Battle of Orange

In the history of the ancient Rome, the battles of Orange is a defeat wiped by the Roman army vis-a-vis the Cimbres and with the Teutons. It was held on October 6th 105 before JC near Aurasio (Orange)

The battle and its consequences

Events

At that time, the Cimbres and the Teutons are as a Gaulle and Rome fears that they do not invade Italy. To counter this threat, the consul Mallius Maximus is sent in Provence in 105 before JC in order to reinforce there the army of the proconsul Servilius Caepio.

The shock occurs on October 6th 105 before JC. Sure of their victory, the consul and the proconsul dispute the bay-trees in advance of them. Benefitting from this competition, the Cimbres and the Teutons crush the Roman army near Arausio (Orange) where 80.000 legionaries are killed. For the Romans, they are the most important losses since the Bataille of Cannes.

Consequences

In Rome this defeat is felt like a catastrophe. The proconsul Caepion deposed of his magistrature and is exiled as well as the Mallius consul. This situation and the need for raising new forces leads the consul Marius to reform the army.

It leaves to Provence in 104 av. J.C, where installed with its legions in the north of Arles near the the Rhone, it will await during two years Teutons left to devastate Spain; it will finally crush them near Aquae Sextia (Aix-en-Provence) in 102 before JC at the time of the Bataille of Aix.

See too

Random links: