Battle of Aquae Sextiae facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Aquae Sextiae |
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| Part of the Cimbrian War | |||||||
 John Harris Valda: The Battle of Aquae Sextiae in 102 BC |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Teutones Ambrones |
Roman Republic | ||||||
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Teutobod  |
Gaius Marius | ||||||
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The Battle against the Ambrones The Battle of Aquae Sextiae c. 100,000–200,000 (the warriors of the entire tribal coalition) |
The Battle against the Ambrones The Battle of Aquae Sextiae c. 32,000–40,000 (six legions + auxiliaries) |
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The Battle of Aquae Sextiae was a very important fight in ancient times. It happened in 102 BC near what is now Aix-en-Provence, France. This battle was part of the Cimbrian War, where the Roman Republic fought against powerful Germanic tribes. After several tough defeats for the Romans, their general, Gaius Marius, finally led his army to victory. They defeated the Teutones and Ambrones tribes, who were trying to move into Italy. This win was a huge relief for Rome and helped secure its borders.
Contents
Why the Battle Happened
The Wandering Tribes
Around 120–115 BC, two large Germanic tribes, the Cimbri and the Teutones, left their homes near the North Sea. They were looking for new lands, possibly because of climate changes. As they traveled south, other tribes joined them, making their group even bigger.
First Clashes with Rome
In 113 BC, these tribes reached Noricum, an area allied with Rome. The local people asked Rome for help. The Romans sent an army, but in a battle called the Battle of Noreia, the tribes completely defeated them. This was a big shock for Rome.
More Roman Defeats
After this victory, the Cimbri and Teutones moved towards Gaul (modern-day France). The Romans sent more armies to stop them. However, the Romans suffered more humiliating defeats.
- In 109 BC, at the Battle of Arausio, the Romans lost again.
- In 107 BC, at the Battle of Burdigala, another Roman army was destroyed.
- The worst defeat came in 105 BC, again near Arausio. Two Roman armies, led by generals who didn't get along, were completely wiped out. This was one of the biggest losses in Roman history.
Marius Steps Up
Rome was very worried. They needed a strong leader. So, in 104 BC, they chose Gaius Marius to be a consul (a top Roman leader and general). Marius was a skilled general who had just won a war in Africa. His job was to rebuild the Roman army in Gaul from scratch.
Marius was very smart. He changed how the Roman army worked, making it stronger and more professional. He trained his soldiers very well. He also allowed men who didn't own land to join the army, which made the army much larger. He set up a base near a town called Aquae Sextiae and prepared his troops.
The Tribes Split Up
In 102 BC, the Teutones and Ambrones decided to move into southern Gaul, while the Cimbri went towards Italy. Marius decided to face the Teutones and Ambrones first. He sent his partner, Quintus Lutatius Catulus, to guard Italy against the Cimbri.
Getting Ready for Battle
Marius's Smart Plan
The Teutones and Ambrones, led by King Teutobod, crossed a river called the Durance. Marius and his army were already there. Marius had built a very strong fort on a hill near the river. It was well-supplied, so his army could stay there for a long time.
The tribes tried to make the Romans come out and fight. They shouted insults and challenged Marius. But Marius was too smart for that. He knew his position was strong, and he wanted to fight on his own terms. He told his soldiers to ignore the taunts.
One Teuton warrior even challenged Marius to a one-on-one fight. Marius just laughed and sent a trained gladiator instead, saying it was beneath a Roman consul to fight like a common brawler.
The Tribes Move On
After failing to trick the Romans into leaving their fort, the tribes tried to attack it for three days. But the Roman defenses were too strong. The Romans fired arrows and spears, killing many attackers. Since they couldn't break through, the tribes decided to move south towards Massilia to plunder it.
Marius waited until the entire tribal group had passed. Then, he followed them carefully. Each day, he made his soldiers build a strong, fortified camp. The tribes, remembering their losses at Marius's first fort, never tried to attack his camps again. Marius was waiting for the perfect moment to strike. He found his chance when the tribes entered the area of Aquae Sextiae.
The Big Battle
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First Fight: Against the Ambrones
A few days after crossing the Rhone, Marius's army camped near the Ambrones. The Ambrones had camped separately from their Teutonic allies. Some Roman servants went to the river for water and found many Ambrones bathing. A fight broke out.
Marius's Ligurian allies, without waiting for orders, rushed to help their friends. The Ambrones quickly formed a battle line. Both sides started shouting their battle cry: 'Ambrones!' The Ligurians had once been called Ambrones too, so they shouted it back!
Marius quickly brought his main legions to help. When the Roman soldiers arrived, they threw their pila (heavy throwing spears) at the Ambrones. These spears could kill or make shields useless. Then, the Romans pulled out their gladius (short swords) and charged. The Ambrones were no match for the well-trained Roman legions. They were quickly pushed back towards the river and suffered huge losses. The Romans had very few casualties.
Marius's Next Move
Marius didn't let his soldiers celebrate. He knew the Teutones were still nearby and feared a counter-attack. It was too late to finish building their camp, so the Romans were vulnerable. Marius sent a small group into the woods to make a lot of noise. This was to confuse the barbarians and keep them from sleeping, making them tired for the next day. Luckily, the next few days passed without any attacks.
Marius then sent one of his officers, Claudius Marcellus, with 3,000 soldiers. He told them to hide and wait for a signal to attack the enemy from behind.
The Main Battle
Marius chose a good spot for the main battle: a plain near Aquae Sextiae with a hill. He marched his army onto the hill. He told his soldiers to hold their ground, throw their javelins, then draw their swords and push the enemy back. He knew that charging uphill would make the barbarians tired and unsteady.
To make his army look bigger, Marius had his camp servants and non-fighters march with the army. He even had his pack animals dressed up to look like cavalry horses. This made the barbarians hold back some of their own warriors, thinking the Romans had more troops.
The surviving Ambrones and the Teutones were eager for revenge. They charged uphill at the Romans. The Romans threw their javelins, then fought with their swords. The Roman training and discipline were too strong. The barbarians couldn't push them off the hill.
The battle lasted for hours. Slowly, the Romans pushed the tribal warriors down the hill onto level ground. This was the moment Claudius Marcellus and his 3,000 men attacked the enemy from behind, making a lot of noise. The Ambrones and Teutones were now attacked from two sides. They panicked and tried to run, but most couldn't escape. Many were killed or captured. Even King Teutobod was caught later and handed over to Marius.
Marius sent a report to Rome saying that his 37,000 well-trained Romans had defeated the Teutons in two big fights.
What Happened Next
Many of the captured warriors, women, and children were sold. Marius decided to give the money from these sales to his soldiers and officers. This made him even more popular with his troops.
When Rome heard the news, everyone was incredibly relieved and happy. Finally, a Roman general had defeated the Germanic tribes! Gaius Marius was elected consul again, even though he wasn't in Rome at the time. The Roman Senate also declared a three-day thanksgiving celebration, and the people added two more days.
The next year, in 101 BC, Marius and his partner Quintus Lutatius Catulus defeated the Cimbri at the Battle of Vercellae. This finally ended the threat from these powerful Germanic tribes.
In Fiction
- Colleen McCullough writes about this battle in her novel The First Man in Rome. It's the first book in her Masters of Rome series.
