Notice: This is the official website of the All Empires History Community (Reg. 10 Feb 2002)

  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Register Register  Login Login

The Battle of Arausio - Romans and Cimbri

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
Imperator Invictus View Drop Down
Caliph
Caliph
Avatar
Retired AE Administrator

Joined: 07-Aug-2004
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3151
  Quote Imperator Invictus Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: The Battle of Arausio - Romans and Cimbri
    Posted: 20-Aug-2005 at 01:47
With Cannae in the discussions recently, I thought it might be fun to bring up another of the great defeats of the Roman Republic, often forgotten and rarely talked about these days.

In 105 BC, two Roman armies totaling 80 thousand Legionairres were reported to have been killed by barbarian Germanic tribes, far greater than the loss of Varus' legions.

In the 110s, the Cimbri tribe migrated south and attacked local barbarians of the region. They defeated two Roman armies dispatch to deal with the migration, until finally arriving at southern France to meet two Roman armies commanded by Caepio and Maximus. The friction and non-cooperation between the Roman commanders would doom the day. Eager for personal glory Caepio launched an all out assault against the Cimbri camp, which poorly planned, ended in a virtual slaughter of the Romans. The Cimbri then procceeded against Maximus, routing the remaining portion of the Roman forces. Livy wrote:

...according to Valerius Antias, 80,000 soldiers and 40,000 servants and camp followers were killed near Arausio. Caepio, who had caused the defeat by his rashness, was convicted; his possessions were confiscated (for the first time since king Tarquinius) and his powers abrogated.

The leader of the Cimbri did not proceed into Roman territory, and his tribe were eventually defeated after wandering through Spain, and thus this battle is sometimes forgotten. However, it was far from a minor one, for it shook the foundations of the Republic and allowed men like Marius to rise to power.
Back to Top
Heraclius View Drop Down
Chieftain
Chieftain
Avatar

Joined: 28-Jun-2005
Location: England
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1231
  Quote Heraclius Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20-Aug-2005 at 11:47

 Wow ive never heard of this battle before, I dont understand why this so heavy a defeat is not put alongside the likes of Adrianople and Cannae as one of the worst defeats Rome ever suffered.

 A quick wiki search has given me more info on this battle, its odd that's its so ignored.

A tomb now suffices him for whom the world was not enough.
Back to Top
Komnenos View Drop Down
Tsar
Tsar
Avatar
Retired AE Administrator

Joined: 20-Dec-2004
Location: Neutral Zone
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4361
  Quote Komnenos Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20-Aug-2005 at 12:14
One should mention, that the Cimbri didn't come alone all the way from Jutland. They brought the Teutons with them, and together they beat the Romans at Arausio.

After that they went seperate ways, which turned out to be not such a good idea. The Cimbri were defeated and the whole tribe, men and mice, annihilated by Marius near Milan in 101 BC, after the Teutons had suffered the same fate in the battle of Aquae Sextiae (South of France) in 102 BC.

Edited by Komnenos
[IMG]http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i137/komnenos/crosses1.jpg">
Back to Top
Emperor Barbarossa View Drop Down
Caliph
Caliph
Avatar

Joined: 15-Jul-2005
Location: Pittsburgh, USA
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2888
  Quote Emperor Barbarossa Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20-Aug-2005 at 12:21
Wow, I have never even heard of this battle. This is even greater than Teutoburg Forest or Adrianople, sad howmost historians don't talk about this battle.

Back to Top
Belisarius View Drop Down
Chieftain
Chieftain

Suspended

Joined: 09-Dec-2004
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1296
  Quote Belisarius Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20-Aug-2005 at 13:27
I have never heard of this battle either. It is amazing how the Romans were able to emerge from such losses strong as ever. Well, at least until the end of Pax Romana.
Back to Top
Imperator Invictus View Drop Down
Caliph
Caliph
Avatar
Retired AE Administrator

Joined: 07-Aug-2004
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3151
  Quote Imperator Invictus Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20-Aug-2005 at 14:00
I think it's due to the lack of sources on this battle. Many great battles have probably been "lost" due to no documentation.

After that they went seperate ways, which turned out to be not such a good idea. The Cimbri were defeated and the whole tribe, men and mice, annihilated by Marius near Milan in 101 BC, after the Teutons had suffered the same fate in the battle of Aquae Sextiae (South of France) in 102 BC.


Yeah if the wiki map is accurate, it looks like they went in circles - talk about getting dizzy.






Edited by Imperator Invictus
Back to Top
Cent View Drop Down
Chieftain
Chieftain
Avatar

Joined: 20-Jun-2005
Location: Sweden
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1013
  Quote Cent Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20-Aug-2005 at 14:07
Really interesting, and thanks for sharing it with us Imperator Invictus.
They don't speak enough about the Kurds, because we have never taken hostages, never hijacked a plane. But I am proud of this.
Abdul Rahman Qassemlou
Back to Top
Heraclius View Drop Down
Chieftain
Chieftain
Avatar

Joined: 28-Jun-2005
Location: England
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1231
  Quote Heraclius Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20-Aug-2005 at 14:27
 Rome was extremely fortunate to have such a large population in Italy from which it could replace its losses, like during the Punic wars when casualties were horrendous Rome always had men to replace the fallen, even if eventually they were stretched in terms of manpower.
A tomb now suffices him for whom the world was not enough.
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 9.56a [Free Express Edition]
Copyright ©2001-2009 Web Wiz

This page was generated in 0.125 seconds.