arminius

Had the Roman general Varius not fallen in to Arminius ambush, things might have been vastly different.

Really, it's a distraction to your main point - the whole legend of Arminius thing is a German nationalist myth.

Most people don't know the story of Arminius so I usually dont get any comments about it.

More of an Arminius figure than some random Joe off the street.

Many times, but foremost is the name Arminius [1].

While in this capacity, Arminius secretly plotted a Germanic revolt against Roman rule, which culminated in the ambush and destruction of three Roman legions in the Teutoburg Forest.

Little did he know that Arminius had been plotting with the Germanic tribes to setup a massive ambush in the forest, where Roman military tactics would prove little advantage.

Likewise, in another major historical incident - this was also basically how Arminius defeated the three roman legions in his famous rout - he caught them in the woods, on ground where they couldn't assume the testudo formation.

Everyone else got a few lucky hits at best, if they could exploit some major mistake (full respect to Arminius in the Teutoburg Forest, that is how it is done, but not every commander was as heedless as Varus).

Arminius left early to "convince the germanic tribes to support the Romans" but secretly lead them into setting up several ambushes.

Interesting I did not know the story of Arminius, and it mirrors in multiple ways the story of Vercingetorix and the battle of Alesia, that was also used in the XIXth century as a "national foundation myth", up to the erection of a giant statue.

Apparently Arminius, the German who betrayed the Romans in Teutoburg, served in the Roman forces during the Illyrian Revolt.

The Germans during Arminius’ period were up to a foot taller than the Romans.

Arminius had the heads of his victims nailed to trees: it provided a telling psychological message that was not lost on Rome.