BREAKING NEWS (from 6 AD): ROME invades BOHEMIA

It is 6 AD. Rome’s first – and greatest – Emperor, Augustus, has decided to launch a massive campaign against the tribes inhabiting a distant land nestled behind the dark and dangerous Hercynian forest. That land is called Boiohaemum, named after the famous Celtic Boii tribe, who lived there during the rise of the Roman Republic. But the Celts are no longer the region’s main residents. They have been driven out by ferocious Germanic tribes arriving from the lands to the north.

In these early days of the Roman Empire, Boiohaemum is now controlled by the Marcomanni tribe. A tribe charismatically led by the chieftain, Marobuduus, whose name means ‘great battle crow’. Marobuduus is not just any tribal leader. He has been educated in Rome, under the patronage of Augustus himself. After arriving in Bohemia, Marobuduus has steadily built a powerful confederation of Germanic tribes.

The ‘Empire’ of Marobuduus now stretches from the Baltic coast to the Danube river. He is reported to have a standing army of more than 70,000 troops, trained to almost Roman standard. Augustus clearly perceives Marobuduus to be a serious threat. He is also the last remaining barrier to the creation of the new Roman province of Germania Magna, which would extend the Empire to the banks of the river Elbe.

So, in 6 AD Augustus sends his adopted son and heir, the future Emperor Tiberius, to deal with Maroboduus and his troublesome Marcomannic confederation. Tiberius reportedly commands 12 legions, nearly half the entire Roman army. It is the biggest campaign so far launched by Imperial Rome. What happens next? Do the Roman legions successfully penetrate the Hercynian forest and the ring of mountains protecting Boiohaemum? Will there be a cataclysmic confrontation between the first recorded king of Bohemia and Rome’s greatest general? Let’s find out.

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On 13 April 2026, I am setting out to discover what really happened in 6 AD, aiming to retrace the steps of Tiberius’ legions when they crossed the Danube and headed into the dark Hercynian forest. Join me on an exciting journey northwards, traversing ancient trails and forgotten fortresses, as we head in search of Marobuduus’ legendary seat, located somewhere in the wilds of Bohemia.

A word from Velleius Paterculus (c.19 BC – c. AD 31)

The Roman historian and politician, Velleius Paterculus, is a direct witness to the events of 6 AD. At various times a cavalry commander in Tiberius’ army, a camp prefect and a legate of Augustus, Velleius gives us a personal account of the campaign against Marobuduus. He tells us about the two-pronged strategy to invade Bohemia: one army will march eastwards from the Rhine, under the former consul, Gaius Sentius Saturninus. The other, under Tiberius, will set out from Carnuntum and head northwest. Marobuduus will be caught in a pincer movement and destroyed, or so Augustus is hoping.

Tiberius has spent the winter on the Danube creating his invasion plan. (To date, Tiberius‘ 6AD winter camp at Carnuntum has yet to be discovered, by archaeologists but there are few doubts he was there…). Tiberius has sent orders to the legions in Illyricum to requisition supplies and conscript local auxiliary troops from across the region. All are to assemble at his winter camp at Carnuntum, 30 km to the west of today’s Bratislava. The scene is therefore set for the vanguard to cross the Danube in the spring of 6 AD. Next week, perhaps with Velleius Paterculus, we will join that advance guard, as it sets out for Barbaricum. Vale et mox video!

Day 1: Carnuntum to Marchegg – 25 km

It is mid April 6 AD, the beginning of the campaign season. Tiberius has begun to assemble his invasion force on the banks of the Danube, drawing his legions from the Illyrian territories and the recently annexed kingdom of Noricum. Legionary commanders have begin conscripting auxiliary troops from amongst the pacified local tribes; an unpopular move which may create future problems.

A scouting expedition is sent by Tiberius across the Danube heading northwards. Guides have been recruited from amongst the Celtic tribes who now live along the Middle Danube, including descendants of the Boii who once ruled Bohemia. They have a grudge to settle with the Germanic king of the former homeland. Most importantly, they know the old trackways and navigable rivers which will prove crucial to supplying the legions on their march north. Although their oppidum on nearby Braunsberg hill was abandoned two generations earlier, Celtic traders still ply the old routes to the north.

