In
general terms, the Romans
coined the name 'Gaul' to describe the
Celtic tribes of what is now
central, northern and eastern
France. To the north
of these were the tribes of the
Belgae, divided from
the Gauls by the rivers Marne and the Seine. The Treveri may have been included
amongst the Belgae, being located in the midst of them by the middle of the
first century BC. At this time they occupied a broad swathe of territory in
the valley of the Moselle, in what is now the Ardennes region in
south-eastern Belgium. They were
neighboured to the north by the
Caerosi, to the west by the
Segni and
Remi, to the south by the
Mediomatrici, and to
the east by the GermanicVagiones between the
Moselle and the Rhine, and the
Tencteri,
Usipetes, and
Mattiaci on the Rhine's
east bank.
The Belgae would seem to be an eastern branch of Celts who migrated to the
Atlantic coast some time after their Gaulish cousins had already established
themselves to the south. Their dialect probably used a 'b' or a 'v' sound
where their western cousins in Gaul used a 'w' sound, opening up different
interpretations for their names. The Treveri tribal name without its plural
is Trever ('tre' plus 'wer'). It is an obscure name, but an educated guess
would suggest 'Tre' or 'Treb', for 'house', plus 'wiro' for 'a man' using
an East Germanic 'wer' pronunciation (as in werewolf, a man wolf). The use
of 'were' in Germanic tongues is a direct borrowing from the common Celtic
'wiros', seen in 'werewolf' and 'weregild', and also in various tribal
names.
The tribe occupied territory in the lower valley of the Moselle, within the
southern fringes of the vast Arduenna Silva (the forest of the Ardennes). They
had an oppidum at modern Trier in Germany. This was expanded by the
Romans as Colonia Augusta Treverorum, by which time it was the provincial
capital of Gallia Belgica itself. Julius Caesar stated that the Celts who
lived nearest the Rhine waged continual war against the German tribes on
the other side, and the Treveri certainly seemed to have their share of
fighting. Known for their horsemanship which made them the best cavalry in
Gaul, Julius Caesar relates that, although they spoke in a Celtic tongue,
they claimed German descent. They could be yet another tribe with mixed
heritage, but their belligerence would seem to mark them out as being more
Germanic than Celtic (or at least Germanic-led). They managed to become
overlords to the nearby
Condrusi and
Eburones tribes,
and quite possibly the Caerosi too.
The Treveri are thought to arrive in the
Ardennes region around this time, or perhaps a little earlier. They later
claim (to Julius Caesar) that although they speak a
Celtic tongue,
their ancestry is Germanic.
This suggests a group of migrants from
Scandinavia that had previously headed westwards to encounter a Celtic
warrior group, with the Celts taking control. This is not an uncommon
occurrence at this time, although in the first few centuries AD the
pendulum swings the other way, with Germanic elites taking over Celtic
tribes.
The thick forest of the Ardennes formed part of the
Treveri homeland when they arrived there in the early or
mid-second century BC
60? BC
Ariovistus is a leader of the
Suevi and
other allied Germanic peoples
in the second quarter of the first century BC, and at least up to 58 BC. Displaying
the interconnected nature of Germanics and
Celts at this time,
he is a fluent speaker of Gaulish, and one of his two wives is the daughter of
Vocion of the
Norican kingdom. Ariovistus
and his followers take part in a war in Gaul, assisting the Gallic
Arverni and
Sequani to defeat their rivals,
the Aeduii.
Ariovistus seizes one-third of the Aeduii territory in the Alsace region, and
then clears out the Sequani to settle more Germans there, while demanding yet
more land for his allies, the
Harudes.
This latter tribe go on to harass the Treveri to such an extent that they
send an ambassador to Julius Caesar.
57 BC
The
Belgae enter into a
confederacy against the
Romans
in fear of Rome's eventual domination over them. They are also spurred on by
Gauls who are unwilling to see
Germanic tribes remaining
on Gaulish territory and are unhappy about Roman troops wintering in Gaul.
The Senones are asked by
Julius Caesar to gain intelligence on the intentions of the Belgae, and they
report that an army is being collected. Caesar marches ahead of expectations
and the Remi, on the Belgic
border, instantly surrender, although their brethren, the
Suessiones remain
enthusiastic about the venture. The
Bellovaci are the most
powerful among the Belgae, but the confederation also includes the
Ambiani,
Atrebates,
Atuatuci,
Caerosi,
Caleti,
Condrusi,
Eburones,
Menapii,
Morini,
Nervii,
Paemani,
Veliocasses, and
Viromandui,
along with some unnamed Germans on the western side of the Rhine.
Although Caesar defeats the Bellovaci and Suessiones, and accepts the surrender
of the Ambiani. The Nervii, refusing any surrender, assemble with the Atrebates
and Viromandui to offer battle. The Atuatuci are expected to join them, but the
Nervii launch an early surprise attack at the Battle of the Sabis (probably the
River Selle). The Romans are supported by auxiliaries sent by the Treveri, while
the Nervii are backed up by the Atrebates. The attack surprises the Romans, but
they rally and turn potential defeat into a near-massacre of the Nervii, although
the Treveri are routed and fly home, crying that the Romans have been defeated.
With this action, northern Gaul has been brought under Roman domination.
56 BC
Following his successful campaign against the
Belgae in the previous
year, Caesar sets out for Illyricum. Once he has left, war flares up again,
triggered by Publius Licinius Crassus and the Seventh Legion in the territory of
the Andes. With supplies of
corn running low, he sends scavenging parties into the territories of the
Cariosvelites,
Esubii, and the highly
influential
Veneti.
