The Fall of the Roman Empire

[Rupert_137]

The Fall of the Roman Empire

We read so many stories of invincible Romans, of their arrogance, their brutal conquests and their cruel punishments, we hear about their luxurious life, supported by the enslavement of other peoples ... But no fame, no empire lasts forever. This is the story of the fall and decay of the Western Roman Empire over a period of 100 years from 375 to 476 AD, told in individual episodes (story) and supplemented with historical reviews (history).

In 375 AD, Gothic tribes crossed the Danube by mutual agreement with the Romans in order to become new settlers in the Roman Empire. In AD 476, the Gothic military leader and later King Odoacer deposed the last Western Roman emperor 'Romulus', whom they contemptuously nicknamed 'Augustulus' (little Augustus).

I invite those interested to add their own contributions to this epoch of the Romans, who are no longer used to victory ... where the Romans have to recognize that their power is not unlimited or lasts forever and that their leadership role is not determined by God.


(1) The Battle of Adrianople in 378 AD.

I begin my stories with one of the most momentous battles of late antiquity on Roman soil between the Goths under their leader Fritigern and the Romans under the Eastern Roman Emperor Valens. The Goths had come across the Danube to the Roman Empire three years earlier (375) fleeing from the Huns advancing from the east. They were accepted as new settlers, in return they were supposed to set up soldiers and secure the border to the north, and so they also kept their weapons. The Visigothic tribes were also followed – unplanned - by the equally oppressed Ostrogoths and the Alanian horsemen associations.

In the end there were around 200,000 people to be supplied, twice as many as expected. The supply did not work, the Goths were starving, corrupt provincial officials tried to enrich themselves with the already scarce aid supplies. Gothic families had to pay high prices for food, if they couldn't they had to redeem jewelry and weapons, or their daughters had to prostitute themselves for the locals, and boys should even be sold as slaves. In return, they were often only given dog food.

Riots soon broke out among the Goths. But instead of assigning them the promised settlement land and providing them with sufficient food, the provincial government resorted to a malicious trick to calm the situation in a 'Roman way'. They invited the Gothic leaders to talk over dinner. However, the Romans planned to assassinate the leaders in order to make the new settlers weak and leaderless. The project failed, Fritigern, one of the Goths leaders, escaped the attack and the anger of the Goths grew uncontrollably. For the next two years they marched raiding the Roman provinces of the Balkans in search of food and booty. This time it was the Goths who abducted local young women as living prey and who took able-bodied young men with them to reinforce their warriors.

Two attempts to stop them with the Roman forces from the region failed; Fritigern won, or the opponents parted in a draw after a bloody battle. Thereafter, the Goths had large amounts of captured Roman weapons. They moved to the gates of Constantinople, capital of the eastern part of the empire. However, they lacked the siege equipment and the necessary experience to attack this powerful city. Submissive refugees and supplicants had suddenly become dangerous invaders ... Not without the fault of the responsible Romans!

The leadership of the Roman Empire was shared by Emperor Valens for the eastern half of the empire and Emperor Gratian for the western part. But both were already involved in fighting, they had other worries. The Huns' storm had also pushed Germanic tribes to the west, where the Alemanni crossed the Rhine and invaded Roman Gaul. This tied Gratian to the Rhine border. In the far east of the empire Valerian was on a campaign against the Persians, who threatened the Roman border there. And so much time passed before the Roman rulers could intervene.

By the summer of 378 AD, Emperor Valens was able to make peace with the Persians and lead his troops back to Constantinople. Gratian advanced from the west against the Goths in the Balkans. Valens waited two weeks, but Gratian's approach was delayed. Then Emperor Valens decided to attack the Goths even without support from the West. Valens turned down offers of negotiation from her guide Fritigern. The leader of the Goths did not seek war, but rather land and peace for his people. The Eastern Roman ruler, however, wanted to discipline and punish the Goths - entirely according to Roman legal understanding - and he wanted to claim the glory for the suppression of the Goths for himself alone. He assessed the offers to negotiate as his opponent's weakness.

On August 9, 378 AD, there was a Roman attack on the Goths, who had holed up in their wagon castle. This fight would go down in history as the 'Battle of Adrianople '. Emperor Valens led around 25,000 legionnaires of his infantry into battle, reinforced on both wings by around 6,000 horsemen. Fritigern had around 20,000 men under arms to defend the Gothic wagon castle, and 4,500 riders, made up of allied Ostrogoths and Alans, hid in the woods. The Visigoth peasant tribes did not have their own cavalry.

Numerically, the Romans had a small advantage, and they also believed in their superior discipline and war experience ... but they had the disadvantage that they had to march 18 km to the slaughter site in the morning, where they arrived in the midday heat and where Fritigern awaited them well prepared. The Romans only counted on 10,000 armed defenders, they knew nothing about a Gothic cavalry and they were confident of victory ... Thirsty and tired from the march, they rushed to attack the Goths' wagon castle. A whole people had holed up behind thousands of wagons set up across and staggered and forming a large circle ... and the Goths were determined to defend their lives and their freedom against the attacking Romans.


It follows ... 'The Great Battle' a tale from the perspective of a young Gothic woman inside the wagon castle, who observed the battle but also intervened in the fight with a bow and arrows... Later, in retrospect, we learn about her humiliations and sufferings among the Romans before ... and we can also learn about her hatred...

 

[Rupert_137]

The Great Battle (1) – The Romans are coming!

The following description of the battle near Adrianople is based on historical tradition (only the Roman point of view has been handed down), all details and the people involved - apart from the leaders - are fictitious!


In the morning scouts bring the news: “The Romans are coming!” Since then there has been great excitement. For two weeks, half a revolution of the moon, we have been preparing for this day. We built and fortified our wagon castle, brought supplies and water, laid out weapons, prepared long lances to ward off the attackers, straw for setting fire...

I am scared? No, it's more like tension! We know we would expect a strong opponent, a Roman emperor and his army ... But we have already resisted the Romans in two battles ... we would fight for our lives and our freedom. We all trust Fritigern, our leader, who has guided us so safely so far, who has planned and prepared everything with us. And we have allies hiding in the woods ... We hoped the Romans would run into their doom, not us ... And yet the tension is great!

All of us, all of our people, are locked in the wagon castle. Thousands of wagons form our fortress and it is located on an elevated plateau, which gives a good overview. In front of us is a flat slope, from there the Romans must come. Behind us the slopes are steeper, on the sides there are steep rocks on the left and wooded slopes ascending to the right. Fritigern says: "If each of you fulfills your task, let the Romans come!" I trust him and will not disappoint him.

I am Teja, a young gothic woman from the 'Terwingen' tribe, which the Romans call 'Visigoths'. We are actually a peasant people, but we came across the Danube to seek refuge, protection from the Huns and their cavalry hordes, who attacked and burned our villages. But misery awaited us even among the Romans. We have been roaming around the Roman Empire for a long time. We are actually looking for settlement land that we can cultivate in peace, but now we are always looking for something to eat for our people.

