Speaking about the ability of Roman legions to repel ambushes, we often use the case of the Teutoburg battle of 9 AD is considered. However, is the Teutoburg battle the only one of its kind, which we can use as an example of judge the combat effectiveness of the Roman legions in an ambush and battle in a forest area? What if you take a corps of legions and put them in conditions similar to the Teutoburg events, but with one single changed variable - these legions perfectly understand that they are situated through hostile territory and have no illusions about covering the flanks - something that the legions of Quintilius Varus were deprived of. And in history there really is such an example.

Until recently, the forgotten battle of the 3rd century finally found its rebirth after the discoveries made in modern Saxony in 2008. So, what interesting and unusual details not only of the battle, but also of the state of the Roman armies of the first half of the 3rd century we can find in Harzhorn.

Literature:
1. Frank Berger, Felix Bittmann, Michael Geschwinde, Petra Lönne, Michael Meyer, Günther Moosbauer: Die römisch-germanische Auseinandersetzung am Harzhorn (Lkr. Northeim, Niedersachsen). In: Germania. 88, 2010, S. 313–402.
2. Gustav Adolf Lehmann: Imperium und Barbaricum. Neue Befunde und Erkenntnisse zu den römisch-germanischen Auseinandersetzungen im nordwestdeutschen Raum – von der augusteischen Okkupationsphase bis zum Germanien-Zug des Maximinus Thrax (235 n. Chr.). Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Wien 2011, ISBN 978-3-7001-7093-8, S. 102 ff.
3. Günther Moosbauer: Die vergessene Römerschlacht. Der sensationelle Fund am Harzhorn. C.H. Beck, München 2018, 201 s.
Sources:
4. Historia Augusta XVIII – XIX:
https://ryanfb.github.io/loebolus-dat...
5. Herodian, Roman History (in eight books): https://www.livius.org/sources/conten...