Ambiani
The Ambiani (
They settled in the region between the 4th century and the second part of the 2nd century BC. In 113–101 BC, they took part in the fights against the Cimbri and Teutoni invaders during the Cimbrian War. In 57 and 52 BC, they participated in Gallic coalitions against Caesar, before their eventual subjugation by Rome in 51 BC. The Ambiani are known for their gold coinage, found in both northern France and Britain, which attest of extensive trading relations across the Channel.[1][2]
Name
They are mentioned as Ambianos and Ambianis by
The
The city of Amiens, attested ca. 400 AD as civitas Ambianensium ('civitas of the Ambiani'; Ammiens in 1142), is named after the Belgic tribe.[14]
Geography
Territory
The Ambiani dwelled in the modern regions of Vimeux, Ponthieu and Santerre, in the present-day Somme department. Their territory was bordered in the north by the Canche river, and in the north-east and south-east by the Samara (Somme) watershed.[15][2] They were located near the Caletes in the west, the Bellovaci in the south, the Morini and Atrebates in the north, and the Viromandui in the east.[16] The smaller Catuslougi, who lived between them and the Caletes, were probably a pagus of the Ambiani during the Roman period.[2]
During the pre-Roman period, the area around Samarobriva (Amiens) was probably located at the extremity of the Ambianian territory, which extended mainly on the lower Somme valley.[17]
Settlements
During the Roman era, the chief town of the Ambiani was known as
History
The Ambiani settled in their attested homeland between the 4th century and the middle of the 2nd century BC.[20] In 113–101 BC, they participated in the fights against the Cimbri and Teutoni invaders of Gauls during the Cimbrian War.[21][20]
During the Gallic Wars in 57 BC, Caesar learnt from his Belgic Remi informants that the Ambiani had promised to muster 10,000 armed men against the Roman armies, among the lowest.[22][1]
An equal number were promised by the Nervii, accounted the fiercest among the Belgae, and dwelling farthest away; fifteen thousand by the Atrebates, ten by the Ambiani...
— Caesar 1917. Commentarii de Bello Gallico. 2:4.
During the winter of 54–53 BC, returning from an expedition in Britain, Caesar wintered with three legions at Samarobriva.[23] When Vercingetorix was besieged in Alesia in 52 BC, the Ambiani sent 5,000 men.[24][1]
Between 386 and 450 AD, they are still documented by the Notitia Galliarum as living in the province of Belgica II, between the Bellovaci and the Morini.[25]
Religion
There is some evidence from coins that bear a stag on one side and a betorced head on the obverse that the Ambiani were followers of the god Cernunnos (horned God).[26]
Economy
The Ambiani were consummate minters, especially of gold coins. Whereas other Gallic tribes generally imitated Arverni coins, themselves inspired by Philip II of Macedon staters, the Ambiani imitated coinages from Magna Graecia, in the southern part of the Italian Peninsula.[27] Their first emissions of coins are thus copies of a stater minted by Taranto between 334 and 302 BC.[27][28]
-
Ambiani gold stater. Celticised horse.
-
Ambiani gold stater. Stylized head.
-
Ambiani gold stater. Stylized horse.
Ambianic coinage has been found throughout the territories of other Belgic tribes, including in the
References
- ^ a b c Kruta 2000, p. 408.
- ^ a b c Schön 2006.
- .
- Livius. Periochae, 104.
- ^ Strabo 1923. Geōgraphiká, 4:3:5, 4:6:11.
- ^ Pliny 1938. Naturalis Historia, 4:17.
- ^ Ptolemy. Geōgraphikḕ Hyphḗgēsis, 2:9:4.
- Itinerarium Antonini Augusti, 362:4.
- ^ Notitia Dignitatum, or 6:36, oc 9:39.
- ^ a b Falileyev 2010, s.v. Ambiani, Samarobriva Ambianorum, and Augusta Ambianorum.
- ^ Wightman 1985, p. 26; Kruta 2000, p. 408; Busse 2006, p. 198
- ISBN 978-0-19-967776-4.
- ^ Lambert 1995, pp. 116–117.
- ^ Nègre 1990, p. 151.
- ^ Wightman 1985, pp. 26–27.
- ^ Talbert 2000, Map 11: Sequana-Rhenus.
- ^ a b Bayard 2015, pp. 147–148.
- ^ Delamarre 2003, pp. 41, 89.
- ^ Bayard 2015, pp. 151–152.
- ^ a b Bayard & Massy 1983, p. 13.
- ^ Caesar 1917. Commentarii de Bello Gallico. 2:4.
- ^ Caesar 1917. Commentarii de Bello Gallico. 2:4, 2:15
- ^ Bayard 2015, pp. 145–146.
- ^ Caesar 1917, Commentarii de Bello Gallico. 7:75–77.
- ^ Bayard & Massy 1983, p. 16.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-901405-49-4.
- ^ a b c Bayard & Massy 1983, p. 14.
- ^ Kruta 2000, p. 110.
- ^ Kruta 2000, p. 515.
Primary sources
- ISBN 978-0-674-99331-0.
- ISBN 978-0-674-99080-7.
- ISBN 978-0-674-99445-4.
- ISBN 9780674993648.
- ISBN 978-0674990562.
Bibliography
- Bayard, Didier; Massy, Jean-Luc (1983). "Amiens romain. Samarobriva et la cité des Ambiani". Revue archéologique de Picardie. 2 (1): 13–28. ISSN 1272-6117.
- Bayard, Didier (2015). "Amiens/Samarobriva, cité des Ambiens: Aux origines de la ville romaine". Gallia. 72 (1): 145–160. JSTOR 44744312.
- Busse, Peter E. (2006). "Belgae". In ISBN 978-1-85109-440-0.
- ISBN 9782877723695.
- Falileyev, Alexander (2010). Dictionary of Continental Celtic Place-names: A Celtic Companion to the Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World. CMCS. ISBN 978-0955718236.
- ISBN 2-221-05690-6.
- .
- ISBN 978-2-600-02883-7.
- Schön, Franz (2006). "Ambiani". Brill's New Pauly. .
- ISBN 978-0691031699.
- ISBN 978-0-520-05297-0.