Well, our men are looking for prey too. Jewelry for their wives ... or they look for beautiful girls - that annoys me! Are we Gothic women not good enough for them? But the Romans were allowed to desecrate me for two sacks of grain and some inferior meat ... We were terribly hungry and the roman traders had chosen me ... It was supposed to be me who had to serve them for three long days ... I begged and cried, and yet I had to follow them . "At least you have decent tits," said one. "We want this girl or three others!" I resisted, but finally I had to submit...

I was still lucky in bad luck, other girls never came back; but when I came back I could hardly walk. I didn't count the men I had to serve as a whore ... My lap burned, it hurt so much; I felt so dirty; it was so shameful. I kept crying ... After all, I didn't get pregnant… Since then I’m no longer 'pure' in the eyes of Gothic men ... But did they protect me? No! They threw themselves on the food and simply sent me away as a payment. Only my brother cried like me ... I still shudder at the thought. I never want to end up like this again and that's why I'll fight here!

Our allies are the Greutungs, the Romans call them Ostrogoths. They learned to ride in the steppes, and they are reinforced by the also fleeing Alans, horsemen from the steppe. They all fled from the terrible Huns...

I also learned to ride a horse, learned to shoot with a bow and arrow - I am not a warrior, but I will support my people in the fight against the Romans! And I've learned something from their language, which is useful for peaceful communication or to understand the enemy...

It is my job, together with other women, to set the prepared straw on fire when the Romans storm the slope, so that our men can take care of the defense of the wagon castle. But I am determined to point my arrows at the Romans and their horses as well if they should attack with their cavalry from the left side, where I keep my position protected behind thick boards and watch.

It was a long wait this morning, final preparations, checking everything again, a lot of excitement ... Now it is noon; it will be a hot day, possibly good for us and bad for the Romans.

"The Romans! The Romans! ”I hear excited shouts… And then I see them appear at the foot of the hill, with their shining armor and shields. There are so many and more and more come! It should take over an hour for their troops to arrive and to line up. Some impatient among our ranks demand: “Let us attack the Romans now, before they have gathered and organized. But Fritigern says: "Let them rush up the hill first, that will make them tired!"

We should eat and drink something, there won't be time later. So I drink my water, bite my bread, and wait impatiently. I look down the hill from my wagon hiding place at the Roman armies. There are so many that I get scared. And now I hear their battle cries, it's a loud roar that reaches us on the hill.

Waiting! Then suddenly there is movement, Roman horsemen break out of the forest and start to storm our hill - they come on the left side, it's my side, where I hid myself with, armed with bows and arrows and with fire...

Suddenly our horns sound like a loud roar that echoes against the Romans. But it is not a call to attack, but a call to defense. I look down at the enemy; slowly the whole army begins to move, shield by shield pushing its way up the slope to our wagon castle. But then I concentrate on the cavalry on my side. I lay out the prepared bowl with embers, grab the arrows that have pitch-soaked fabric on their tips, I look at the markings on the slope, wait for the Roman horsemen to reach them.

“Now!” An old man calls from behind my back. I light arrow after arrow and shoot him in the air. I know exactly how to draw and hold the bow to hit the straw. We've practiced this a hundred times, but now it's serious!

I see burning arrows flying everywhere and soon the straw on the slope is also burning. The horses of the Romans shy away, they don't run into the fire, and I hear the Romans cursing ... Then I only see smoke and fire, nothing more can be seen of the cavalry. But further to the right I can still see the Roman legions marching, they are coming higher and higher slowly... and our fires are waiting for them too. On the other side there is a fire now too, were from our view the right wing of the Roman cavalry is attacking us. I see some smoke and fire but I only have a poor view of it.

 

[Eulalia]

I'm liking this a lot, it's a period of history I find fascinating (I'm a fan of Edward Gibbon - his account of the battle, Decline & Fall ch. 26, is up to his usual splendid standard!), and your idea of telling the story from the point of view of a Visigothic girl is an excellent one. I look forward to lots more

In case anyone's wondering where Adrianople (aka Hadrianopolis) was/is, nowadays it's Edirne, in the European bit of Turkey, to the west of Istanbul with the Greek border not far to the west and the Bulgarian close to the north. But in Roman times it was in Thrace.

 

[Rupert_137]

I'm liking this a lot, it's a period of history I find fascinating (I'm a fan of Edward Gibbon - his account of the battle, Decline & Fall ch. 23, is up to his usual splendid standard!), and your idea of telling the story from the point of view of a Visigothic girl is an excellent one. I look forward to lots more

In case anyone's wondering where Adrianople (aka Hadrianopolis) was/is, nowadays it's Edirne, in the European bit of Turkey, to the west of Istanbul with the Greek border not far to the west and the Bulgarian close to the north. But in Roman times it was in Thrace.

Thank you Eulalia for this informations!
Here are the appropriate maps and migratory movements for a better understanding.

The invasion of the Huns in eastern Europe and the migration of peoples that caused it:



The migration of the Gothic tribes in the Roman Empire from crossing the Danube 375 AD to their "permanent" settlement 380/382 AD:

 

[Loxuru]

The thread's name reminds me of a 1964 movie with the same name, a bit forgotten and underrated IMHO.

The Fall of the Roman Empire (film) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

The story plays around 180-190 AD, under the reign of Marcus Aurelius and Commodus, hence about 200 years before the Battle of Adrianople.
But part of the plot is are either the first invasions of Germanic tribes, and the political intrigues that weakened Rome's power from inside.

 

[Rupert_137]

The thread's name reminds me of a 1964 movie with the same name, a bit forgotten and underrated IMHO.

The Fall of the Roman Empire (film) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

The story plays around 180-190 AD, under the reign of Marcus Aurelius and Commodus, hence about 200 years before the Battle of Adrianople.
But part of the plot is are either the first invasions of Germanic tribes, and the political intrigues that weakened Rome's power from inside.

The Romans often had problems with the Germanic peoples. Even before that, they came under distress from the Cimbri and Teutons around 105 BC. And they had a devastating defeat in the 'Varus Battle' in 9 AD in Germania. But none of that seriously shooked them - even if a movie might give that impression - The Roman power didn't really begin to decline until around 400 AD!
There is also a book and a film "A Battle for Rome", but that takes place at a time when the Western Roman Empire has already been overthrown and Rome has been plundered several times by Goths and Vandals.
The title of films and books cannot always be relied on. Nevertheless, thank you very much for the hint!
I want to describe episodes from the real fall of the Roman Empire ... And the battle of Adrianople was only a prelude ...

 

[Rupert_137]

The Great Battle (2) – The Romans’ attack

As if spellbound I look towards the middle of the slope, where the huge Roman infantry is advancing incessantly – so many shields, so many shiny helmets, I could never count them... Suddenly I see arrows flying through the air, our arrows, and moments later that Straw also burned, where I just saw all the Romans with their shields approaching us like a roller. A little later I hear them cursing and coughing, then the attackers hide themselves in smoke and flames.

