Originally Posted by
MrMalus
The Batavians were the defacto leader among the german tribes though. Their seconds, the Treveri, were also ruled by a branch of the Batavian Royal house. The vast majority of germanic auxilaries before the foderati system raped the roman military was compromised by the Batavian Royal Horse, who although weren't as elite as the multinational Thracian Horse, were very strategically flexible as they were known for their ability to cross rivers with their horses while in full gear. Pretty hard to rest when 3000 dutchmen can cross a big river on horseback then wheel back and wreck some disorganised barbarian encampment.
We also know that they were more advanced as swords and helmets were extremely rare among germanics but more common among batavians and frisians. Not to mention that the only considerable naval threat caesar met in his conquest of gaul consisted of frisians, while support more eastern germans fled and surrendered en masse when boarded by legionaire raiding parties. They also had a poor reputation for seamen while the opposite was true of the frisians.
Their long relationship with rome that I mentioned above also helped them develop technically at rates far greater than those of other germans. When frankish rulers desired to build fleets they either chose gallo romans from southern france to build and man them or frisians.
Arminius and Civilis, the two germans who led significant rebellions against the romans before being defeated, were also part of the Batavian Royal house. Civilis is confirmed while Arminius had at least ties with them. It's also very important to notice that there were noble batavians serving with rome against them. Whatever happened, the royal house would survive and would continue to bully the other germans into line to both win favour and benefits of rome while avoiding another devastation like the battle of wesser river or adastavisus.
I could post a list of the commanders of the germanic auxilary forces serving with the AUR legions in the west. I can also guarantee you that all of them will be batavian.
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