Allobroges
The Allobroges (
The Allobroges came relatively late to Gaul compared to most other tribes of
Name
Attestations
They are mentioned as A̓llobrígōn ( Ἀλλοβρίγων) by Polybius (2nd c. BC) and Strabo (early 1st c. AD),[3] Allobroges by Caesar (mid-1st c. BC) and Livy (late 1st c. BC),[4][5] A̓llóbriges ( Ἀλλόβριγες), Allóbrigas (Ἀλλόβριγας) and Allobrígōn (Ἀλλοβρίγων) by Appian (2nd c. AD),[6] A̓llóbriges (Ἀλλόβριγες; var. Ἀλλόβρυγες, Ἀλλόβρογες) by Ptolemy (2nd c. AD),[7] and as Allobrogas by Orosius (early 5th c. AD).[8][9]
Etymology
The
The Gaulish *Allobrogis is cognate with the Welsh allfro ('foreigner, exiled') – both stemming from the Celtic compound *allo-mrogis –, and with the Germanic alja-markiz ('the foreigner'), found in an inscription from Karstad, which may indicate a Celtic-Germanic correspondence of the term.[10]
A mountain in the Mont Blanc massif is still called Pointe Allobrogia, which could be the remnant of an ancient territorial claim made by the Gallic people.[13]
Geography
Territory
The territory of the Allobroges, which is known as Allobrogia,[14] stretched between the Isère and the Rhône rivers, the Lacus Lemannus (Lake Geneva) and the Alps.[15][2] By the mid-1st century BC, they also possessed a piece of land north of the Rhône river, between modern Lyon and Geneva, whose later status remains uncertain.[16] During the Roman period, the civitas Viennensium covered an area of around 13,000 km2, one of the largest in Gaul.[17]
The Allobroges lived east of the
Settlements
Solonion
Until its destruction by the Romans in 61 BC, the main settlement of the Allobroges was known as Solonion, possibly corresponding to the modern village of Salagnon, near Bourgoin-Jallieu, or else to Montmiral, near Saint-Marcellin.[19]
Vienna
The site of Vienna (modern
After the destruction of Solonion by the Romans in 61 BC, the Allobrogian chieftains decided to move their place of residence to Vienna.
And to prevent [Lepidus and Lucius Plancus'] suspecting anything and consequently causing trouble, [the senators] ordered them to establish in a colony in Gallia Narbonensis the men who had once been driven by the Allobroges out of Vienna and afterwards established between the Rhone and the Arar, at their confluence.
— Cassius Dio 1914, Rhōmaïkḕ Historía, 46:50.
Under
Other settlements
Another important Allobrogian settlement was located in Cularo ('field of squash',[35] modern Grenoble), first mentioned by Munatius Plancus in 43 BC and later renamed to Gratianopolis.[36]
Other oppida have been excavated at Musièges, Larina (Hières-sur-Amby), Saint-Saturnin (Chambéry), Les Étroits (Saint-Lattier), Quatre-Têtes (Saint-Just-de-Claix), and Rochefort (Varces).[37]
History
Pre-Roman period
Origin
The Allobroges probably settled relatively late in Southern Gaul, for they are not attested before the late 3rd century BC, in connection with Hannibal's crossing of the Alps in 218 BC.[1][2] According to some scholars, they may be identified with the Gaesatae, a group of mercenary warriors first mentioned a few years earlier in the region and who fought against the Roman Republic in the Battle of Telamon (225 BC).[1][38] The Allobroges may thus be the descendants of mobile groups of Gallic merceries who were active across central Europe in the first part of the 3rd century BC, and who eventually settled between the Rhône and the Alps in search for new opportunities during the later decades of the century.[1]
Hannibal's crossing of the Alps (218 BC)
In the mid-2nd century BC, the Greek historian Polybius first mentioned the Allobroges in his account of Hannibal's crossing of the Alps in 218 BC. The Allobroges of the plain helped the Carthaginian conqueror, whereas those of the mountains tried in vain to block his passage.[39]
... [Hannibal] reached a place called the 'Island', a populous district producing abundance of corn and deriving its name from its situation; for the Rhone and Isère running along each side of it meet at its point ... On arriving there he found two brothers disputing the crown and posted over against each other with their armies, and on the elder one making overtures to him and begging him to assist in establishing him on the throne, he consented, it being almost a matter of certainty that under present circumstances this would be of great service to him.
— Polybius 2010. Historíai, 3:49–50.
Hannibal then expelled the other chieftain and was given new weapons, corn, warm clothing and footwear by his local ally. The latter protected him in the rear with him own forces through the territory of the Allobroges, until he reached the foot of the Alpine pass.[39]
... For as long as they had been in flat country, the various chiefs of the Allobroges had left them alone, being afraid both of the cavalry and of the barbarians who were escorting them. But when the latter had set off on their return home, and Hannibal's troops began to advance into the difficult region, the Allobrogian chieftains got together a considerable force and occupied advantageous positions on the road by which the Carthaginians would be obliged to ascend. Had they only kept their project secret, they would have utterly annihilated the Carthaginian army, but, as it was, it was discovered, and though they inflicted a good deal of damage on Hannibal, they did as much injury to themselves ...