Suddenly I hear battle cries from our men around me, between the rows of wagons. The first Roman horsemen break through the flames and rush towards us, but their horses seem tired, almost leisurely - but I know that things are getting serious now. Without hesitation, I draw my bow with a sharp arrow. I aim at a horse and wait for it to get closer. When I see it a little from the side, I aim at the flank above the forelegs, where it has no protection ... And I let the arrow fly. I watch the horse straighten up from a gallop, stop and throw off the rider. But other riders run over their comrade lying on the ground. It seems they trample him to death.

I don't have time to be proud of my first arrow shot in this battle; immediately I draw the bow again. So many armed horsemen come up to me. I shoot them at random; I don't have time to watch if my arrows succeed. First Roman attackers reach our wagon castle, where our men greet them with roars, lances and spears. In front of me I see horses collapse and our warriors rush forward, slaying the falling Romans with their battle axes. It is a slaughter, but very dangerous for both sides, because the Roman cavalry also carries spears and long lances with them to attack us.

I shoot arrow after arrow at the Roman horses and their riders, when a spear of the attackers hits into the wooden beam behind which I seek cover. The whirring noise when an iron point hits wood and then gets stuck makes me startle. I suddenly realize how vulnerable I am myself. I am in the middle of a battle for life and death. But I remember, it wasn't up to us women to fight in the front row, we should just start the fire. I won't venture out of cover to shoot my arrows for a while. A whole basket of arrows is waiting next to me, but I am trembling.

The Roman cavalry is still storming against our wagon castle on both sides, but they are repeatedly pushed away by our warriors. From my hiding place I look over at the central battle scene. The Roman infantry, too, are now pushing their way through the straw fires towards us, but their firm order, shield to shield, has already dissolved ... but there are thousands streaming towards our wagon castle...

I think with horror what would happen if they got inside here - we cannot escape! Or if they set fire to our wooden wagons - how are we supposed to defend ourselves? I think of my parents, my little brother and sister, the family ... and of my great brother Roderich, who is somewhere near me between the wagons with his lance to defend our people.

The Roman cavalry on my side has suddenly withdrawn a little, outside of range our spears and my arrows. I put down my at last unused bow and watch what is happening. Surely the Roman horsemen are preparing a second attack ... while their infantry will soon reach our wagons...

Our battle cries ring out as their shields shine in the sunlight and press towards us on my right side. Now it's getting serious I think ... there are too many! But I can still see the Romans collapse in the front row under our lances and spears. Their warriors seem slow and tired - is that really so, or is that just what I wish for? Where is our cavalry going?

But the second attack of their cavalry comes on my side. I am trembling with tension. "Quiet, be quiet!" I tell to myself. Again I take up my bow and arrows. Three armored horsemen storm ahead of the entourage, but I aim at their horses. In quick succession I send my arrows against the horses in front. One horse turns away, another stops, the rider can barely hold on. The third horseman in front continues to storm towards us, but a spear from our defense brings him down.

The Roman horses stir up dust and come closer and closer. Suddenly I hear a loud horn on the slope on my right side. It's our cavalry, I think relieved. Our allies, the Greutungens and Alans, intervene in the battle! It is the sound of their horn to attack.

All Romans suddenly pause; everyone seems to be looking to the left towards the slope. It's like hearing a murmur. Moments later I hear our own horns sounding like an echo - the sign to attack, the moment for most of our warriors to leave the wagon castle!

The fires are down now, only some smoke is still smoldering. I have an almost clear view of the wide slope where the Romans are attacking, but their attack seems to freeze for a moment. Even the Roman cavalry in front of me, which has just rushed towards us in a second wave of attacks, is beginning to remain paralyzed.

After a moment of silence, our warriors begin to scream loudly. I am very moved and scream with them, scream at the Romans in front of me, want to scare them and give me courage...

 

[Loxuru]

I remember this depiction of the battle from my youth's history encyclopedia.



Although the Roman uniforms on the pic above may be from centuries earlier. Dress of the Roman legionnaries in the 4th century may have changed and more have looked like on the right pic below.

 

[Eulalia]

'A hasty and imprudent attack was made by Bacurius the Iberian, who commanded a body of archers and targeteers: and, as they advanced with rashness, they retreated with loss and disgrace. In the same moment the flying squadrons of Alatheus and Saphrax, whose return was anxiously expected by the general of the Goths, descended like a whirlwind from the hills, swept across the plain, and added new terrors to the tumultuous but irresistible charge of the barbarian host ...'

 

[Rupert_137]

'A hasty and imprudent attack was made by Bacurius the Iberian, who commanded a body of archers and targeteers: and, as they advanced with rashness, they retreated with loss and disgrace. In the same moment the flying squadrons of Alatheus and Saphrax, whose return was anxiously expected by the general of the Goths, descended like a whirlwind from the hills, swept across the plain, and added new terrors to the tumultuous but irresistible charge of the barbarian host ...'

Exactly like that! The short version of this battle from a slightly different perspective!

 

[Eulalia]

Exactly like that! The short version of this battle from a slightly different perspective!

It's Gibbon, of course - presumably based on Ammianus Marcellinus.

 

[Rupert_137]

The Great Battle (3) – The Goths strike back

The loud sound of our horns was the signal that we were beginning our attack - yes, instead of continuing to defend our wagon castle against the Roman attacks, we ourselves are going to attack. As if spellbound, I watch our men pull apart the wagons on our front and open aisles to storm out.

The Romans seem to be in shock, the front ranks stop their attack and wait for what to come ... and these are our Gothic warriors. With great shouting, our men rush towards the Roman legionaries. The wagons open on my side too and our men push with long lances towards the Roman cavalry, which has just attacked us.

I cannot see what is happening on our right flank, but I am confident that our cavalry will attack there and harass the Romans from the side ... In front of me the Roman horsemen start a hesitant attack, but beset by a forest of long Gothic lances... They turn off and withdraw. I am amazed, and in deed I will not see the Roman cavalry again in this battle.

I look over to the battle going on in the middle, I see the Roman shields sway, see their legionnaires retreat, but they cannot turn back, behind them parts of their infantry are still pushing up the slope. But the tide has turned, this is the hour of the Goths, the Romans are tottering under our attack, they are simply being slaughtered. Soon their lines of battle dissolve completely before my eyes. As if in panic they try to flee down the slope, where their own men block their way ... and these thousands of Roman infantrists further down the slope cannot intervene in the fight, they cannot support their comrades, they won't come to the rescue. And soon our cavalry will cut off the way for them down the hill too.

“Come help us, your job is done, Teja! We have to take care of the injured,” a woman calls to me from behind. As frightened I turn around, I had forgotten everything around me. Of course, I'm not here to watch excitedly, but to help wherever I can. My bow and my arrows did their job. So I'll take care of the injured and leave the battle to our warriors.

Together with other women and older men, I leave the wagon castle and go to where the battle was just raging. It is a picture of horror, but also of satisfaction. There are dead and seriously injured Roman legionaries everywhere. “We don't take any prisoners, especially none that we have to take care of!” Says one of our older men and pierces a seriously injured Roman with his spear in the chest. I don't like to look at that, I prefer to look around for injured Goths, whom we give water, bandage them on site, or move back to the wagon castle to care for them there.

