The image of A. is highly influenced by the epithet ‘Liberator of Germania’ (liberator haud dubie Germaniae, Tac. Ann. 2,88), coined by Tacitus. A. was of a noble family of the (stirps regia, Tac. Ann. 11, 16) Cherusci, he was son of Segimerus, lived to the age of 37 and held a position of power (potentia, Tac. Ann. 2,88) for 12 years. Based on this information, the most probable years of his birth and death were 16 BC and AD 21, respectively.
Biographical information up until the battle with Varus (AD 9) is sparse. As leader of German tribes (ductor popularium), A. learned La…