Teutons facts for kids

The Teutons were an ancient tribe from northern Europe. Roman writers mentioned them often. They are most famous for fighting a big war with the Roman Republic in the late 100s BC. This war was called the Cimbrian War. The Teutons fought alongside another tribe called the Cimbri.

Years later, Julius Caesar compared the Teutons to the Germanic peoples of his time. He used the name "Teutons" for all northern tribes living east of the Rhine River. Later Roman writers also used this idea. We don't have direct proof about what language they spoke. Some clues, like their tribal name and their leaders' names (as written by Romans), suggest they might have been influenced by Celtic languages. However, where classical writers said the Teutons lived is an area linked to early Germanic languages, not Celtic ones.

What Does Their Name Mean?

The name Teutones comes from an old word meaning 'people' or 'tribe'. This word was used in many ancient languages. It might have meant 'the people ready for battle'.

The name Teutones could come from an old Celtic word meaning 'people'. Or it might come from a very early form of a Germanic language. It's hard to know for sure because Greek and Latin writers might have changed the original sound when they wrote it down.

Much later, the word Teuton was used by writers in the 800s AD to mean people who spoke West Germanic languages. It was a fancy Latin word. Today, "Teutonic" is often used to mean the same as "Germanic."

What Language Did They Speak?

Many people think the Teutons were a Germanic tribe and spoke a Germanic language. But the evidence is not complete. The names of the Teutons and their allies, the Cimbri, don't sound Germanic. They sound more like Celtic. Because of this, some historians think the Teutons might have been Celts.

The very first Roman writers thought the Teutons were Celts. Back then, they didn't really tell the difference between Celtic and Germanic people. Julius Caesar was probably the first to make this difference. He wanted to show that raids from northern tribes into Gaul (modern France) and Italy were a serious problem. He used this idea to justify his invasion of northern Gaul.

After Caesar, other writers like Strabo and Marcus Velleius Paterculus said the Teutons were Germanic. Pliny the Elder also agreed. He said they were part of a group called the Ingaevones, who were related to the Cimbri and Chauci.

Where Did the Teutons Live?

Plutarch, a Roman writer, said that the Teutons and Cimbri had traveled so far that no one knew where they came from. He said some thought they were "German peoples" from near the northern ocean. Others thought they were "Galloscythians," a mix of Scythians and Celts from near the Black Sea.

A traveler named Pytheas (around 300 BC) said the Teutons lived near an island called Abalus. On this island, amber (fossilized tree resin) would wash up. The Teutons traded this amber. Abalus was a day's sail from a large bay called Metuonis, where another Germanic people lived.

Pomponius Mela (around 45 AD) wrote that the Teutons lived on a large island called Codannovia. This island was in a big bay called Codanus. Most experts believe this bay was the Baltic Sea, and Codannovia was Scandinavia.

He wrote: "On the other side of the Elbe River, the huge Codanus Bay [Baltic Sea] is full of islands. In this bay are the Cimbri and the Teutoni." He also mentioned that "Scandinavia [which he called Codannavia], which the Teutoni still hold, stands out for its size and its richness."

Later texts, based on the work of the geographer Ptolemy, mentioned both Teutones and "Teutonoaroi" in Germania. The name of the Thy area in Jutland (part of modern Denmark) might be linked to the Teutons' name. This fits with old stories that they came from that region.

The War with Rome

The Teutons and Cimbri won big battles against the Romans in 105 BC. These were the Battle of Noreia and the Battle of Arausio. After these wins, the two tribes split up their armies.

The Roman general Gaius Marius then defeated them one by one. He defeated the Teutons in 102 BC at the Battle of Aquae Sextiae (near modern Aix-en-Provence). He defeated the Cimbri the next year. This ended the Cimbrian War.

After the Teutons lost, their king, Teutobod, was captured. Roman writers Valerius Maximus and Florus wrote about what happened next. The Romans demanded that 300 married Teuton women be given to them. When the women heard this, they begged to serve in the temples instead. When their request was denied, the Teuton women bravely chose to end their own lives during the night. This act of courage became a famous Roman story about "Teutonic fury."

Some captured Teutons later became gladiators. They reportedly joined a big slave rebellion in Rome from 73-71 BC.

See also

• Furor Teutonicus