Children come over and enthusiastically collect Roman armor and weapons. I keep looking at the battle going on below me on the slope, where the fight rages on until the evening, but as I learned later, it was more and more of a slaughter...

I am reassured to see that the fighting is getting further and further away from our wagon castle. We follow at a safe distance and take care of the seriously wounded who are lying on the battlefield. I see blood everywhere, hear men moan, or see them trembling. Everywhere are lances, shields and swords of the Romans...

We help our wounded as best we can, but our old men put an end to the wounded Romans quickly with the spear. Soon I'll be sweating, repeatedly helping the wounded up the slope, getting cloth to bandage and fresh water. The battle beneath me blurs, I hardly notice the calls of our warriors and the screams of the Romans. But as long as I hear the Romans scream, I know that victory is on our side.

Again and again I have to take breaks from my work, it was a hot day and it will be a warm evening. I sit on a stone and look around carefully. I still feel uneasy. I think Roman horsemen could turn back and attack us ... but I can only see our own horsemen in battle. Suddenly I see something that attracts my attention, a group of Roman horsemen on the left at the edge of the forest outside of the battle. They throw something between the trees and then rush off. It seems like a Roman standard with a coat of arms and an eagle to me. But why do they throw their standard away?

They have something to hide! The Roman Emperor, he is fleeing, shoots it through my head. We shouldn't recognize his banner! Just then I see a confused Roman horse grazing nearby. That's it, a sign that I have to act, I guess. I go to the horse very calmly; I stroke it and talk to it well. At first it shines, but then it becomes more trusting. I think to myself: "What did I learn to ride for?"

I know I'm doing something crazy, but a little later I'm sitting on the Roman horse and riding down the slope. “I have to find the imperial standard, the emperor’s banner!” I call out to one of our stunned women, and then I'm gone. The horse carries me without hesitation. Slowly and carefully I trot down the hill.

Further down the slope I meet Greutungen horsemen. They look at me in amazement - of course, what is a young Gothic woman on a Roman horse doing here beside the battle? I immediately raise my hands so they don't accidentally attack me. Then I call out to them: “The Roman emperor, he has fled, you have to follow him!” We speak slightly different dialects, but we can communicate well, the Terwingen and the Greutungen, we are both Gothic tribes.

“Speak warrioress!” Her leader calls to me. Yes, he calls me a warrioress! Obviously he thinks that we Terwingen also have women warriors. So I hastily tell them what I saw and how I came into possession of a horse with a Roman badge. I point to the forest where the Romans fled to.

“How many armed Roman horsemen were there?” One asks. “I saw not many, maybe a dozen.” “Strange, they protect their emperor with such a small force. At least that is inconspicuous ... Well, we are over 20, whether emperor or not, we will follow them!” Their leader shouts. Then he says: "I'm Gillis ... and what's your name, warrioress?" "I'm Teja!" I call out to him. “I hope you watched well. Find the imperial standard, Teja! We're chasing the emperor…” Gillis raises his right arm to me in greeting; then he turns and rides with his men into the forest to follow the fled Romans.

Hopefully none of this was a mistake; I think to myself and look into the forest. I wonder where the standard was thrown away - if it was a Roman standard at all. And if so, hidden Romans could be lurking here everywhere. I look around carefully and tie my horse to a tree at the edge of the forest. Suddenly I hear someone calling my name from behind. It's my brother Roderich!

I'm so relieved, so happy for a moment; my brother is alive and we have found each other among thousands in this gruesome battle. But my brother injured his arm, he says it's not bad, but he needs a break. He too wonders: “What are you doing here on the battlefield, especially on a Roman horse? At first I was frightened that you could be an enemy's horsewoman - well, the Romans don't lead women into battle and I recognized you quickly as my own beloved sister."

I look at him and I'm scared, his whole body is full of blood! But he calms me down; it's the blood of the Romans. I'm tearing some fabric from my skirt, that's all I can find. I have some water in a pig's bladder. Roderich hastily drinks my water. Then I wash and bandage his wound on his right forearm. I greedily slurp the rest of the water myself.

Finally I tell him about my observation and we both go in search of the imperial standard that was thrown into the forest ... if that's not just my obsession.



I'm sorry, but unfortunately I can't find a thumbnail selection when uploading images, as described in the technical guide!

 

[Loxuru]

I'm sorry, but unfortunately I can't find a thumbnail selection when uploading images, as described in the technical guide!

Click 'attach files'.



Select the file from a map, a thumbnail below appears. Click 'insert' left above.



Click 'thumbnail'



Fixed!

 

[Rupert_137]

The great battle (4) – The imperial standard and banner

I've moved away from my chores ... I've taken a Roman horse and made my way down the hill to the edge of the battle, where, as a young woman, I have no business ... All because I made a strange observation? And in a lucky way I met a group of Gothic horsemen and finally even found my brother on the edge of this chaotic battle ... I wonder if it all makes sense.

Yes, it was an interesting observation, but not alone! I also just wanted to get away ... get away because I couldn't stand so much blood and so many dead Romans, even if I couldn't help our own injured warriors anymore ... But seeing their suffering is depressing at some point. Even in our ranks there are serious injured men, which we just cannot help ... except to hold the hand until they die. But there are so many women up there in the wagon castle who can take turns.

Now I'm looking for a Roman standard here in the edge of the forest with my back to the battle. Was that particular staff that the Romans carried into battle of any particular value? At any time there could be danger, scattered Romans could kill me or take me hostage. To fall into the hands of fleeing Romans now would have to be terrible ... they certainly would take cruel revenge on me. As a woman, I am conspicuous here and at the same time an attractive victim. I am glad that Roderich is with me so that I am not alone.

“It should be around here!” I call out to my brother. We look around again - nobody seems to notice us. I pull the horse that has come to me a little further into the forest so that it is not seen. Then we start looking in the bushes. Side by side with one arm apart, we draw serpentine lines to carefully search the entire edge of the forest. But again and again we have to avoid trees or bushes block our way. We search and search and yet we cannot find anything. I feel my brother starts to doubt what I've seen. I'm slowly getting insecure too. Is this the right place? Maybe a little deeper inside the wood?

We take a break… I want to think, to reflect. The battle is still booming over to us in the forest. A nice weather cloud releases the sun and suddenly I see something shimmering in the low light between the bushes, further down, where we haven't looked yet; then it's gone again. I run there excitedly, looking in the bushes and grabbing a stick. As I pull it out, the blow almost hits me: a golden Roman eagle and then a banner - a head with a laurel wreath – Valens, the emperor!



I can hardly believe what I found there, my brother is thrilled too. It is the imperial standard, It is amazing! "We have to get it to Fritigern for sure," I think out loud. We look around again so that no one noticed us. Back to the horse, I get on and Roderich runs alongside me, slowly up the mountain. He wears his Gothic helmet, I raise one hand, I lower my standard, no one should take us for Romans when we approach the wagon castle. I see how the circle of wagons has been opened in many places, there is a lot of activity.