— Polybius 2010. Historíai, 3:49–50.
In Livy's version, the Gallic chieftain who provided assistance to Hannibal is named Brancus ('the claw', var. Braneus).[40][5] According to some scholars, since the 'Island' mentioned by ancient authors corresponds to the territory of the Segovellauni, Brancus may actually be Segovellaunian.[41] In his account, however, Livy specifically states that the two chieftains were Allobroges.[39]
From the 2nd century BC onward, a climate change known as the Roman Warm Period led to a reduction in migrations from Central and Northern Europe. As a result, the adoption rate of a sedentary lifestyle among the former roving tribes of the region, including the Allobroges, probably increased during the late 2nd and 1st century BC. Greek geographer Strabo later wrote in the early 1st century AD, "formerly the Allobroges kept up warfare with many myriads of men, whereas now they till the plains and the glens that are in the Alps."[42]
Early Roman period
Annexion to the Roman Republic (121 BC)
Between 125 and 122 BC, the Romans crossed the Alps and fought the
They were defeated by the Romans forces of
Between 120 and 117, those new Roman lands were progressively pacified and incorporated into a
Legal protests (69–63 BC)
In 69 BC, the Allobroges sent a delegation to Rome led by their chief
Later on, an Allobrogian insurrection was suppressed by
Revolt against Rome (62–61 BC)
Faced with a series of legal defeats, the Allobroges decided to take the arms against Rome in 62 BC. Led by their chief
Lucius Marius and Servius Galba crossed the Rhone and after ravaging the possessions of the Allobroges finally reached the city of Solonium and occupied a strong position commanding it. They conquered their opponents in battle and also set fire to portions of the town, which was partly constructed of wood; they did not capture it, however, being prevented by the arrival of Catugnatus. Pomptinus, on learning of this, proceeded against the place with his entire army, besieged it, and got possession of the defenders, with the exception of Catugnatus. After that he more easily subjugated the remaining districts.
— Cassius Dio 1914, Rhōmaïkḕ Historía, 37:48.
Political turmoils (58–44 BC)
The period saw the invasion of the remaining of Gaul by
After the failed migration of the Helvetii, who were repelled by the Romans towards their homeland, the Allobroges were asked by Caesar to provide them with wheat. In the autumn of 57, the legate Galba spent winter in the Allobrogian territory after an unsuccessful campaign in Vallis Poenina (modern Valais). Following the Roman defeat at the Battle of Gergovia (52 BC), the Allobroges began to strengthen the border along the Rhône river, fearing possibly attacks coming from the other bank.[56] Vercingetorix tried to bribe their leaders to fight on the side of the Gallic coalition against Caesar, but the Allobroges rejected the offer.[50]
Two sons of Adbucillus,
Roman Empire
Strabo reported in the early 1st century AD that all of the Allobroges lived in villages, "except that the most notable of them, inhabitants of Vienna (formerly a village, but called, nevertheless, the 'metropolis' of the tribe), have built it up into a city."[59]
At the time of the late Roman Empire, the Allobrogian territory was divided and administered from the three main cities: Vienna, Geneva and Cularo (later renamed Gratianopolis).[60]
Religion
From the "Palace of Mirrors" baths at Saint-Romain-en-Gal comes a statue of Vienna's tutelary goddess. Aix-les-Bains was a major centre of the cult of the healing god Borvo.[citation needed]
The cult of
Political organization
Allobrogia was geographically divided between the plains of the
Economy
During the Roman period, the Allobroges cultivated wheat and exported wine. Copper and silver deposits were numerous in the Western Alps.[68]
Legacy
Légion des Allobroges
The
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Kruta 2000, pp. 290, 308.
- ^ a b c Lafond 2006.
- ^ Polybius. Historíai 3:49–51; Strabo, 4:1:11, 4:6:5,
- .
- ^ a b Livy 2019. Ab Urbe Condita Libri, 21:31.
- ^ Appian 2019. Ρωμαϊκά, 4:1:12, 4:12:1, 4:12:2, 4:17a.
- ^ Ptolemy. Geōgraphikḕ Hyphḗgēsis, 2:10:7.
- ^ Orosius. Historiae Adversus Paganos, 5:13:2.
- ^ Falileyev 2010, s.v. Allobroges.
- ^ a b Evans 1967, pp. 131–134, 158–160; Lambert 1997, p. 398; Delamarre 2003, pp. 39, 91; de Hoz 2005, p. 178.
- ^ a b Kruta 2000, p. 71.
- ^ Delamarre 2003, p. 235.
