Boiorix

His people, along with the Teutones, left their homelands around the Baltic Sea in the Jutland peninsula (known to the Romans as the Cimbricus Chersonesus) in Southern Scandinavia between 120-115 BC, for unclear reasons (Strabo rejected the idea of flooding).

After warring with some of the local tribes, the Cimbri eventually went toward Roman territories once again and came into contact with the armies of the two consuls Gnaeus Mallius Maximus and Quintus Servilius Caepio near Arausio, on October the 6th, 105 BC.

[1] For unclear reasons, the Cimbri and Teutones did not march southeast into the vulnerable Italian peninsula, but went southwest, attempting to cross the Pyrenees into Hispania.

[9][10] Boiorix and his fellow tribal leaders were repulsed by the native Celtiberians and finally marched toward Italy by 104 BC, the same year Gaius Marius was elected to his second consulship.

Catulus may have tried to use the valley to diminish the vast numerical advantage Boiorix had over him; he also built fortifications, a bridge across the Athesis River, and prepared himself for the Cimbri using neighbouring routes.

[12][13] His efforts were thwarted when the Boiorix and his warriors descended from the Alps, "displaying their strength and daring" by enduring the cold of the mountains and then sliding down the snow upon their shields.

A heroic charge by the Primus Pilus Centurion Gnaeus Petreius Atinas kept Boiorix and his warriors stalled long enough for Catulus' army to withdraw across the Athesis and destroy the bridge.

[14] Marius and Catulus attempted to bring him and the Cimbri to battle, but Boiorix and his ambassadors declined either out of the genuine belief their allies would soon join them, or as an excuse to continue pillaging the fertile region they were occupying.

Boiorix was probably spurred by the fact that his warriors were eager for a battle, confident in a victory (the Cimbri were as yet undefeated by the Romans), and were enjoying the land they were now occupying; as well, logistically, the Cimbrian King could not afford to keep his massive host in one place for much longer.