Women, children, old men and wounded look at me in amazement. Triumphantly I lift up the Roman emperor's standard and shout loudly “Victory!” There is instant great excitement, everyone wants to see the banner with the image of the Roman emperor and the shiny golden eagle. The Goths are enthusiastic and I happily trot up and down in front of the wagons with 'my' standard. I feel a little sorry for Roderich, who stands around while I steal the whole show from him. I give him the trophy. He holds it, looks at it and he seems happy, but then he gives it back to me with the words "No, sister, this is all your merit and your honor!"

I get off my horse - yes, it is my horse now! Then our leader Fritigern comes towards me, who is still watching the fading battle from his vantage point, sending messengers with instructions and receiving those who come back. My arrival was not hidden from him. He admires the imperial standard and takes me in his arms. "Girl, how did you do that? You're a heroine!” I almost cry with emotion. "It is for you, it is your victory; you are our leader!" "No, it is for all Goths who have achieved a great victory today!"

Later, when dusk falls and the battle comes to an end, a group of Greutungen horsemen approach the Goth camp. They ask about Fritigern as our leader and about a woman rider on a Roman horse who calls herself Teja. Immediately children come running to fetch me.

“Greetings, warrioress Teja!” Welcomes me Gillis, “Did you find the Roman standard in the forest?” I nod happily “Yes, a standard with a banner and the image of the Roman emperor!” Gillis hugs me, he kisses me on my Cheeks and he hugs me again, he doesn't even want to let go of me. I am touched and embarrassed when he tells me: “You are a great warrioress and a wonderful girl, Teja!”

“Did I fight?” I say what I think with his words. “I only shot a couple of arrows with my bow at the straw and at the Roman cavalry…” “As a woman you won a horse and the imperial banner in this battle! Whether in fight or through resolute and courageous action, it doesn't matter!"

Together we are both taken to Fritigern, where Gillis tells his own story...

 

[Jollyrei]

Very well conceived and written. Looking forward to more of your work.

 

[Rupert_137]

Now I have 'left this story behind' for a long time and not continued... This story was 'no more in my mind' after months of hiatus. But after finishing my current witch story, I just reread my existing text here and found that this story also deserved a reasonable conclusion.

Again, it is about the Fate of a Gothic Girl, but in a slightly different way than it is currently under this title and around the same historical time in the forum 'crucified women'.

This story is about a young woman from the tribe of the Goths who, as a refugee, initially experienced great humiliations, but whose people did not let themselves get down, on the contrary! It were the Goths who brought the proud and powerful Romans to their knees, first in the east and then in the west. But not only that, they wiped out the (Western) Roman Empire... Although they had never planned a conquest, they just wanted to share in the prosperity and power of Rome.

But of course the Romans did not want to share their power and prosperity with the Goths. But they were much weaker than expected towards the Goths and at the same time too arrogant, and besides, they had incompetent emperors... that was their downfall.


I hope this story continues in a few days... Thank you very much for your patience!

 

[Rupert_137]

And here follows the continuation of the story...

The Great Battle (5) – The death of Emperor Valens

Gillis, a group leader from the Greutungs’ cavalry, begins to tell his experiences in front of the Gothic leader Fritigern and in the presence of me, Teja, a young Gothic woman from the Terwings’ tribe, who found the banner of Emperor Valens and saw him escape.

We had hidden ourselves well with our horses in the forest slope above the battle area, but I was at my observation post at the edge of the wood and watched what was happening below me closely. It started with the approach of the Romans, then we saw how Emperor Valens brought his army into formation ... There were an awful lot of Romans. Suddenly, on the side of the hill facing away from us, the Roman cavalry began the attack to rush up to the Gothic wagon castle. A little later all Romans started moving, the huge field of infantry accompanied by cavalry on both sides. The cavalry rushed towards us too, but turned towards the wagon castle without taking any notice of us armed riders.

At last we no longer had to keep our well-rested horses still, because the roar of the Romans drowned out everything. Now it was time to get on the horses and gather at the edge of the forest, around 4,500 mounted Greutungs and Alans were waiting for the Romans in the shady forest. We were outnumbered by the Roman cavalry, but they were split into two wings and their horses were tired from approaching and storming the hill in the early afternoon heat.

We waited until the Roman cavalry began their attack on the wagon castle from both wings, but was repulsed and stopped in a storm of arrows. Everywhere we saw horses collapse, or Romans fall from their horses. It was then that we stepped out of the forest, but the Romans paid no attention to us. So we had a lot of time to form a formation.

Finally, the Roman infantry had stormed the hill and were ready to attack the Goths' wagon castle. This was the moment for our attack because the enemy was totally distracted. We blew our horns to attack and I saw the whole Roman army flinch.

While we stormed into the Roman cavalry and attacked their infantry from the flank, the Goths opened their gates in the wagon castle and began their counterattack. The Romans' confusion was perfect. They had expected a Gothic defensive battle, not their attack ... and certainly not our cavalry.

I concentrated with the group I was leading on the Roman horsemen on our side. We outnumbered them, we had rested horses and rode down the slope as they stormed uphill. Our long lances and spears pierced them and their tired horses. Soon the Roman cavalry lost their formation, they turned and began to flee in a panic down the hill.

I followed them with my cavalry squadron while other parts of our cavalry attacked the Romans from the side in the main battlefield. We killed as many fleeing Romans on their horses as we could. But then we cut off their escape route for their infantry at the foot of the hill. But before we fell in the rear of the Roman infantry, we attacked their cavalry on the other side from behind. They seemed to have suspected that and we only saw fleeing Romans on their horses.

The Roman infantry had lost their flank protection on both sides and we Goths attacked them from four sides. It was a terrible slaughter. The Romans were huddled together. To our advantage, their warriors could not intervene from the middle of the battlefield because they were closely surrounded by their own men. They had to wait in terrible fear until it was their turn to be slain by us Goths.

I only heard their screams. At some point I was tired of killing and I gave my squadron a rest on the battle edge. We were on the lookout for the Roman reserve and a possible return of their cavalry. But all the Romans who could, fled up and away according to the motto "the Goths are coming, save your life if you can." But where was their Emperor Valens?

Then I met Teja, a gothic warrioress from the Terwings on a Roman horse, which puzzled me. She hastily told us about a small group of Roman horsemen who had fled into the forest. Was it really the emperor among them, as the girl had suspected? We had to ride after him. Soon I met another group of Greutungs' riders who joined us, so we were about 40 armed men on horses.

We couldn't lose any time and followed a forest path that led out of the battle to the side. We met a couple of fleeing Romans who we killed, nothing else. Then suddenly there was a clearing with a hut in front of us. Nobody seemed to be there, but then we discovered Roman horses tethered somewhat hidden in the forest. We counted twelve horses ... and yet the Romans hid in the hut and were able to attack us with arrows. I ordered the hut to be surrounded. The Romans did not move and yet I felt that they were watching us closely.

Attacking and storming the hut would certainly have cost too many victims on our side. So I ordered fires to be kindled with brushwood and the wooden hut to be set on fire. We kept us under cover and fired arrows on the roof of the hut, which was soon on fire.

