The Roman empire under
Hadrian (ruled 117-38), showing the location of the
Teutones Germanic tribe, in their original home in the northern part of the
Jutland peninsula
The migrations of the Teutons and the Cimbri.
The
Teutons or
Teutones (from
Proto-Germanic *
Þeudanōz) were mentioned as a
Germanic tribe by
Greek and
Roman authors, notably
Strabo and
Marcus Velleius Paterculus and normally in close connection with the
Cimbri, whose ethnicity is contested between
Gauls and
Germani. According to
Ptolemy's map, they lived in
Jutland, in agreement with
Pomponius Mela, who placed them in
Scandinavia (Codanonia). In any case, they are believed to have given their name to the region of
Thy (Old Norse
Thiuthæ sysæl) in northern
Denmark.
Earlier than 100 BC, many of the Teutones, as well as the
Cimbri, migrated south and west to the
Danube valley, where they encountered the expanding
Roman Republic. During the late second century BC, the Teutones and Cimbri are recorded as passing west through
Gaul and attacking Roman
Italy. After several victories for the invading armies, the Cimbri and Teutones divided forces and were then defeated separately by
Gaius Marius in
102 BC, and
101 BC. The Teutones defeat was at the
Battle of Aquae Sextiae (near present-day
Aix-en-Provence). Their King,
Teutobod, was taken in irons.
The captured women committed mass suicide, which passed into Roman legends of Germanic heroism and was noted by
Jerome:
The terms
Teuton and
Teutonic have sometimes been used in reference to all of the Germanic peoples.
Popular culture
- The Teutons appear in the online game Travian as one of three selectable tribes that a player can start with.
See also
