Had the Cimbri overwhelmed Rome, as at one time it seemed inevitable that they would, then European history would have been very different. A sizable Roman garrison was already in the region after subduing. It would take another seven years before they encountered the Romans again, this time on the other side of the Alps, in what is now southern France. It helped that Marius never fought unless the situation favored him, and as a result his army gradually became accustomed to victory. Battle of Arausio (105 BC) For several years after the battle of Noreia, the Cimbri and the Teutons disappear from written record. Thereafter, the grim discipline of the legions was enough to wear down the opposition. The reshaped Roman army eventually worked out how to weather the savage onrush of the initial barbarian assault. Nevertheless, he was a massive improvement on the leaders who had preceded him. Caius Marius was a deeply flawed man - scheming, cautious to the point of cowardice, and quick to claim credit for the achievements of others. Rome also found a commander who could take on the Cimbri. Rome finally realized that their republic faced an existential threat, and made the necessary painful political and military changes that were needed to face that threat. These culminated in the Battle of Arausio in 105 BC when two Roman armies were utterly destroyed. Defeated at Aquae Sextiae.īack Matter by books/horne/soldiers/_back.Partly as a result of poor commanders and partly because the Romans had an innate and misguided belief in the invincibility of their legions, the first battles against the Cimbri were a series of disasters. The Cimbri were almost annihilated, and their king slain. 102, when the Teutones under the king, Teutobod, were totally routed by the Romans under Marius.įought July 30, 101 B.C., between 50,000 Romans, under Marius, and the Cimbri, under Boiorix. It is said that 80,000 Romans fell.įought B.C. 105, when the Cimbri under Boiorix, and Teutones under Teutobod totally routed two consular armies under Caepio and Cn. The victorious Teutones then headed towards Gaul rather than pressing on toward Rome.īattle of Arausio Cimbri-Teutones victoryįought B.C. The teutones were retreating from the Roman territory of the Taurisci on the Danube border when they were informed of an ambushed and turned unexpectedly on, and routed the Romans, whom they far out-numbered. 112 a Roman legion under Carbo, and a tribe of migrating Teutones and Cimbri. Theįollowing year, when the Cimbri passed over the Alps, they met the same fate atįought B.C. Into slavery, and many of the women killed their children and then themselves. He laid an ambush for the TeutonesĪt Aquae Sextie, and then annihilated them. To be elected Consul, and to make very important reforms of the army, before facingįortunately for Rome, the two migrating tribes split up and crossed the Alps atĭifferent passes, so Marius met them separately. It did, however, provide an opportunity for Marius, a long time veteran, The disaster emboldened the Cimbri to aggressively seek Roman territory, and horrified With more than 100,000 Romans killed, and several legions annihilated. The resulting battle of Arausio was an unmitigated disaster, The leaders however, did not cooperate and as a result the legions were annihilatedĪlong with many camp followers. Rome sent two legions to stop them from entering Roman territory. Seven years later, the Cimbri and Teutons were But the worst disgrace was still to come. A large portion of the Roman army wasĪnnihilated and the remainder returned to Rome with stories of the fearsome barbarian Set them up for an ambush, which backfired. The Roman army at first succeeded in driving them away, but later The Romans first met both tribes when one of their allies in the region of Austria O N AND ON THEY CAME, HUNGERING FOR BATTLE Men being over six feet tall, and the women nearly as large. To the Romans they appeared to be giants-most of the Thousand strong and were searching for a new homeland, with their wives, children, andīelongings packed into wagons. Left their homeland in Jutland, possibly due to flooding. The Cimbri, and Teutones, were two Germanic tribes who were thought to have Inhabited by Gauls, and the Germans were confined mostly to northern Germany and Before this time, most of Western Europe was Years hence would overthrow their empire. Rome - versus - Teutones and Cimbri (Germanic Tribes)īy 112 BC, Rome had its first encounter with migrating Germanic tribes, who five hundred
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |