James Baquet

When we try to name the “ancient peoples of Europe,” many get stuck after “Greeks and Romans.” A few may think of “Celts” or “Germans,” but couldn’t say much about them.

This is partially because not that much is known about them, beyond what can be surmised from archaeological evidence. Anything written about them was written by the victors — mainly, the Romans, whose campaigns against greater Europe helped establish the reputations of no less a leader than Julius Caesar, perhaps Rome’s most famous son.

Take the Cimbri. They were probably a Germanic tribe out of Jutland — now part of modern Denmark and Germany — but it seems they also had strong strains of Celtic influence. Along with their allies, the Teutones and the Ambrones, they were at war with the Roman Republic from 113 to 101 B.C.

At Arausio, on Oct. 6, 105 B.C., these rough and ready fighters took down two Roman armies, totalling some 120,000 men in what is considered the worst defeat in ancient Roman warfare. The two Roman forces were camped on the Rhone River. One was led by Mallius Maximus, an inexperienced general. The other was led by Quintus Servilius Caepio, who by law should have been under Maximus’ command. But Caepio was what the Romans called a “novus homo,” a “new man” of low birth who had ascended to a high position by merit. This resulted in an impractical amount of pride that caused Caepio to refuse to obey Maximus merely because he (Maximus) was a patrician.

This lack of order in the leadership had disastrous results at Arausio. In a bid for glory, Caepio attacked the Cimbri unilaterally. The Cimbri trounced his army. Flush with victory, they turned on Maximus’ troop. Backs to the river, the Romans were unable to flee, and few were able to cross the river in their heavy armor. They were slaughtered.

Fortunately for the Romans, the Cimbri’s next encounter was with a Celtic tribe; otherwise they might have entered Italy at a time of great Roman weakness. As it was, the Romans had time to reorganize and to elect a highly skilled general named Gaius Marius to lead them before the Cimbri finally did invade unsuccessfully in 101.

Vocabulary:

Which words above mean:

1. based on physical remains

2. crude but effective

3. member of the upper class

4. from one side, without cooperation

5. excellence, worth

6. elements, traces

7. guessed

8. groups that comprise a tribe, nation, etc.

9. winners

10. gone up, arisen