I have decided to join the scouting trip. The first few days should be easy, as there are trackways that run northwards along the Morava (March) river, linking old Celtic settlements, which are now sparsely inhabited. This is the famous Amber Road, a series of linked trails that connect the Mediterranean world with the Baltic coastline. It is reported by our guides to be at least two thousand years old (so dating from around 2000 BC!). Trackways exist on both sides of the Morava, but our guides tell us that the route on the western (right) bank is more frequently used and has fewer streams to cross.

It is a march of around 20 km to our first stopping point, on a bend in the river Morava, which our guides promise is a suitable spot for a marching camp. It is here, sometime shortly after 1260 AD, that the legendary Přemyslid king Ottokar II will found what is sometimes called the ‘the only Bohemian town in Austria’, Marchegg. The town remained Bohemian for less than thirty years. We will find out why, tomorrow…But sadly no Roman marching camp has (yet) been discovered at Marchegg.

Crossing the (not very blue) Danube at Hainburg

A final salute at the Heidentor before leaving Carnuntum (let’s quietly ignore the fact that it was not constructed until the 4th century AD…)

Arrival at Schloss Marchegg, originally built by the Bohemian King Otakar II in the 13th century, who controlled this part of Austria for a short period. Not quite sure why this Roman officer is visiting an Austrian chateau though…

Day 2: Marchegg to Drösing – 37 km

This is a forced march day, aiming to cover nearly twice the distance that the legions behind us will normally manage in a day. But they have to construct marching camps every evening – we will be travelling light relying on our guides to find us safe sleeping spots. I am pleased to report that the paths beside the Morava are in good shape – those Celtic traders knew a thing or two about path construction.

We break for a mid day meal below a series of low cliffs (in a spot that will become the modern day town of Stillfried). Our Celtic guides point out the still visible ramparts of a fortress they say are nearly a thousand years old. (There was indeed a massive late Bronze Age fortress constructed here to control the Amber Road). The guides suggest the ancestors who built the fortress were the first to cultivate grapes in this region – a claim most in our party found laughable. Everyone knows it is the Romans who will bring viticulture to the region. (Or perhaps not…grape seeds from culviated vines were, in fact, found in the 8th century BC fortification).

The engineers in our party use the break to scout out possible sites for a marching camp and the potential for a watch post on the cliffs. There is evidence of Roman period settlement in the Stillfried area, but a marching camp or watch tower has yet to be specifically identified.

Our afternoon march continues along the Morava river. There is little evidence that Marobuduus’ followers have spread this far south – the land is sparsely populated with farmsteads belonging to the Celtic tribes that now owe their allegiance to Rome. This should ensure a relatively peaceful march for the legions when they set off. Even better, the Morava is clearly navigable at this point, which means the legions can be provisioned easily from the Danube bases.

As we march northwards there is a series of low hills on our left side. In these hills arguably the most important battle in the history of the Czech lands will be fought on 26 August 1286. On that day, Přemyslid king Ottokar II disastrously led his army against the combined forces of the Rudolf I of Habsburg and the Hungarian king Ladislaus IV, to determine the ownership of Austria and Styria. August 26th was a swelteringly hot day in the lowland Morava river valley. Ottakar’s troops rapidly cooked inside their heavy armour as they were harassed by the Hungarian horse archers. The battle was over within 3 hours -reportedly decided by a sneaky ambush by a German cavalry squadron which was hiding in a nearby forest. This was apparently contrary to the code of chivalry – of which Ottokar was considered an exemplar. Ottokar was killed, his forces routed, many drowning in the river Morava. The consequence was, of course, the permanent loss of Austria to the Bohemian crown and the rise of the Habsburgs, leading ultimately to the absorption of Bohemia into the Habsburg empire.

Our day finishes on the banks of the Morava in a Celtic settlement that will become known as Drösing in future times. Our engineers have decided that a small oppidum can be reused and refortified as a temporary camp. Messages to this effect have been sent back to Tiberius in Carnuntum. There is emerging archaeological evidence that the recently discovered Drösing oppidum was occupied in early Imperial times. If confirmed this would be the first known example of an Augustan/Tiberian period marching camp on the Morava…