The Rottweiler is an old breed. Historians trace the Rottweiler's origins back to Roman times when descendants of Molossian Mastiffs accompanied the Roman legions as they marched across Europe. The robust dogs were used to herd cattle and sheep that fed the armies. Records indicate that in Germany 2000 B.C., the Romans occupied a town in southern Germany that became both militarily and politically important. The important administration Centers had red-tiled roofs for easy identification and the town eventually became known as Rottweil or "red villa." Descendents of the dogs that settled in the area with the Romans eventually became known as butchers' dogs. They herded cattle to market in the morning, pulled the butchers' carts as they delivered meat to their customers, and carried the day's profits around their necks on the return journey to ensure protection against thieves.