Netflix “Barbarians”!
For this Actum I decided to watch the Netflix TV series called “Barbarians” (2020), created by Heckmann, Nolting, and Scharf. It is an account of the war between the so-called Germanic tribes and the Romans beginning in 9 CE in the reign of Augustus, and largely follows the conflict from the perspective of the Cherusci people who, having come under the subjugation of the Romans, consider whether it is worth it to give up their freedoms for peace. I have not done any outside research into this war, but it is clear the showrunners are trying to portray the events with a good deal of accuracy while refreshingly trying to show a perspective and tell a story that is not Roman. They also make use of Latin being the language spoken by the Romans, which adds to the feeling of experiencing history.
In the first episode, we get to see the Cherusci Reik arranging a marriage, before Roman soldiers arrive demanding tribute. Fearing that the Romans will take too much from them, the Reik, named Segimer, convenes other tribal leaders to discuss unifying and fighting. Here we see the politics of the semi-cohesive tribes contrasted with the brutality shown by the Romans, who demand unfair tribute and almost murder a child when the Reik won’t kiss their Eagle standard. The name of the show is undoubtedly drawing attention to the barbarism of the Romans themselves, who are shown to act as savage bullies, too stupid or ignorant to care that who they call the “Germanic People” is not at all a uniform group, although they do abide by similar or the same customs. The son of the Roman General Varus, named Gaius Julius Arminius, publicly executes an insubordinate Reik as a show of strength and fear. This prompts retaliation, and the Cherusci are divided as to whether they should offer more resistance.
In episode two we get to see that Arminius, a high-ranking officer in the army, is in fact the biological son of Reik Segimer but had been adopted by Varus when he was forcibly taken in his childhood. Because of his prestige, it is compelling to think about the Roman attitudes towards the Germanic people. On the one hand we have discussed the perpetual fear in the Roman psyche, and additionally the Romans are shown to consider them barbaric and uncivilized. Varus can be quoted from the show as saying “there is no Germanic law, there is only Rome”. Yet at the same time he has a great deal of trust and respect for his adopted son, who struggles with his identity and loyalties. I am interested to continue watching this show, which is full of dramatic and emotional conflict that is all from the perspective of the Germanic people, who would not have gotten a voice in Rome’s version of history. I highly recommend this show and I am excited to learn more about the culture and political organization of these Germanic peoples.
