SVPPLEMENTVM REBELLIO ILLYRICI I – GERMANIKOVA “POUNJSKA OFANZIVA”
SVPPLEMENTVM REBELLIO ILLYRICI I – THE UNA RIVER VALLEY OFFENSIVE LAUNCHED BY GERMANICUS

Summary/Abstract: After the agreed surrender of Breucos Baton and the ultimate collapse of rebellion in the Pannonian Basin, in the autumn of 8 B.C, the remaining rebel forces under the command of the Illyrian Daesitiates Baton withdrew to the Dinaric mountain range. Then, in the spring of 9 B.C., a new offensive was launched the Roman imperial troops on the northern line (i.e. the wider area of the Una River Valley and North-western Bosnia) of defence of the remaining areas that had been controlled by the rebels. This attack was led by Germanicus, a Roman commander who was the favourite of the Roman Emperor Augustus and otherwise very popular. Germanicus’ goal was to break through this line and penetrate into the areas held by the rebels. This way, he intended to win his first major victory, which would guarantee both his further rise in the hierarchy of the ruling Roman family and an additional success in his military and political career. The main battles were waged against the insurgent strongholds of Splonum, Retinum and Seretion. The battle for Retinum was a particularly tough test for Germanicus’ tactics, as well as for his abilities as a commander. Despite the fact that these strongholds were captured after a bitter fighting, the Romans were forced to suspend further military campaigns, mostly because of the exceptional losses they suffered both in manpower and in resources. Thus, the insurgents got several additional months to resist the Imperial Roman forces. However, in the summer of 9 B.C., a new, comprehensive military campaign, this time under the command of Tiberius, was launched, and finally destroyed the last insurgent strongholds.

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