Now I heard her cough and soon the first Romans tried to flee. We struck them down with arrows or killed them when they ran to their horses where we were waiting for them.

Finally the remaining Romans started shooting arrows at us from window hatches, while another group tried again to get to their horses. Their attempts failed miserably.

At last three Romans came out of the hut with their hands raised and they threw their weapons on the ground. A Gothic arrow hit one of them, but I stopped our attack on the Romans and made the men wave to me. They looked tired and very depressed when they stepped in front of me. I called one of my men who knew a little Latin to translate.

At first they hesitated, but then the Romans admitted that their Emperor Valens was badly injured and lay inside the hut. I immediately stormed the hut. There we found the dying emperor, who was looked after by two faithful Romans. We pulled the emperor out of the flames, but for him any help came too late, he died in front of the hut.

I allowed the four surviving Romans to ride away. They should tell their people of the defeat and death of their emperor. "Tell your people that they must respect the Goths, whom they have lied to and betrayed, if they do not want to die like their emperor."


The badly wounded Emperor Valens dies trapped by Goths in the flames of a burning hut

The hut was soon ablaze. We threw her dead emperor back into the flames to allow him to be buried. Before that, I checked his clothes. I found three gold coins that bore his name.

"I would like to give you a coin as our leader, Fritigern, one to the warrioress Teja for her so important hint ... and I would like to keep the last one for myself as a memento, if you as our leader allow it."

Of course, Frittigern agrees... He is probably not quite as satisfied with Gillis’ decision to burn the dead emperor in the hut. But Gillis is not part of his tribe and there are more important things now. Emperor Valens would never again rise up against the Goths.

The Goths' leader praises my commitment and thanks the horsemen of the Greutungs. I'm so proud, especially of the gold coin Gillis gave me. I feel so tired and yet I can hardly sleep that night. We have won, we, the Goths, defeated the Romans and their mighty emperor. And a special coincidence even contributed to the fact that as a girl I had a small but important part in it.


Gold coins with the image of Emperor Valens (Solidus)

Story will be continued...

 

[Rupert_137]

Assessment of the success of the Goths in the Battle of Adrianople

If you consider the Goths' little military experience, their strategy, which led to their victory at Adrianople in 378 AD, was in every way brilliant! Even if the lack of enemy reconnaissance and the arrogance of the Romans favored their defeat.

In fact, in the 2nd Punic War against Hannibal at Cannae in 216 BC a numerically superior Roman army had already been completely annihilated in an 'encircling battle'. The Goths knew nothing about this, but the Romans should have been warned...

In addition to the triumphant military victory of the Goths, the Roman defeat at Adrianople also gave other Germanic tribes the signal 'the Romans are defeatable'. Conversely, Valen's successor Theodosius as well as the Western Roman Emperor Gratian now shied away from a military conflict with the Goths.


After the Great Battle (1) – On the hunt with Gillis

We dismantle our wagon castle and moved south again. The dead Romans began to stink terribly in the summer heat, there were flies everywhere. It was horrific, but we couldn't bury or burn them all, there must have been at least 20,000 dead Romans on the battlefield. We just had to get away quickly. We only buried our own fallen men on the slope of the hill a little away from the battle.

It is a huge entourage of Terwingsn and Greutungs, and some mounted Alans have also joined us. There are so many people who all need to be looked after. We found weapons, equipment and money with the slain Romans, but hardly any food. But further south, Emperor Valens has set up camp, there we can certainly still find parts of his supplies and many other useful things ... but how long will that last?

Equestrian associations form our vanguard and they explore the area. The escaped Roman cavalry could still be hiding somewhere, but it has disappeared without a trace. I also have my own horse now and am faster than the big entourage. Gillis invites me to go hunting with him. I'm enthusiastic. We step away from the big train and move through the woods. I feel safe with Gillis. He shows me how to aim the bow at ducks. And so we make our prey, a few ducks, birds and small animals...

It's warm, I'm sweaty; there is a small river in front of us. I hesitate for a moment, but then I throw off my clothes and plunge into the water, Gillis follows my example. I know that he wanted just the two of us to be together, but I wanted it that way too.

I learned to swim as a child on the Black Sea. Gillis just gets wet on the bank, he can't swim. But I see how his eyes follow me, how he wants to follow me, but I use my advantage and let him wait. When I come back to the bank, he takes me naked in his arms. “You're so beautiful, you're a wonderful woman,” he says and I enjoy it.


Teja naked while bathing

Soon I'll be lying on the bank in the grass and he is kissing my whole body ... He kisses my mouth, kisses my eyes, which I close. He kisses my breasts over and over again, he licks my nipples, he slides his fingers over my skin; he kisses me between the legs ... He sucks in my scent, from my pussy and at my armpits. I think that I still smell of sweat and I feel uncomfortable, but he tells me: "You are like a flower, Teja, but you are even more beautiful and you smell wonderful!" I close my eyes and let it happen.

I think of the Romans who fucked me years before... He is so completely different, so wonderfully different... His hands gently caress my cheeks, they slide down onto my breasts to feel their shape and softness. Suddenly he lies down on me and penetrates me ... it's so good, I want it.


Teja lies naked in the grass, ready for love

He does it very gently and calmly: I feel how he fills me and how he slides inside me. I embrace him with my arms, I want to take Gilles into myself, not let go of him. It's so good after so much suffering I had to endure, after so many deaths I have seen in battle and so much blood.

Unfortunately, he starts moaning far too quickly. "Not yet," I sigh. "Later, we'll do it again ... you're too wonderful, I can't interrupt this now," he groans. Then Gillis lies very quietly on top of me, I wrap my arms and legs around him and I don't want to let him go...

Later, a little cocky, we go naked along the river to hunt ducks and birds. I'm so happy ... and I hit the arrow twice.


Teja naked while hunting

A little later I'm back in the grass on the bank, my legs still in the water. Gillis says: "Come on, Teja, ride me!" I didn't understand what he meant straight away. The Romans I had to serve were my only experience with men so far ... they never wanted me to do anything like that. I should always be somewhere deep below them. He pulls me towards him and I quickly understand what he wants ... I should be above. “Ride me, warrioress” he repeats.


Teja is dreaming naked on the river bank

I get out of the water and lie down on Gillis. He kisses my mouth, but then he says: "You have to sit on me."

I do it and let it invade me again. He grabs my breasts, begins to shape them gently and delicately, then he grabs my hips to slow me down. "Quiet, Teja, now we have a lot of time."

Yes, we have a lot of time ... I try to work his dick with the sphincter muscle of my vagina and I can feel his cock getting bigger and firmer in me. That gets me in the mood, soon I groan with lust and passion. I have to quicken my pace, I need that now. Gillis allows it, but he's not ready yet, not this time, and that's a good thing. When he finally is cumming, I have my second orgasm. It's so wonderful ... I feel respected and loved. Exhausted, I lie on him, enjoy its warm skin and inhale its scent. He caresses my back with his hands down to my bottom.

