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Battle of Noreia
Part of the Cimbrian War
The migrations of the Cimbri and the Teutons
Date 112 BC Location Noreia, Noricum (Neumarkt, Austria) Result Cimbrian victory
Combatants
Roman Republic	Cimbri, Teutones
Commanders
Gnaeus Papirius Carbo	?

Cimbrian War
Noreia – Arausio – Aquae Sextiae – Vercellae

The Battle of Noreia in 112 BC, was the opening action of the Cimbrian War fought between the Roman Republic and the migrating Proto-Germanic tribes the Cimbri and the Teutons (Teutones). It ended in defeat, and near disaster, for the Romans.

Contents 1 Prelude 2 Battle 3 Aftermath 4 References

The Cimbri and Teutones had left their original lands around the Baltic sea in the Jutland peninsula and Southern Scandinavia. They journeyed to the southeast, and after defeating the Scordisci, arrived in 113 BC on the Danube at Noricum, which was home to the Taurisci tribe, who were allies of Rome. Unable to repel these new invaders, the Taurisci, called upon the might of Rome to protect them and restore their lands. The consul Gnaeus Papirius Carbo, responded the following year, leading the legions into Noricum, where he took up a position on the heights near Aquileia 1.

Carbo ordered them to vacate the territory of the Taurisci at once. The Cimbri had heard many stories from other tribes about the fearsome power of Rome, and after seeing the size of the Roman army and the strength of its position, they complied. However, Carbo was not going to allow enemies of Rome (nor an opportunity to gain a triumph) to escape. He had sent guides, to escort the Cimbri and Teutones to the frontier, instead they were going to lead them into an ambush the consul had prepared. But somehow, perhaps due to being warned by their scouts or spies or possibly due to the treachery of one of the guides, the Proto-Germanic people, became aware of Carbo's plan and, according to Theodor Mommsen:

"an engagement took place not far from Noreia in the modern Carinthia, in which the betrayed gained the victory over the betrayer and inflicted on him considerable loss; a storm, which separated the combatants, alone prevented the complete annihilation of the Roman army." 2

Carbo managed to escape with his life and the remnants of his army (though the Germanic tribesmen had erroneously thought and boasted that they had caught and slain their betrayer). He was disgraced and impeached as consul by the senate, but was not exiled as was customary treatment for defeated and disgraced commanders. Rome prepared for the worst, but instead of invading Italy the Cimbri and Teutones headed west, towards Gaul. There, in 105 BC, at the Battle of Arausio, another, larger, Roman force would not be as fortunate as Carbo's legions.

• Theodor Mommsen, History of Rome, Book IV-The Revolution pg 67.
• R. Ernest Dupuy, and Trevor N. Dupuy, The Encyclopedia Of Military History: From 3500 B.C. To The Present. (2nd Revised Edition 1986) pp 90-91.