Summary

The Cimbri were a Germanic people who, together with the Teutones and the Ambrones, fought the Roman Republic between 113 and 101 BC.[1] The Cimbri were initially successful, particularly at the Battle of Arausio, in which a large Roman army was routed, after which they raided large areas in Gaul and Hispania. In 101 BC, during an attempted invasion of Italy, the Cimbri were decisively defeated by Gaius Marius, and their king, Boiorix, was killed. Some of the surviving captives are reported to have been among the rebelling gladiators in the Third Servile War.[2]

Roman sources such as Strabo and Tacitus identify these Cimbri with a group living in Jutland, but strong evidence for this connection is lacking.

John Evelyn mentions the Cimbrians during his visit to Rome:

“On the balustrade, the trophies of Marius against the Cimbrians, very ancient and instructive.”

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Sources

  • Diary