Gillis doesn't ask me why I'm not a virgin. For him I am a warrioress and it seems natural to him that I have already had other men. But I haven't loved anyone before him. It's the moment that should last forever, but it can't last forever.

He only noticed one thing and he asks me: "You have many small scars on your back, including one on your soft bottom ... certainly not bad, but how did that come about?"

The whip with the many strands and the knots, I think ... and the hard stick on my bum. Actually, I hardly notice the small scars myself; I had almost forgotten them...

“The Romans whipped and beaten me,” I tell him courageously. "I'll tell you another time." Gillis doesn't ask and I don't want to think about it now.


Teja remains lying naked in the grass

I lie naked on the grass for a long time; then the mosquitoes annoy me. I quickly jump into the water and pull Gillis with me. He holds on to my hips while I swim. It's a wonderful day, so beautiful, so peaceful, after so much fear and death, screaming and stench.

As the sun sinks lower, we dress and grab our prey. Then we ride back to the entourage. I feel respected and loved, I feel happy ... I feel like a woman and I sense that in the not too distant future I will be a mother.

In the evening I prepare the food from the freshly hunted ducks, birds and animals with my little sister and my mother for my family and for Gillis, who also brings his own little sister with him. I quickly notice how my brother Roderich is always staring at the beautiful girl. Soon our families from two tribes will be closely connected...


Teja as a young Gothic warrioress

 

[Rupert_137]

Looking back, the Goths are in need (1) – Caught as thieves

It took a lot of work to rebuild our wagon castle for a travel-capable caravan and to move it away from the place of our victorious battle. We take large amounts of weapons and equipment from the Romans, and as far as we can find we also took Roman jewellry and money.

We are now well armed, we have more weapons and Roman equipment than ever before - but unfortunately we cannot eat it, we have to get food and provisions. And we would have to take away the food, because the people here in the Roman province of Thrace will not voluntarily give it to us, not even for the money we have taken. The inhabitants are afraid and flee from us victorious Goths. They did not leave much to eat for us.

Suddenly the men of the Terwings show me respect and some warriors show openly their interest in me as a woman. But they could have shown their interest earlier. I stay with Gillis, who loves me and who really respects me. I don't tell him much about the three days I had to serve the Roman soldiers as a whore, but I don't keep it from him. Gillis doesn't ask, he doesn't want to know more about it.

Nevertheless, right now I keep seeing pictures and memories awaken of how I was abused and humiliated by the Romans of the Danube border troops ... how they only used my body as fuck meat, while as a Goth girl they paid no attention to me. I was just a latrine girl, as the Romans said - a girl who takes in their body fluids.

Bad memories and thoughts... Two years ago Teja had to serve the Romans as a latrine girl for three days so that her family had something to eat.


Teja is serving the Romans, but for the border guards the Goth girl is just sweet fuck meat


The Romans have many unusual desires, but their pleasure is often painful and humiliating for Teja


When Teja's pussy burns from being fucked a lot, she defends herself, but she is simply tied up and then further abused ... It’s not only indescribably humiliating, it is also very painful ... even if Teja is not consciously mistreated or beaten by the border guards.

I annoy myself at my thoughts on the worst days of my life as a whore of the Roman soldiers because I just want to think of Gillis. But I can never completely banish what I have experienced. At least I try to suppress the terrible memories of my misery... Finally I find the time to tell Gillis how it happened that I was whipped as a thief by the Romans. That was just as terrible, but I find it easier to remember because I suffered for my brother...

It was after we crossed the Danube and after my desecration by the Romans so that my family would not have to go hungry. We Goths are still in need, we have far too little to eat. But under no circumstances do I want to serve the Romans again with my body for some inferior food. So I move with my older brother Roderich to the nearby Roman provincial town of Egisos in the hope of getting something to eat for us and our family.

I see with great interest how the Romans live in the province of Thrace, which is now our short-term home. But I also watch with horror how Gothic girls offer themselves to the locals as whores in the streets and in the squares for something to eat. It is humiliating to see this; we Goths are a proud people, but instead of being welcomed and recognized by the Romans, we women become their whores so that we don't go hungry...

I roam the city with my brother, but we have no Roman money and nothing to eat. I have some jewelry with me, but it is a souvenir of the past and I don't want to give it away for a piece of bread. We come to a market square where there are all sorts of goods to buy, things I know and things I have never seen before. We're looking for something to eat that doesn't cost a lot. At a bread stand, we make a fateful plan. I address the dealer with a little Latin that I have learned with the soldiers. I offer him a small, Gothic piece of jewelry in exchange for bread.

The man just laughs. "I get something like that here every day, it has no value to me ... But you are a pretty girl, offer yourself to the men of this city... Get paid for with some money, you'll get bread and maybe even meat for it. But don't expect too much, Gothic whores are currently cheap to get. Only virgins make good money for their first fuck..."

I'm angry and want to spat on the guy... But I reflect. I try to distract the dealer a little longer with an exchange for my jewelry. My brother uses the time to steal some bread. The dealer sends us away and we think it all worked out wonderfully. But when we leave the market, we are suddenly surrounded by a group of Roman guards. “Come with us, you’re thieves,” they say to us.


Guards have observed Teja and Roderich stealing and they are blocking their way

We try to tear ourselves away, but it doesn't help, they drag us to their commander. I'm scared, but the captain is pleased that I've learned some Latin. Without further ado, he says to me: "You are both thieves, you stole bread and for that you have to be severely punished as a deterrent... There are too many starving Goths who steal here!"

The man explains to me that as a well-built girl I am not worth much even as a whore or a slave these days, there are too many Gothic girls who offer their body and services. But my brother was the real thief, he'll sell him on the slave market ... maybe I'll never see him again.

I begin to beg and plead, I tell about our hunger and the plight of the Goths - as best as I can express myself. But none of that helps. "Either we sell your brother as a slave, or we publicly cut off the right hand with which he stole as a deterrent."

I am even more afraid, I am deeply desperate. In my need I try to offer my body to the captain, which I never wanted to do again, but he refuses. "There are many Goth girls in this city who offer their bodies ... Or are you a virgin?" I shake my head in resignation.

"Well, maybe there is a possibility ... If you want to save your brother, you can take all the blame and I will have you publicly whipped as a thieve girl... A naked Goth girl under the whip, that's what people like... And they won't be afraid any longer when they hear you scream and see you bleed. Because you have to know that the people here are afraid of the Goths... You are strangers here and you are far too many. You can help people not to be afraid of you... But that will be very painful."

The offer scares me, I'm angry, I'm desperate. "Please give me some time to think about it." "You have to decide now!" He tells me sternly. "I can whip you one way or the other and have you desecrated too... But I like it when you have the courage and offer yourself as the guilty party ... Because it was your brother who reached for the bread, the guards have watched you both."

I just shake my head, I feel tears. “Come on, Goth girl; let yourself be flogged in front of the people of this city. That gives a nice attraction, give them the fun. Show them that they don't have to be afraid of you... Out of kindness and in recognition of your courage I'll let you and your brother go today... This is an offer that you as a thief will never get again!"

