Uploaded December 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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In 2000, two metal detectorists discovered an intact Roman battlefield at the Harzhorn hill in north-central Germany, hundreds of miles beyond the imperial frontier. This video explores the mysterious campaign that brought the Romans so far from Rome. For a reconstruction of the battle itself, see the second part: youtu.be/Tt0kLwSAMTU

I would like to thank @HistoriaMilitum for their collaboration on this project, and Christian Heinz (who lives near the Limes of the Taunus Mountains) for suggesting the topic and contributing generously to my research.

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If you liked this video, you might also enjoy my book “Naked Statues, Fat Gladiators, and War Elephants: Frequently Asked Questions about the Ancient Greeks and Romans.”

amazon.com/Naked-Statues-Fat-Gladiators-Elephants/dp/1633887022

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Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
0:47 The Harzhorn Battlefield
1:38 Max Thrax and his German Campaign
2:58 Maximinius' army
3:28 The German Campaign begins
4:32 The logistics of marching in enemy territory
6:04 Bringing supplies to the army
6:56 The march through Germany
7:27 The Battle in the Swamp
8:19 The Harzhorn Battle begins...

Thanks for watching