Teutobod facts for kids

The map shows the journeys of the Teutons and Cimbri.
L Places where the Cimbri and Teutons lost battles.
W Places where the Cimbri and Teutons won battles.

Teutobod was a king of the Teutons, an ancient Germanic tribe. He led his people alongside their allies, the Cimbri, in a big war against the powerful Roman Republic. This war is known as the Cimbrian War. Teutobod and his allies won a huge battle called the Battle of Arausio in 105 BC. However, he was later captured by the Romans at the Battle of Aquae Sextiae in 102 BC.

The Cimbrian War

In the late 100s BC, the Teutons and their friends, the Cimbri, started moving south. They traveled into the Danube valley, a region called Gaul (which is now France), and northern Italy. These areas were close to the lands controlled by the Romans.

Early Victories

The movement of the Teutons and Cimbri led to a big conflict with Rome. This war is known as the Cimbrian War. At first, the Cimbri, led by their King Boiorix, and the Teutons were very successful. They defeated tribes that were allied with the Romans.

In 105 BC, they won a massive victory against a large Roman army. This battle was called the Battle of Arausio. It was one of the worst defeats Rome had ever faced.

Roman Response

After the defeat at Arausio, Rome worked hard to rebuild its army. A famous Roman leader named Gaius Marius took charge. He was a very skilled general and a Consul, which was a top official in Rome.

In 104 BC, the Cimbri left the Rhône valley to raid Spain. The Teutons stayed in Gaul. They were still strong, but not powerful enough to march on Rome by themselves. This gave Marius valuable time to train a new, strong army.

Teutobod's Capture

In 102 BC, Gaius Marius decided it was time to attack the Teutons. The two armies met at a place called Aquae Sextiae. In this battle, the Roman army almost completely destroyed the Teutons.

King Teutobod was captured during this battle. Reports say that about 20,000 of his people were also captured. After this defeat, Teutobod and his tribe are no longer mentioned in history. He was likely taken to Rome for a special parade to celebrate the Roman victory.

The next year, the Cimbri faced a similar fate. They were defeated at the Battle of Vercellae. Some of their leaders were captured, and others were killed.

Images for kids

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  The supposed migrations of the Teutons and the Cimbri.
  L Cimbri and Teutons defeats.
  W Cimbri and Teutons victories.