This entry is about the Teutonic people, not to be confused with the Teutonic Knights.
The Teutons (Teutones) were mentioned as a Germanic people in early historical writings by Greek and Roman authors. Their homeland was given as Thy in Jutland, the top of the western peninsula of modern Denmark. There is debate as to whether they were a Celtic or Germanic people since the name Teutones itself appears to be Celtic; Strabo and Velleius, however, counted them among the Germanic tribes. German historians did not associate the name Teutons with their Germanic ancestors until the 13th century.
More than 100 years before the birth of Christ, many of the Teutoni, as well as the Cimbri, migrated south and west to the Danube valley, where they encountered the expanding Roman Empire.
During the late 2nd century BC, the Teutons are recorded as marching south through Gaul along with their neighbors, the Cimbri, and attacking Roman Italy. After several victories for the invading armies, the Cimbri and Teutones were finally defeated by Marius in 102 BC at Aquae Sextiae (near present-day Aix-en-Provence).
The terms "Teuton" and "Teutonic" have sometimes been used in reference to all of the Germanic peoples. "Teut" is an Indo-European word for people, and is not only found in German "deutsch" (=German) and Old Norse "thjod" people, but also in the romance word for all (as in Latintotum, tout in French, or todo in Spanish). It is therefore sometimes used as a synonym to proto-Germanic.
Near Rouen the Cimbri were reinforced by the Teutoni and two cantons of the Helvetii.
Thereupon the host marched southwards by two routes, the Cimbri moving on the left towards the passes of the Eastern Alps, while the newly arrived Teutoni and their allies made for the western gates of Italy.
In 102 B.C. the Teutoni and Ambrones were totally defeated at Aquae Sextiae by Marius, while the Cimbri succeeded in passing the Alps and driving Q. Lutatius Catulus across the Adige and Po.
coloro che tentano di affermare la celticità dei Cimbri e dei Teutoni, per prima cosa tentano di promuovere un discorso su basi linguistiche, affermando che i nomi dei due popoli sono di radice celtica.
"Teutoni" invece, molto probabilmente trova la sua radice in un termine dal significato riconduvibile a "tribù, comunità", ma certo non bisogna credere che la parola "teuta", o le forme a lei simili, siano esclusive dei popoli celtici, vista l'antichissima radice indeuropea della parola in questione.
I Romani conoscevano bene i Celti, avendoli combattuti pe più di duecento anni in Italia, e sei Cimbri ed i teutoni fossero appartenuti alla famiglia celtica, certo non avrebbero avuto esitezioni nel dirlo, e la dimostrazione ci viene data dai testi successivi, scritti quando i Romani avevano imparato a conoscere i Germani e a identificarli.
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