsivarii]]. They had not supported the German cause led by Arminius in 9&nbsp;AD and had been ostracized as a result. The Chauci had suffered no such disaffection from the other Germanic tribes in the aftermath of Teutoburg Forest, nor had they alienated the Romans. Many years later, {{circa|AD&nbsp;58}}, the Chauci seized upon an opportunity to expel the Ampsivarii and occupy their lands at the mouth of the [[Ems (river)|River Ems]], whereby they gained a border with the Frisians to the west.<ref>{{Harvcolnb|Tacitus|117|pp=253–254}}, ''The Annals'', Bk XIII, Ch 55. Events of AD 54&ndash;58.</ref>

===Roman war against Gannascus, c. 47===
[[File:Roemerschiff1.jpg|thumb|right|240px|Reconstruction of a fluvial boat of the [[Classis Germanica]] (Rhine flotilla) in the first century AD.]]
In AD&nbsp;47 (and perhaps for some time earlier), the Chauci along with the Frisians were led by a certain [[Gannascus]] of the [[Cananefates|Canninefates]]. They raided along the then-wealthy coast of [[Gallia Belgica]] (i.e., the land south of the [[Rhine]] and north of the Rivers [[Marne (river)|Marne]] and [[Seine]]), and the Chauci made inroads into the region that would later become the neighbouring Roman province of [[Germania Inferior]], in the area of the Rhine delta in what is now the southern Netherlands.<ref>{{Harvcolnb|Tacitus|117|pp=189}}, ''The Annals'', Bk XI, Ch 18&ndash;19. Events of AD 47&ndash;48.</ref>

[[Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo|Corbulo]] was made the local Roman military commander. He successfully engaged the Germans on both land<ref>{{Harvcolnb|Tacitus|117|pp=400}}, ''The Annals'', Bk XVI, Ch 17. Events of 65&ndash;66 (Rome and Parthia&mdash;Campaigns of Corbulo in the East). Tacitus makes the parenthetical comment that Corbulo had driven the Chauci out of the provinces of Lower Germany which they had invaded in AD 47.</ref> and water, occupied the Rhine with his [[trireme]]s and sent his smaller vessels up the estuaries and canals. The Germanic flotilla was destroyed in a naval engagement, Gannascus was driven out, and Frisian territory was forcibly occupied.

A negotiation between the Romans and Gannascus was arranged under the auspices of the 'Greater Chauci', which the Romans used as an opportunity to assassinate their opponent. The Chauci were outraged by the act of [[bad faith]], so the emperor [[Claudius]] forbade further attacks on the Germans in an effort to ease tensions, and the Romans withdrew to the Rhine.<ref>{{Harvcolnb|Tacitus|117|pp=190}}, ''The Annals'', Bk XI, Ch 18&ndash;19. Events of AD 47&ndash;48.</ref>
{{Clear}}

===Batavian Revolt, c. 69===
In AD&nbsp;69 the [[Batavi (Germanic tribe)|Batavi]] and other tribes rose against Roman rule in the [[Revolt of the Batavi]], becoming a general uprising by all the Germans in the region. Led by [[Gaius Julius Civilis|Civilis]], they inflicted huge casualties on the Romans, including the destruction of a Roman fleet by a Germanic one off the [[North Sea]] coast.<ref>{{Harvcolnb|Haywood|1999|pp=22–23}}, ''Dark Age Naval Power''.</ref>  Led by [[Quintus Petillius Cerialis|Cerialis]], the Romans gave as good as they had gotten, ultimately forcing a humiliating peace on the Batavi and stationing a legion on their territory.

Both the Chauci and the Frisians had auxiliaries serving under the Romans, and in a siege and assault by Civilis at ''Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensis'' (at modern [[Cologne]]), a [[cohort (military unit)|cohort]] of Chauci and Frisians had been trapped and burned.<ref>{{Harvcolnb|Tacitus|105|pp=7}}, ''The Histories'', Translator's Summary of Chief Events.</ref><ref>{{Harvcolnb|Tacitus|105|pp=193}}, ''The Histories'', Bk IV, Ch 79.</ref> The Chauci had supported  Civilis in their own name, providing him with reinforcements.<ref>{{Harvcolnb|Tacitus|105|pp=222}}, ''The Histories'', Bk V, Ch 19. A footnote makes reference to "Cp IV.79".</ref>