Battle of Vercellae facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Vercellae |
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| Part of the Cimbrian War | |||||||
 Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, The battle of Vercellae, from the Ca' Dolfin Tiepolos, 1725-1729 |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Roman Republic | Cimbri | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Gaius Marius Quintus Lutatius Catulus Lucius Cornelius Sulla |
Boiorix † Lugius † Claodicus (POW) Caesorix (POW) |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 52,000–54,000 soldiers (legionaries and auxiliaries) | 120,000–180,000 warrior including 15,000 cavalry (400,000 including civilians) | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
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1,000 killed 300 killed (Florus) |
160,000 killed (Livy) 140,000 killed (Orosius) 60,000 captured 120,000 killed (Plutarch) 60,000 captured 100,000 killed or captured (Paterculus) 65,000 killed (Florus) |
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The Battle of Vercellae was a huge fight on July 30, 101 BC, in northern Italy. A group of tribes, mainly the Cimbri, led by their king Boiorix, fought against the Roman Republic army. The Roman army was commanded by two important generals, Gaius Marius and Quintus Lutatius Catulus. This battle was the final big event of the Cimbrian War. It ended the threat these tribes posed to Rome.
Contents
The Cimbrian War: A Quick Look
How the War Started
Around 113 BC, a large group of tribes called the Cimbri and Teutones moved into areas near Rome. They came from northern Europe. They invaded Noricum, a place in modern-day Austria and Slovenia. The people living there, the Taurisci, were friends with Rome.
Rome sent an army to make them leave. But in a battle called battle of Noreia, the Roman army was completely defeated. This was a terrible loss for Rome.
Early Roman Defeats
After their victory, the Cimbri and Teutones moved towards Gaul (modern France). In 109 BC, they met another Roman army. The Romans lost again in a battle near Arausio. This was a big embarrassment for Rome.
The tribes then moved to southwestern Gaul. Rome sent more armies to stop them. In 107 BC, the Romans fought the Cimbri near Toulouse. The Romans won that fight. But a few days later, they were ambushed and lost again in the Battle of Burdigala.
The Worst Defeat at Arausio
In 106 BC, Rome sent its biggest army yet. Two Roman commanders, Quintus Servilius Caepio and Gnaeus Mallius Maximus, were supposed to work together. But they didn't get along. Caepio refused to take orders from Mallius Maximus.
Because they were divided, the Roman armies were easily defeated. The tribes attacked Caepio's army first, then Mallius Maximus's. The Battle of Arausio was one of Rome's worst defeats ever. It was as bad as the Battle of Cannae during the Punic Wars.
Marius Takes Command
After these defeats, Rome needed a strong leader. In 104 BC, they chose Gaius Marius to lead their army. Marius was a very skilled general. He spent time training his soldiers and making them stronger.
While Marius was preparing, the Cimbri and Teutones seemed to be heading for Italy. But they didn't arrive right away. Marius used this time to make allies. One of his officers, Sulla, convinced the Marsi tribe to join Rome.
In 102 BC, Marius finally fought the Teutones and Ambrones in Gaul. He completely crushed them in the Battle of Aquae Sextiae. Meanwhile, Marius's partner, Quintus Lutatius Catulus, kept the Cimbri from entering Italy.
Getting Ready for Battle
Armies Meet in Italy
By July 101 BC, the Cimbri were moving along the Po River in northern Italy. Marius and Catulus had joined their armies. They set up camp near Placentia. Marius was in charge because he had been elected consul (a top Roman leader) for the fifth time.
The Cimbri sent people to talk to Marius. They wanted land to settle on. Marius refused. He even showed them captured Teuton leaders to scare them. Neither side truly wanted peace. The Romans didn't want to give up their land. The Cimbri thought they were stronger.
Choosing the Battlefield
Over the next few days, the armies moved around. Marius waited for the perfect spot to fight. He chose a wide, open area called the Raudine Plain, near Vercellae.
Marius met with the Cimbri king, Boiorix, to agree on the time and place for the battle. Marius had about 52,000 to 54,000 soldiers. The Cimbri had many more, possibly 120,000 to 180,000 warriors. Historians today are not sure about the exact numbers, but the Cimbri definitely had more fighters.
The Final Talks
Marius and Catulus had placed their army in a good spot near the Po River. They wanted to stop the Cimbri from going deeper into Italy. Marius, being the senior commander, led the combined force.
The Cimbri sent messengers to the Roman camp. They asked for land for themselves and their allies. Marius asked which allies they meant. When they said the Teutones, Marius showed them captured Teuton kings. This surprised the Cimbri.
King Boiorix then decided it was time to fight. He met Marius and offered battle. Marius let Boiorix choose the time and place. He told him to meet near Vercellae, on the Raudian Plain.
Where the Battle Happened
Most historians believe the battle took place near the modern city of Vercelli, in northern Italy. Some think "Vercellae" might have meant any mining area where two rivers met.
