Eh, I've read conflicting sources. In general, Rome was a triple threat to any group that wouldn't just fall in line with them.

First and most obviously, there's military subjugation. If that failed, the Romans were astoundingly astute at exploiting a group's traditional foes-- "Oh, you've been fighting this tribe for generations? Cool, we're gonna go hire them out or annex them, and bring both of you in line!" Few things served them better in terms of bolstering their own forces than taking advantage of the locals, and a bit of bribery always helped to grease that path further. Lastly: Rome was amazing at propaganda, and this is one of those facts that, along with other biases that we have to keep in mind when reading the old Roman authors: while they are trying to record information, there's a fair chance that any given statement is designed to be less "accurate" in a strict sense and edge more towards an awe-inspiring or potentially intimidating picture of Rome. With this in mind, there are a couple different interpretations:

1. Those obstinate German tribes are particularly troublesome, and go so far as to make collaboration punishable by death to ensure that we cannot get a secure foothold in the region.
2. Despite the relative difficulty we've had pushing into the Germania, the tribes there are so afraid of us that any attempt on the part of one of their tribesmen to aid us is an executable offense should it be discovered.
3. Having learned from our propensity to bolster our own forces with the tribes' traditional enemies, the German tribes are now attempting to ensure that there is more to be lost by the tribesmen than gained by them should they aid Rome.

I'm not entirely sure which of those accounts I'm inclined to believe match up with the statements made by Tacitus. Anyway, just some stuff to ponder.

HERP DERPING INTENSIFIES

Electrons wander to Protons.

*Slow clap*
That was beautiful, old friend.

Thanks, Z. It was fairly timely that Tortor should have brought it up, because I was just having a similar sort of discussion a day or two ago with someone else.

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The fuck.

This thread shall not be destroyed!