Invasion! Rome Against the Cimbri, 113-101 BC

The first battles against the Cimbri were a series of disasters due to poor commanders and a misguided belief in the invincibility of their legions. Rome realized the threat it faced and made necessary changes, eventually finding a commander, Caius Marius, who could take on the Cimbri. Marius' army worked out how to weather the assault and became accustomed to victory, preventing the Cimbri from overwhelming Rome and changing European history.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 12 December 2022
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

Due to a combination of incompetent commanders and a misguided belief in their legions' invincibility, the initial encounters with the Cimbri were a series of catastrophic failures. These culminated in the Battle of Arausio in 105 BC, where two Roman armies were annihilated. Rome finally acknowledged the existential threat posed to their republic and implemented the necessary painful political and military reforms to confront it. They also found a commander capable of defeating the Cimbri: Caius Marius, a flawed individual characterized by scheming, cowardice, and a tendency to take credit for the accomplishments of others. Nevertheless, he represented a significant improvement over his predecessors.

The restructured Roman army eventually developed the skills to endure the fierce initial barbarian onslaught. Subsequently, the rigorous discipline of the legions proved sufficient to wear down the opposition. Marius' strategic approach of only engaging in battles when the odds were in his favor contributed to his army's gradual acclimation to victory. If the Cimbri had succeeded in conquering Rome, as it once appeared inevitable, European history would have taken a different course.

Weight: 486g
Dimension: 163 x 240 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399097314