Who Were the Marcomanni?

There were a number of notable wars waged against the Roman Empire during its reign of power, but perhaps one of the most impactful of which could be the violent Marcomannic Wars. These battles were led by the Marcomanni tribe, a Germanic people that distributed their influence across Europe and whose ascendancy can still be detected in the modern-day. 

What were the Marcomanni’s origins?

The Roman Empire coined the name “Gaul” with the intent of describing the Celtic tribes that - in their heyday - ruled over much of northern Europe - from the modern-day areas of north, east, and central France and into the land known as Germania. By the time the first century BC came to its midpoint, these tribes had started to splinter into different subgroups and were forced to resettle further south by the more dominant Germanic tribes from Scandinavia and the Baltic coast - the Marcomanni were one of these commanding Germanic groups. 

In historical records, the Marcomanni are first accounted for as accomplices of the Suebi of Arivistus - the leader of the large Germanic tribe - as he battled against Julius Caesar after they crossed the Rhine from modern-day Germany and attempted to resettle in Gaul (modern-day France).

Historians believe that the name ‘Marcomanni’ originates from the Proto-Germanic term for ‘markō - meaning ‘border’ or ‘boundary’ - and hence the current English word for march/mark, as in a marked frontier or district.

In modern English, the Marcomanni are referred to as the ‘Markmen’ - which is derived from their original Proto-Germanic name and essentially means ‘borderers.’ Interestingly, the name Marcomanni likely existed before the Romans had established dominion over the area of land around the Rhine (where the Marcomanni resided at that time), so which border they were thought to have originated near is still in question. According to the Roman politician and historian, Tacitus, as well as the Greek historian, Strabo, the Marcomanni were originally Suebian - a large Germanic tribe from the Elbe river, an area in what is currently known as Germany and the Czech Republic.

It is possible that the question around the genesis of the name ‘Marcomanni’ and the border that the term derived from can be answered by considering the divide that happened between these earlier Germanic tribes as the Celts expanded during their reign of dominance in the Iron Age. However, the ancient historian, Florus, reported evidence of the Marcomanni’s existence in an area that was not particularly close to these borders  - so perhaps this question of origin is still somewhat in debate. 

The persistence of the Marcomanni’s reputation throughout history may be to do with their role in the ruination of the Boii of the Boiohæmum - a tribe of Celts with a firm hold on Bohemia (the majority of modern Czechia) and whose control extended beyond the Pannonian Basin (the area of land surrounding the Danube).

The Marcomanni’s destruction of Boiohæmum may have been intended to be a takeover of a relatively unchanged civilisation, as they likely wished to establish themselves as a new nobility in an area already occupied by their allies; the Suevi tribe, and the Quadi . This theory is evidenced by the fact that the Marcomanni leader at that time had a Gaulish name - perhaps lending the supposition that the name Marcomanni or ‘Borderman’ came from the fact that they conquered the Boii border. After the Marcomanni’s domination, they changed their name accordingly and eventually assimilated into the Slavic Czechs many centuries later. 

The Marcomannic Wars

Between the years 166 and 180 AD, the Marcomanni entered an alliance with a number of other tribes, including the Quadi, Sarmatians, Goths, and Vandals, with the intent to overthrow the Roman Empire’s and Marcus Aurelius’ influence over Europe. These bloody conflicts helped expose the underbelly of Rome’s difficulties retaining power - with the success of their dominion over the continent, even extending as far as the north of England, the Romans became somewhat complacent with their power, and were living in relative tranquillity with the people whose lands they had overtaken.

Thus, during Marcus Aurelius’ reign, the powerful Germanic tribes saw their chance to reclaim strength. They marched south towards Rome and forced Aurelius to retaliate by initiating an attack on the banks of the Danube. This attack essentially prompted the Marcomannic wars, as the Marcomanni and the Quadi were considered to be the greatest threat to the Roman Empire. The twelve years of violent discord that ensued were eventually broken down into three separate stages: the first, second, and third Marcomannic wars.

Most of the Marcomannic Wars’ battles were centred around the Danube; the land was precious to both sides as it stretched beyond Austria, through the centre of Hungary, and towards the German border. One such battle consisted of three years of dispute in the fortress of Carnuntum - a fortress and capital of the providence that was home to more than 50,000 inhabitants. 

The Marcomannic Wars were a significant watershed for European history, as the Marcomanni caused the destruction of a range of Roman cities, steadily weakening the stronghold of the Roman Empire. The wars continued until Marcus Aurelius’ death, at which point somewhat of an impasse was reached; both sides had their victories, but there was no sign of resolution. Eventually, after Commodus - Aurelius’ son - became Emperor, Rome signed a treaty that effectively finished the wars. 

The Aftermath

In the centuries following the Marcomanni Wars, the Marcommani eventually turned to Christianity during the 4th century under the influence of their queen, Fritigil. This may have been the Marcomanni’s last action as an organised society, as shortly afterwards, the area of land around the Danube experienced a period of continued disturbance. 

Although most of Europe was going through a time of intense migration and turmoil, the area around the Pannonian basin became the centre of Atilla the Hun’s empire. It seems as though the Marcomanni and the Quadi retired their individual names at this point in time, returned to their original Suebi names, and achieved independence. However, they eventually succumbed to the constant wars against the Ostrogoths.  

Conclusion

If you would like to determine whether you could be a descendent of the powerful Germanic tribe, the Marcomanni, then My True Ancestry can help. Using your DNA results, we can determine your ancient history and connect you with a stronger sense of where you come from: upload your raw DNA data and start your journey for free!