The Latin phrase – furor teutonicus (“Teutonic fury”) – was used to describe the aggressive actions of the Germanic peoples. It first appeared in Lucan’s Pharsalia to convey the qualities he attributed to the Teutons: cruelty and battle frenzy. At the end of the 2nd century BCE northern Italy was invaded by the Germanic tribes of the Teutons and Cimbri, whose invasion threatened Rome’s sovereignty.
Rome was feared to be recaptured by the barbarian hordes, as it was in 390 BCE. It should be noted that until the end of the Roman Empire, the Germans harassed its borders and contributed to its downfall.