I feel more fear and anger, but I have to submit. The captain makes it clear to me what to expect, I am whipped in public, completely naked, from behind and from the front ... but he does not want me to be scourged ... that would tear my skin... He says it's a mild punishment; it will all heal again... But only if I declare myself guilty and face the punishment… Otherwise I would never see my brother again.

I have no choice. I declare that I was the one who invented the theft and persuaded my brother. He calls a witness and writes down my testimony... My punishment is scheduled for the afternoon of the same day.

The captain explains to me that they have to punish thieves appropriately and harshly... "To see you as a well-built girl whipped naked, that is more attractive for people than it would be possible with your brother... On the other hand, you as a girl may be whipped a little more gently..." He thinks this is a fair trade and a just punishment.

Three dozen lashes with a cane and whips, that's my verdict. I am frightened, am separated from my brother Roderich and locked in a cell. I'm very afraid of what to expect... 36 strokes, it will be a very tough test; I already know that much beforehand.

Finally they come into my cell. "Take off your clothes, girl, people want to see you naked!"

 

[Rupert_137]

Looking back, the Goths are in need (2) – Public flogging as a thief

They picked me up in the late afternoon. I'm being pushed and dragged through the streets to a large square, completely naked. I am gazed at curiously by many people and am shame and shame. I want to hide somewhere, but I can't...


Teja is pushed and dragged naked through the city of Egisos to the place of her flogging...

Finally, I am placed under a wooden frame and I have to tie my hair into two pigtails so that it does not interfere with my punishment. My hands are trembling with fear.

But the Romans are thrilled to see me helpless and completely naked. There are many suggestive remarks that I only partially understand. The word about my imminent punishment has got around, people are pouring in from all sides; I feel ashamed and humiliated. When my hair is tied, I am spread out under the wooden frame and tied to the wooden beams with outstretched arms like legs.

Now there is no more escape, I am being flogged and I feel great fear. I am stared expectantly and curiously from all sides. I hear comments, especially about my breasts and my pussy. For some men my tits are too small, for others they are too naughty, in any case they deserve the whip.

But women also make fun of me, one of them asks: “Where are your tits, Goth girl? I don't see any!" Another woman shouts: "The wool between your legs is pretty ... we should harvest it with a whip!" One of the men asks "Is your pussy as excited as your teats? Do you keep your cunt wet for us, Goth girl? Are you longing for the kiss of the whip?” There is laughter.

Unfortunately, I understand many of the terms they use ... from painful experience. I need to realize that I am here to be humiliated and punished as a Goth girl and a woman ... and for the amusement of the locals and Romans.

I feel deeply ashamed, I want to sink into the ground and disappear, but I am naked and tied for the whip.


Teja is exhibited naked; she is spread out and flogged by the Romans

The captain steps forward, he explains my offense and my punishment, but I cannot understand all of the words. I understand the Latin word 'fur', thief, and 'three sentences of a dozen lashes each'. Then a strong man grabs a cane to punish and stands behind me ... I'm very scared, I want to piss in fear... My heart is pounding up to my neck ... Although I'm naked, sweat drips from my armpits ... But the people around me are happy that I'm getting to be caned.

At a sign, my tormentor hits my bottom with full force. The pain flashes through me, it is biting and cruel. I clench my teeth; pull my ropes, cramp my whole body and I just moan. This is my fault; people want to hear me scream. Now his hits follow in quick succession, he thrashes my buttocks as if he wanted to pound my flesh soft. My bottom is only on fire, but the man keeps beating me. At “nine” he grabs a thicker stick. The people clap and shout "Don't be so gentle, hit the Goth girl's ass bloody!"

The guy wants to know it the next three lashes, he wants to hear my screams and the audience wants to see my bottom bleed. Like lightning its blow through me, I pull the ropes and I roar out my pain. I feel my skin burst and the first warm blood trickling from my bum.

"Show it the thief, hit the Goth girl harder, her cheeky ass should bleed properly," someone shouts again. The guy stretches his arm again; he hits my bottom with all his might. I scream and twitch, my breasts jump and my senses almost fade. I moan and I pant like a dog. At the next, the twelfth blow, I collapse, but there is applause for my brutal tormentor. My bottom has never hurt so much ... and more blood is dripping down.

It's not just blows with a stick that I have received, they are brutal beatings that hit my skin deeply and soak my ass in pain. But I survived the first third of my sentence.


To 'warm her up' Teja is brutally beaten on the buttocks with a cane

Now the guy takes a whip. It is not long, but it has nine strands full of knots, but as promised, it has no claws or splinters. He shows me the whip and is happy about my horror. I realize now it's getting really serious. People fall silent when the sturdy man stands up behind my back again. I can't see the guy, but I feel the first brutal blow, diagonally across my back. I feel like I'm being torn apart. The pain is so intense and strong that I immediately scream out loud.

I don't fight my screams anymore. The audience is thrilled, but they want more than to hear my screams ... they want my blood to flow, they want to see my tits bounce and jump wildly ... They shout that out loud from the crowd

I'm spread out naked and I have no way of turning away or defending myself. But instinctively I jump up a little to absorb the force of the blows and the pain. That makes my breasts bounce up and down. I hardly notice it in fear and pain, but the audience likes it and they make humiliating remarks. Worse still, they are demanding that my 'naughty Goth tits' must be whipped ... that scares me.

It follows blow after blow, my whole back is soaked in pain, because with every blow a whole bundle of whips with the many knots hit my back. I will soon feel my warm blood dripping down. I am desperate, the pain is so intense, every blow is cruel; how am I supposed to endure it until twelve. But at "ten" the brutal attack on my back suddenly stops. The captain gives a sign. I gasp and see everything only blurred. I hope I made it through, but I'm wrong.

I don't realize what is happening behind me. Suddenly I feel a brutal blow between my legs and from there a leather strap shoots up to my stomach. The man used a leather belt to punish me in the area of my sensitive pussy. I scream and I moan. Before I can collect myself again, the next blow hits me between my legs.

Flooded with pain, I lose control of my bladder for a moment. It splashes warm and wet between my legs, I haven't been able to relieve myself since morning. Immediately there is ridicule and laughter from the audience.

Yes, the Romans laugh with glee at my weakness, but many of them demand additional punishment for the 'naughty Goth girl'. I look anxiously at the captain; he shows three fingers with one hand ... that mustn't be true!

So I have to endure three more blows with the wide leather strap between my legs. My pussy opens a little wider with each stroke as my labia swell and the pain gets worse. I try in vain to close my legs, but it doesn't work. The leather claps and hisses a total of five times at the place of my sensitive femininity. It's excruciating beyond words. I just scream hoarsely, almost slump.

To the delight of the audience, however, my tits jump pretty hard after every hit as I throw myself forward. But again and again the ropes pull me back; only my breasts bounce wildly and wildly. The audience laughs and shouts: "Finally whip her boobs, tame her naughty tits!"

I have twelve more blows left, the last sentence, and then I'll have survived it. But I sense what is in store for me now. The man who is supposed to punish me here picks up a long, thin whip and walks to my front slowly.