These historians suggest the Cimbri might have followed the Adige river after crossing the Brenner Pass. This would place the battle near Rovigo in the Polesine region. However, items found near Borgo Vercelli, close to the Sesia river, support the traditional location. Another possible spot is Roddi, in the province of Cuneo.
The Battle Begins
On July 30, 101 BC, the Roman army marched onto the Raudine Plain. Marius divided his army. His 30,000 to 32,000 experienced soldiers formed the sides of the army. Catulus and his 20,000 to 24,000 less experienced troops were in the middle.
Marius led the left side, and Lucius Cornelius Sulla commanded the cavalry on the far right. Marius was smart about how he set up his army. He made sure the Cimbri would have the morning sun in their eyes. The wind also blew dust towards the Cimbri, making it hard for them to see.
The Cimbri arrived second. They marched onto the plain in a huge square shape. Their 15,000 cavalry (horse soldiers) rode in front.
Before the fight, Marius made a promise to the gods. He said he would sacrifice 100 animals if Rome won. Catulus also promised the spoils of the day to the gods.
Roman Tactics
The Romans stood still, letting the sun reflect off their bronze helmets. This made the Cimbri think the sky was on fire, which made them nervous. Because the Romans held their ground, the Cimbri had to march further. This made them tired before the fight even began.
Sensing the Cimbri's worry, the Romans attacked. Marius led his side against the Cimbri's right. He marched into a huge cloud of dust. When he came out, he found the main battle was happening somewhere else.
The Cimbri had charged forward in a big wedge shape towards Catulus's center. Their cavalry was in front. The Cimbri cavalry then suddenly turned right. They hoped to trick the Romans or go around their sides. Some Roman soldiers chased after them.
Roman Victory
But the Cimbri horsemen were surprised by the excellent Roman cavalry led by Sulla. The Cimbri horses were pushed back into their own infantry. This caused a lot of confusion among the Cimbri.
Seeing this, Catulus ordered his legions to attack. They threw their pilums (heavy spears) into the disorganized Cimbri ranks. Then, the Roman soldiers drew their swords and fought hand-to-hand. The other parts of the Roman army moved in from the sides. This trapped the Cimbri.
The Roman forces were smaller, but they were better trained and more disciplined. Roman soldiers were very good at close-quarters fighting. The summer heat also bothered the Cimbri, who were not used to fighting in such warm weather.
The battle quickly turned into a complete defeat for the Cimbri. The fighting stopped only when the Cimbri began to surrender in large numbers. King Boiorix and his nobles fought to the end and were all killed. The Romans had won a huge and amazing victory.
What Happened Next
End of the Germanic Threat
The victory at Vercellae, along with Marius's win at Aquae Sextiae the year before, ended the threat from these tribes. The Cimbri were almost completely wiped out. Marius claimed to have killed 100,000 warriors. Many thousands, including women and children, were captured and enslaved. Some of these captured children might have been among the rebelling gladiators later in the Third Servile War.
The news of this great victory reached Rome thanks to Marius's brother-in-law, Gaius Julius Caesar. He was the father of the famous Julius Caesar.
Who Gets the Credit?
Marius and Catulus soon argued about who deserved the most praise. Marius tried to take all the credit, which was his right as the main commander. But Catulus took people from a nearby town to the battlefield. He showed them the bodies of the Cimbri. Many still had Roman spears in them, and most of these spears had the marks of Catulus's soldiers.
In the end, Marius and Catulus held a joint Triumph (a victory parade). Marius received most of the praise as the overall commander.
Political Changes in Rome
This battle had big effects on Roman politics. The main reason Marius had been elected consul so many times (from 104 BC to 101 BC) was to deal with the Germanic threat. Now that the war was over, his political opponents gained power.
Even though Marius was very popular after Vercellae and was elected consul again for 100 BC, his political power began to fade. The end of the war also started a rivalry between Marius and Sulla. This rivalry would later lead to Rome's first major civil wars. Sulla's reputation grew a lot because of his role in the Vercellae victory.
Right after the battle, Marius gave Roman citizenship to his Italian allied soldiers. He did this without asking the Senate (Rome's governing body) for permission. When some senators questioned him, he said that in the heat of battle, he couldn't tell a Roman's voice from an ally's. From that day on, all Italian legions were considered Roman legions.
This was the first time a winning general openly went against the Senate. But it wouldn't be the last. Later, Sulla would march his troops into Rome itself. And Julius Caesar, when told by the Senate to give up his command, instead led his army across the Rubicon river. This started a civil war that led to the end of the Roman Republic.
In Literature
- Colleen McCullough writes about this battle in her book The First Man in Rome. This book is part of her Masters of Rome series. It focuses on Marius's rise to power.
See also
- List of Roman wars and battles
Images for kids
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Alexandre-Gabriel Decamps, The defeat of the Cimbri, 1833
