Bellovaci
The Bellovaci (
Name
They are mentioned as Bellovacos and Bellovaci by Caesar (mid-1st c. BC),[2] Belloákoi (Βελλοάκοι) by Strabo (early 1st c. AD),[3] Bellovaci by Pliny (1st c. AD),[4] and as Belloúakoi (Βελλούακοι) by Ptolemy (2nd c. AD).[5][6]
The ethnonym Bellovacī is a latinized form of Gaulish Bellouacoi (sing. Bellouacos). The latter derives from the stem bello- ('strong, forceful'), but the translation of the suffix -uaco- is uncertain. It could mean 'curved' (cf. Lat. uaccilare), or else be related to the Irish fachain ('striving') and the Scottish Gaelic fachail ('fight, strife').[7][8]
The city of Beauvais, attested ca. 400 AD as civitas Bellovacorum ('civitas of the Bellovaci', Belvacus in 874, Biauvais in 1132), is named after the Belgic tribe.[9]
Geography
The territory of the Bellovaci was located in the Thérain valley, south of the Ambiani.[1] They dominated on wooded heights, which constituted a natural frontier with the Veliocasses.[10] To the east lived the more powerful Suessiones, who were probably able to contain potential expansions of the Bellovaci beyond the Oise river.[10]
The capital of their civitas was known as Caesaromagus (present-day Beauvais) during the Roman era.[1] The Bellovaci most likely controlled the hill-fort Gournay-sur-Aronde, in which sanctuary may have been a site of fairs welcoming the Ambiani and Viromandui.[10]
Economy
Their territory straddled the route from the Seine to the Somme valleys. They were clients of the Aedui in central Gaul by the first century BC. The lack of specific gold coinage related to the Bellovaci also suggests a moderate economic power.[10]
History
Roman conquest
This campaign occurred in the
Bellovaci employed guerrilla warfare, in particular targeting Roman foragers.[11] Meanwhile, Caesar's strategic plan was to draw the Bellovaci forces out into open ground.
Conquest
Caesar ordered troops into the territory of the Suessiones, but chose to confront the Bellovaci himself. The Bellovaci, led by Correus, camped at Mount St. Marc, intending to attack head on if Caesar brought three legions, and to use guerrilla tactics if he brought more. The Roman camp was located at Mount St. Pierre, and heavily fortified with two ditches and two lines of defences. The events of this campaign were recorded by Aulus Hirtius, though his findings do not entirely correspond with the geography of the region – he provided only that the Bellovaci camped at a “high wooded place surrounded by marsh”.[12][13]
The Bellovaci were surprised by the arrival of Roman troops, and Julius Caesar was intimidated by the size of enemy forces, even though he (Caesar) had a large force of about 30,000 men with him, including four legions, tribes, and a few baggage trains. Neither initiated battle.
The battles were initially small confrontations with varying success across the marsh surrounding Bellovaci territory. The
Defeat and post-conquest period
Eventually, Caesar built a bridge crossed the marsh by Mount St. Marc, positioning his troops within missile range of the Bellovaci camp.
References
- ^ a b c Schön 2006.
- ^ Caesar. Commentarii de Bello Gallico. 2:4, 5:46, 7:59.
- ^ Strabo. Geōgraphiká, 4:3:5.
- ^ Pliny. Naturalis Historia, 4:106.
- ^ Ptolemy. Geōgraphikḕ Hyphḗgēsis, 2:9:4.
- ^ Falileyev 2010, s.v. Bellovaci.
- ^ Delamarre 2003, pp. 72, 305.
- ^ Busse 2006, p. 199.
- ^ Nègre 1990, p. 152.
- ^ a b c d Wightman 1985, p. 27.
- ^ Ross, Josephine H (May 1939). "In Behalf of Caesar's Enemies". The Classical Journal. 34, 8: 449–460.
- JSTOR 1781759.
- ^ Holmes, T. Rice (January 1931). "The Topography of Caesar's Campaign against the Bellovaci (51 BC)". The Geographical Journal. 61, 1: 44–48.
- ^ Peck, Harry Thurston (1898). "Bellovaci". Harper's Dictionary of Classical Antiquities. Harper Brothers.
- ^ Coulter, Cornelia Catlin (April 1931). "Caesar's Clemency". The Classical Journal. 26, 7: 513–524.
- ^ Julius Caesar, Commentarii de Bello Gallico 2.14
Bibliography
- Busse, Peter E. (2006). "Belgae". In Koch, John T. (ed.). Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. pp. 195–200. 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 978-2-600-02883-7.
- Schön, Franz (2006). "Bellovaci". Brill's New Pauly. .
- ISBN 978-0-520-05297-0.
Further reading
- Radin, Max (July 1918). "The Date of Composition of Caesar's Gallic War". Classical Philology. 13, 3 (3): 283–300. doi:10.1086/360180.