Battle of Tridentum

The Romans were saved by the heroic charge of the men from the Samnite legion which bought the rest of the army enough time to cross the river and escape.

According to ancient sources, sometime around 120–115 BC, the Cimbri, a large Germanic tribe, left their homeland around the North Sea (in modern-day Denmark) due to climate changes.

The Battle of Arausio was considered the Romans' greatest defeat since Hannibal crushed their army at Cannae.

While waiting for the Germanic tribes to move towards Italy Marius recruited, equipped and trained his army.

He led a heroic charge against the Cimbri to keep the advancing barbarians occupied long enough to give the rest of the men the opportunity to cross the river and escape.

At the time, Gnaeus Petreius Atinas was only the sixth Roman officer whose actions qualified for such a distinction.

His father, the Princeps Senatus Marcus Aemilius Scaurus, on hearing the news of his sons cowardice refused to see him and officially disowned him.

The next year (101 BC) Marius and Catulus joined forces and defeated and destroyed the Cimbri at the Battle of Vercellae, finally ending the German threat.