- ^ Pelletier 1982, pp. 55–56.
- ^ Bocquet 2009, p. 28.
- ^ Kruta 2000, p. 404.
- ^ Rivet 1988, p. 310.
- ^ Pelletier 1982, p. 60.
- ^ Talbert 2000, Map 17: Lugdunum, Map 18: Augustonemetum-Vindonissa.
- ^ Pelletier 1982, p. 27.
- ^ a b c Pelletier 1982, p. 14.
- ^ Bocquet 2009, p. 53.
- ^ a b Prisset 2012.
- ^ Pelletier 1978, p. 922.
- ^ a b c Pelletier 1982, pp. 26–27.
- ^ Gascou 1999, p. 159.
- ^ Pelletier 1982, pp. 32–35.
- ^ a b Rivet 1988, p. 306.
- ^ Gascou 1999, p. 162.
- ^ Pelletier 1982, pp. 76–79.
- ^ Gascou 1999, p. 165.
- ^ Pelletier 1982, p. 287.
- ^ Delamarre 2003, p. 177.
- ^ Kruta 2000, p. 636.
- ^ Fuchs 2012.
- ^ Delamarre 2003, p. 131.
- ^ Rivet 1988, p. 76.
- ^ Bocquet 2009, p. 58.
- ^ Bocquet 2009, pp. 35–36.
- ^ a b c Rivet 1988, p. 31.
- ^ Bocquet 2009, p. 33.
- ^ Bocquet 2009, pp. 102–104.
- ^ Bocquet 2009, p. 13.
- ^ a b c Pelletier 1982, pp. 17–18.
- ^ a b Rivet 1988, pp. 40–41.
- ^ a b Rawlings 2017.
- ^ Pelletier 1982, pp. 21–24.
- ^ Pelletier 1982, pp. 19–21.
- ^ a b c Pelletier 1982, pp. 23–25.
- ^ Pelletier 1982, p. 21.
- ^ a b Rivet 1988, p. 305.
- ISBN 978-0-19-938113-5.
- ^ a b Pelletier 1982, pp. 25–26.
- ^ March 1989, p. 226.
- ^ March 1989, p. 227.
- ^ a b Rivet 1988, pp. 61–62.
- ^ a b Pelletier 1982, pp. 29–31.
- ^ Rivet 1988, pp. 63–64.
- ^ Caesar 2016. Bellum Civile 3:59–61.
- ^ Strabo 1923. Geōgraphiká, 4.1:11.
- ^ Rivet 1988, p. 312.
- ^ Pelletier 1978, pp. 922–927.
- ^ Pelletier 1978, pp. 928–930.
- ^ Bocquet 2009, pp. 103–104, 197–198.
- ^ Barruol 1969, p. 305.
- ^ Rivet 1988, p. 16.
- ^ a b Bocquet 2009, pp. 201–203.
- ^ Bocquet 2009, p. 71.
- ^ Bocquet 2009, p. 29–32.
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Bibliography
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- Bocquet, Aimé (2009). Hannibal chez les Allobroges: 218 avant Jésus-Christ : la grande traversée des Alpes. La Fontaine de Siloë. ISBN 978-2-84206-419-8.
- ISBN 978-8478825721.
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- OCLC 468437906.
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- Fuchs, Michel E. (2012). "Genava (Geneva)". In Bagnall, Roger S. (ed.). The Encyclopedia of Ancient History. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-1-4443-3838-6.
- Gascou, Jacques (1999). "César a-t-il fondé une colonie à Vienne ?". Mélanges de l'école française de Rome. 111 (1): 157–165. .
- ISBN 2-221-05690-6.
- Lafond, Yves (2006). "Allobroges". Brill's New Pauly. .
- S2CID 162600621.
- March, Duane A. (1989). "Cicero and the "Gang of Five"". The Classical World. 82 (4): 225–234. JSTOR 4350381.
- ISBN 978-90-04-29543-8.
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- Prisset, Jean-Luc (2012). "Vienna (Vienne, France)". In Bagnall, Roger S. (ed.). The Encyclopedia of Ancient History. Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 978-1-4051-7935-5.
- Rawlings, Louis (2017). "The Roman Conquest of Southern Gaul, 125-121 BC". In Whitby, Michael; Sidebottom, Harry (eds.). The Encyclopedia of Ancient Battles. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 1–7. ISBN 978-1-4051-8645-2.
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Further reading
- ISBN 978-0-19-938113-5.
- Drouvot, Nicolas (2008). "Mort et pouvoir chez les Allobroges, de l'archéologie à l'histoire". Dialogues d'histoire ancienne. 34 (2): 173–204. .
- Jospin, Jean-Pascal, ed. (2002). Les Allobroges: Gaulois et Romains du Rhône aux Alpes. Infolio. ISBN 9782884741026.
- ISBN 978-2-915544-11-4.
- ISBN 978-2-7297-0677-7.