Cimbri facts for kids
The Cimbri were an ancient tribe in Europe. Old writings describe them in different ways: some say they were Celtic people, others say they were Germanic people, and some even thought they were Cimmerian. Many old sources suggest they lived in Jutland, which is a peninsula in Denmark. This area was sometimes called the Cimbrian peninsula in ancient texts. We don't have direct proof of the language they spoke. However, some experts believe it was a Germanic language, while others think it was Celtic.
The Cimbri, along with the Teutones and the Ambrones, fought against the powerful Roman Republic from 113 BC to 101 BC. This conflict is known as the Cimbrian War. The Cimbri had early success, especially at the Battle of Arausio, where they completely defeated a large Roman army. After this, they raided many areas in Gaul (modern France) and Hispania (modern Spain). In 101 BC, they tried to invade Italy. But they were soundly defeated at the Battle of Vercellae by the Roman general Gaius Marius. Their king, Boiorix, was killed in this battle. Some of the Cimbri who were captured later became gladiators and were part of a rebellion known as the Third Servile War.
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What's in a Name?
The exact meaning of the name Cimbri is not fully known. One idea is that it comes from an old word meaning "inhabitant" or "person from home." This is similar to the English word "home."
Another idea connects the name to the word kimme, which means "rim." This would suggest they were "the people of the coast." For a long time, people have also linked their name to the Cimmerians, another ancient group.
The name of a region in Denmark called Himmerland is thought to come from the Cimbri. Some believe the "C" in Cimbri was an older way of saying a sound that later became "H" in Germanic languages.
It's important to know that the Cimbri are not related to the Cymry, which is the Welsh name for themselves. The Welsh name means "compatriots" or "fellow countrymen" and comes from a different language root.
History of the Cimbri
Where They Came From
Most experts believe the Cimbri originally came from Jutland in Denmark. However, archaeologists haven't found clear signs of a huge migration from Jutland during the early Iron Age. The Gundestrup Cauldron, a famous ancient pot found in a bog in Himmerland, shows that people in this area had some contact with southeastern Europe. But we don't know if this contact is directly linked to the Cimbri's battles against Rome.
Ancient Greek and Roman writers also connect the Cimbri to the Jutland peninsula. For example, the Roman Emperor Augustus wrote that the Cimbri were still in that area around 1 AD. He mentioned that they sent messengers to him, seeking friendship with Rome.
The Greek geographer Strabo also wrote that the Cimbri were still a Germanic tribe living in the "Cimbric peninsula." He said they lived near the North Sea and paid taxes to Augustus. Strabo even mentioned that the Cimbri sent a special kettle to Augustus as a gift, asking for peace.
On a map by Ptolemy, the "Kimbroi" are shown at the northern tip of Jutland, in the area known today as Himmerland.
Their Great Journey
Some time before 100 BC, many Cimbri, along with the Teutons and Ambrones, began moving southeast. After some tough battles with the Boii and other Celtic tribes, they arrived in Noricum (modern Austria) around 113 BC. Here, they invaded the lands of the Taurisci, who were allies of Rome.
The Roman consul Gnaeus Papirius Carbo was sent to protect the Taurisci. The Cimbri agreed to leave, but then they were tricked and attacked by the Romans at the Battle of Noreia. The Cimbri fought back and defeated the Romans. Only a sudden storm saved the Roman army from being completely destroyed.
Invading Gaul
After their victory, the path to Italy was open. But the Cimbri turned west towards Gaul (modern France). They often clashed with the Romans there, and the Romans usually lost. In 109 BC, they defeated a Roman army led by Marcus Junius Silanus. In 107 BC, they defeated another Roman army, and its leader, Gaius Cassius Longinus, was killed at the Battle of Burdigala (modern Bordeaux) by the Tigurini, who were allies of the Cimbri.
Attacking Rome
It wasn't until 105 BC that the Cimbri planned a direct attack on the Roman Republic itself. Near the Rhône river, the Cimbri met the Roman armies. There was a lot of disagreement between the Roman commanders, Quintus Servilius Caepio and Gnaeus Mallius Maximus. This made it hard for the Romans to work together.
Because of this, the Cimbri first defeated a Roman officer named Marcus Aurelius Scaurus. Then, they delivered a terrible defeat to Caepio and Maximus at the Battle of Arausio. The Romans lost as many as 80,000 soldiers, according to some ancient writers. Other estimates are lower, but it was still a huge loss for Rome.
Rome was in a state of panic. People feared the "terror Cimbricus," which became a famous saying. Everyone expected the Cimbri to soon be at the gates of Rome, just like the Gauls had been centuries before. Rome took extreme measures: Gaius Marius, a successful general, was elected consul and supreme commander for five years in a row. This was against Roman law, but they were desperate.
The Final Defeat
From 104 to 103 BC, the Cimbri moved into the Iberian Peninsula (modern Spain and Portugal). They raided many places until they were stopped by a group of local tribes called the Celtiberians. After being defeated, the Cimbri returned to Gaul and joined their allies, the Teutons. This gave Gaius Marius time to prepare his army.
In 102 BC, Marius was ready to face the Teutons and Ambrones near the Rhône river. These two tribes planned to enter Italy through the western mountain passes. The Cimbri and the Tigurines were supposed to take a northern route across the Rhine river and then over the Central Eastern Alps.
Near the Isère river, the Teutons and Ambrones met Marius. They couldn't capture his well-protected camp. So, they continued their journey, and Marius followed them. At Aquae Sextiae, the Romans won two battles and captured the Teuton king Teutobod.
