The Heiðinn Chronicles - Teutoburg The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, also known as the Varian Disaster, was a significant event in history that took place near modern Kalkriese from September 8–11, 9 AD. This battle was between Germanic tribes and the Roman Empire. An alliance of Germanic peoples, led by Arminius, ambushed three Roman legions and their auxiliaries, which were led by Publius Quinctilius Varus. Arminius was a Germanic officer of Varus’s auxilia who had acquired Roman citizenship