Teutons (original) (raw)

The Teutons (Teutones) were a Germanic people mentioned in early historical writings by Greek and Roman authors. Their homeland was given as Jutland, the western peninsula of modern Denmark.

During the late 2nd century B.C, along with their neighbors the Cimbri, the Teutons are recorded as marching south through Gaul and attacking Roman Italy. After a series of defeats by the tribes, Roman armies came to grips with the Cimbri and Teutones and routed them.

The terms "Teuton" and "Teutonic" have sometimes been used in reference to all of the Germanic peoples. "Teut" is a cognate of German "deutsch" and Swedish "thjod", meaning folk or people.