Meanwhile, the Cimbri had crossed the Alps into northern Italy. The Roman consul Quintus Lutatius Catulus had not dared to defend the mountain passes and had retreated behind the Po river. This left the land open to the invaders. But the Cimbri didn't rush, which gave Marius and his victorious army time to arrive with reinforcements.
The long journey of the Cimbri finally ended at the Battle of Vercellae. This battle took place where the Sesia river meets the Po river in 101 BC. It was a devastating defeat for the Cimbri. Two of their leaders, Lugius and Boiorix, died in battle. Other leaders, Caesorix and Claodicus, were captured. The Cimbri army was destroyed.
However, some Cimbri might have survived and returned to their homeland. As mentioned earlier, a group with the Cimbri name was still living in northern Jutland in the 1st century AD. Some captured Cimbri were later among the rebellious gladiators in the Third Servile War.
Later Mentions and Possible Descendants
According to Julius Caesar, a Belgian tribe called the Atuatuci were descendants of the Cimbri and Teutoni. Caesar wrote that when the Cimbri and Teutons marched into Roman territory, they left behind some of their people and belongings near the Rhine river. These 6,000 men were meant to guard their things. This group founded a city called Atuatuca.
Today, the people of Himmerland in Denmark claim to be the descendants of the ancient Cimbri. A famous Danish author, Johannes V. Jensen, who was born in Himmerland, wrote a novel about the Cimbri's adventures called Cimbrernes Tog (1922). There's also a sculpture called the "Cimbrertyren" in Aalborg, the main city of North Jutland, which was put up in 1937.
There is also a German-speaking group in Italy, living in the mountains between Vicenza, Verona, and Trento. They are also called the Cimbri. For hundreds of years, these people have claimed to be direct descendants of the Cimbri who retreated to this area after the Roman victory. However, most experts believe that Bavarians settled here in the Middle Ages. Some genetic studies suggest a Celtic, not Germanic, background for many people in this Italian region. Despite this, the local Cimbrian language has its own names for places, different from the more modern Italian names. The idea of a Cimbrian origin for these Italian people became popular in the 14th century.
Even with these connections to southern Germany, the belief that the Cimbri came from Himmerland continued into modern times. In 1709, for example, Frederick IV of Denmark visited the people of Himmerland and was welcomed as their king.
Culture and Way of Life
Religion and Beliefs
The Cimbri were known as fierce warriors who were not afraid of death. Their army was followed by their women and children in carts. Old women, who were priestesses, wore white clothes and sacrificed prisoners of war. They did this to try and see what would happen in the future.
The Gundestrup cauldron, found in Himmerland, might be a special pot used for sacrifices, similar to what Strabo described. The style of the cauldron looks like silver work from Thrace (an ancient region in southeastern Europe), but many of the carvings on it are Celtic.
Language Mystery
It's hard to know for sure if the Cimbri spoke a Celtic language or a Germanic language. This is because, at that time, Greeks and Romans often called all groups north of them "Gauls," "Celts," or "Germani" without much care for their actual languages. Julius Caesar was one of the first writers to try and tell the difference between Celts and Germani. He had a reason for this: it helped him argue for making the Rhine river a new Roman border. But we can't always trust what Caesar or Tacitus said about which group belonged to which category.
There are very few direct clues about the Cimbri's language. Pliny the Elder wrote that the Cimbri called the Northern Ocean (either the Baltic or North Sea) "Morimarusa," which he said meant "Dead Sea." The words for "sea" and "dead" in ancient Gaulish (a Celtic language) were mori and *maruo-. These are similar to modern Celtic words like muir (Irish for sea) and marbh (Irish for dead). A similar word for "sea" exists in Germanic languages, but the word for "dead" like marbh is not found in Germanic. However, Pliny didn't hear the word directly from a Cimbri speaker, so it's possible the word he heard was translated into Gaulish.
The known leaders of the Cimbri had Celtic names. For example, Boiorix might mean "King of the Boii" or "King of Strikers." Gaesorix means "Spear King," and Lugius might be named after the Celtic god Lugus. Another clue is that the Romans used Gaulish Celts as spies in the Cimbri camp before the final battle in 101 BC. This suggests the languages might have been similar enough for communication.
Some historians, like Henri Hubert, believed that all these names were clearly Celtic. However, other experts have different ideas.
One argument against a Celtic origin is that ancient writings say the Cimbri came from northern Jutland. This area has only Germanic place names, not Celtic ones. But it's possible the Cimbri became more like Gauls (Celts) during the time they lived in Gaul. For example, Boiorix, who might have had a Celtic or Celtic-influenced Germanic name, became king after the Cimbri left Jutland. He and his tribe lived among Celtic peoples during his time.
In Fiction
The science fiction story "Delenda Est" by Poul Anderson imagines a different past. In this story, Hannibal wins the Second Punic War and destroys Rome. But Carthage can't control Italy, which falls into chaos. Because of this, no one stops the Cimbri two hundred years later. They take over Italy, and the local people adopt their culture. By what would be the 20th century, Italy becomes a successful, high-tech kingdom speaking a Germanic language. Poul Anderson also wrote a historical novel called "The Golden Slave," about a Cimbrian chief who becomes a slave to the Romans after the Battle of Vercellae.
The Cimbri are also mentioned in Italo Calvino's novel If on a Winter's Night a Traveller. In the book, Cimbri is a made-up country that fought with a fictional version of Cimmeria. After winning, the Cimbri forced their written language onto the Cimmerians.
Jeff Hein's historical fiction series, "The Cimbrian War," tells the story of the Cimbri and their long journey across Iron-Age Europe.
See also
- Cimbrian language
- Cimmerians
- Sugambri
- Zimmern Chronicle
