The Cimbri, who for unknown reasons leave their original lands around the Baltic sea in the Jutland peninsula and southern Scandinavia sometime around 120–115 BCE, journey to the southeast and are soon joined by their neighbors and possible relatives the Teutons, or Teutones.

Together they defeat the Scordisci, along with the Boii, many of whom apparently join them.

They arrive on the Danube, in Noricum, home to the Roman-allied Taurisci, in 113 BCE.

The Taurisci, unable to hold back these new, powerful invaders on their own, call on Rome for aid.

The Roman consul Gnaeus Papirius Carbo leads the legions into Noricum the following year, and after making an impressive show of force, takes up a strong defensive position and demand that the Cimbri and their allies leave the province immediately.

The Cimbri initially set about complying peacefully with Rome's demands, but soon discover that Carbo has laid an ambush against them.

Infuriated by this treachery, they attack and, at the Battle of Noreia, annihilate Carbo's army, almost killing Carbo in the process.

Italy is now open to invasion, yet for some reason, the Cimbri and their allies move west over the Alps and into Gaul.

They invade the Roman province of Gallia Narbonensis in 109 BCE and defeat the Roman army there under Marcus Junius Silanus.

They defeat another Roman army in this same year at the Battle of Burdigala (modern day Bordeaux) and kill its commander, the consul Lucius Cassius Longinus Ravalla.

The Romans in 107 BCE are defeated again, this time by the Tigurini, who are allies of the Cimbri, whom they had met on their way through the Alps.