Barbaricum atque immane gemunt (...)

Around AD 98, the roman historian Tacitus wrote a little essay called "De situ ac populis Germaniae", better known under the name of "Germania". He describes the folks who will soon infiltrate the whole Empire and give birth to medieval Europe, a few centuries later. Despite the negative way the Barbarians are often depicted, Tacitus acknowledges their sense of loyalty and purity of morals, as opposed to the corruption then prevailing in Rome. The title is borrowed from Silius Italicus (AD 26-101) and means : "They push a horrible shout like the Barbarians".