Revolt of the Batavi

Revolt of the Batavi
Part of the Year of the Four Emperors

The Conspiracy of Claudius Civilis,
completed by Rembrandt in 1661
Date69–70 AD
Location
Result
  • Roman victory
  • Subjugation of the Batavi
Belligerents
Batavi
Cananefates
Frisii
Lingones
Treveri
Roman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Gaius Julius Civilis
Brinno
Julius Tutor
Julius Classicus
Veleda
Marcus Hordeonius Flaccus
Claudius Labeo
Munius Lupercus
Quintus Petillius Cerialis
Strength

Depending on definition of loyalty:

  • One Batavi ala and eight cohorts; 5,000+ Batavi (mostly cavalry)
  • Two defecting Roman legions; 10,000
  • Varying support from other tribes; likely thousands
Total: 5,000–20,000

Initially:
Four Roman legions and attempted reinforcements; 10,000–15,000+

Later:
Eight Roman legions; 40,000

Total: 60,000–65,000
Casualties and losses
Relatively light 10,000–20,000+

The Revolt of the Batavi took place in the Roman province of Germania Inferior ("Lower Germania") between AD 69 and 70. It was an uprising against the Roman Empire started by the Batavi, a small but militarily powerful Germanic tribe that inhabited Batavia, on the delta of the river Rhine. They were soon joined by the Celtic tribes from Gallia Belgica and some Germanic tribes.

Under the leadership of their hereditary prince Gaius Julius Civilis, an auxiliary officer in the Imperial Roman army, the Batavi and their allies managed to inflict a series of humiliating defeats on the Roman army, including the destruction of two legions. After these initial successes, a massive Roman army led by the Roman general Quintus Petillius Cerialis eventually defeated the rebels. Following peace talks, the Batavi submitted again to Roman rule, but were forced to accept humiliating terms and a legion stationed permanently on their territory, at Noviomagus (modern day Nijmegen, The Netherlands).