Tencteri

Book 4, Chapter 1.

The Fate of the Usipetes and Tencteri.

Caesar's First Invasion of Britain.

In the following winter, the year in which Gnaeus Pompeius and Marcus Crassus were consuls, a German tribe, the Usipetes, accompanied by the Tencteri, crossed the Rhine in large numbers, not far from the point where it enters the sea.

Their motive was that for several years they had been subject to harassing attacks from the Suebi, and prevented from tilling their land.

The Suebi are by far the most numerous and warlike of all the German peoples.

The Suebi, after many campaigns and frequent attempts, had found them too numerous and powerful to be dispossessed, but they made them tributary and reduced them to comparative insignificance and weakness.

Four.

Meanwhile, envoys came in from several tribes, and Caesar replied graciously to their prayer for peace and friendship and directed them to bring him hostages.

The Sugambri, on the contrary, from the moment when the construction of the bridge began, acting on the advice from the Tencteri and Eusipetes, whom they were entertaining, had prepared for flight, left their country with all their belongings, and hidden themselves in the recesses of the forest.

Caesar remained a few days in their country, burned all their villages and homesteads, cut down their corn, and returned to the territory of the Ubii.

Promising to help them in case they were molested by the Subii, he ascertained from them that the latter, on learning from their scouts that the bridge was being made, had called a council according to their custom, and sent messengers in all directions, bidding the people to abandon their strongholds, convey their wives and children and all their belongings into the forest, and assemble, all of them who could bear arms, at a fixed place nearly in the center of the region occupied by the Subii.

Book 4, Chapter 1.

The Fate of the Usipetes and Tencteri.

Caesar's First Invasion of Britain.

In the following winter, the year in which Gnaeus Pompeius and Marcus Crassus were consuls, a German tribe, the Usipetes, accompanied by the Tencteri, crossed the Rhine in large numbers, not far from the point where it enters the sea.

Their motive was that for several years they had been subject to harassing attacks from the Suebi and prevented from tilling the land.

The Suebi are by far the most numerous and warlike of all the German peoples.

Observing that the Germans were so ready to invade Gaul, he desired to make them feel alarm on their own account and realize that the army of the Roman people could and would cross the Rhine.

There was another consideration.

They just pick a host, mooch off them since they think owning stuff is below them, until old age finally drains them of their warrior spirit.

Right next door to the Chatti, we find the Usipae and the Tencteri hanging out along the Rhine.

By this point, the Rhine has shaped up into a proper river that makes for a nice natural border.

The Tencteri have got a thing for horsemanship.

Just like the Chatti infantry has got a reputation, the Tencteri are known for their horsemen.

This love for riding goes way back, started by their forefathers and carried on today.

Kids play at riding, adults compete in it, and the old folks refuse to quit.

Horses are considered such a big deal that they're passed on from father to son, just like the slaves, property, and inheritance rights.