The latter revolt against this infringement of their lands and possessions,
and the neighbouring tribes rapidly follow their lead, including the
Ambiliati,
Diablintes,
Lexovii,
Menapii,
Morini,
Namniti,
Nannetes, and Osismii.
The Veneti also send for auxiliaries from their cousins in
Britain.
Julius Caesar rushes back to northern Gaul, to a fleet that is being prepared for
him by the (Roman-led) Pictones
and
Santones on the River Loire.
The Veneti and their allies fortify their towns, stock them with corn harvests
from the surrounding countryside, and gather together as many ships as possible.
Knowing that the overland passes are cut off by estuaries and that a seaward
approach is highly difficult for their opponents, they plan to fight the
Romans
using their powerful navy in the shallows of the Loire.
Before engaging the Veneti, Caesar sends troops to the
Remi, Treveri, and other
Belgae to encourage them to keep to their allegiance with Rome and to
hold the Rhine against possible incursions by
Germans who may be
planning to join the Veneti. This works, with even the previously militant
Bellovaci remaining
subdued during this revolt. Crassus is sent to Aquitania and Quintus
Titurius Sabinus to the Cariosvelites, Lexovii and
Venelli, to prevent
them sending reinforcements to the Veneti. Sabinus finds that Viridovix
of the Venelli has joined the revolt, along with the
Aulerci
and Sexovii, who have killed
their magistrates for wanting to remain neutral. Sabinus remains in his
well-fortified camp, resisting the taunts of the Venelli and their allies
until they venture too far forwards, allowing a Roman sally across the
defensive ditch and into the fleeing Celtic ranks. This area of the revolt
is instantly extinguished.
Roman auxiliaries in the form of the Aeduii attack a Veneti
vessel in Morbihan Bay on the French Atlantic coast during the
campaign of 56 BC
The campaign by Caesar against the Veneti is protracted and takes place both on
land and sea. Veneti strongholds, when threatened, are evacuated by sea and the
Romans have to begin again. Eventually the Veneti fleet is cornered and defeated
in Quiberon Bay by Legate Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus. The Veneti strongholds
are stormed and much of the Veneti population is either captured and enslaved or
butchered. The confederation is destroyed and Roman rule is firmly stamped upon
the region.
An internal power struggle has developed between Cingetorix, who is
pro-Roman,
and Indutiomarus, who opposes him. Indutiomarus persuades his people to join the
revolt led by Ambiorix of the
Eburones, and
declares Cingetorix to be an enemy of the tribe. His property is duly confiscated.
A legion under Quintus Titurius Sabinus and Lucius Aurunculeius Cotta is
defeated by the Treveri and their allies during the revolt, with both generals
being killed and the survivors committing suicide in their fort to avoid capture.
Only a few men escape to relate the news to Caesar before Cingetorix presents
himself to Caesar's legate, Titus Labienus. It is Labienus who goes on to defeat
and kills Indutiomarus in a cavalry engagement. Cingetorix is forced upon the
tribe as its new ruler, after a relative of Indutiomarus is selected by the
tribe to lead it. The result is that leading groups of Treveri apparently cross
the Rhine and settle amongst the
Germanic tribes there, taking
their own selected chief with them and effectively dividing the tribe in two.
53 - ? BC
?
An anti-Roman
relative of Indutiomarus. Migrated across Rhine.
While Caesar is tied down in
Rome,
the Gauls begin their revolt, resolving to die in freedom rather than be suppressed
by the invaders. The Carnutes take
the lead under Cotuatus and Conetodunus when they kill the Roman traders who have
settled in Genabum. News of the event reaches the
Arverni that
morning, and Vercingetorix summons his people to arms. Despite being expelled from
the town of Gergovia by his uncle, Gobanitio, and the rest of the nobles in their
fear of such a risky enterprise, he gathers together an army. The
Aulerci,
Cadurci,
Lemovices,
Parisii,
Pictones,
Senones, and
Turones all join him, as do all of
the tribes that border the ocean. The (Belgic or western) Treveri support the revolt
but are pinned down by German tribes.
They play no further part in the events of 52 BC.
Organising the various tribes of Gaul into a unified resistance
took some doing, but Vercingetorix of the Arverni appears to
have held a level of authority that made him a leader not to be
refused, and thousands of warriors flocked to join him
30 BC
The Belgic Treveri revolt again, a move that forces Augustus to focus his
attentions on consolidating
Rome's hold on
Gaul. Once the Treveri have been subdued they are forcibly integrated into the Roman
administrative system, removing any political independence they may retain. The
reorganisation of Gaul places the Treveri in Gallia Belgica and Augusta Tevarorum
(Trier) is established as a major provincial administration centre complete with its
own legion.
AD 21
Julius Florus
Revolt leader and noble. Committed suicide.
AD 21
The somewhat divided Aeduii
appear to have been neglected by
Rome.
The dissatisfaction of the tribe's people results in a revolt by them and the
Treveri under the leadership of Julius Sacroviros of the Aeduii and Julius
Florus of the Treveri. They seize control of Augustodunum, but are quickly
put down by Gaius Silius. Sacroviros is forced to flee with a few of his
followers and takes refuge in the Aeduii countryside. Soon afterwards they
all commit suicide in the Roman fashion, by the sword. Julius Florus is
defeated in battle against Gaius Sillius' lieutenant, Julius Indus. He
commits suicide to avoid capture.
386/387
Remarkably, the Treveri still exist as a recognisable group after nearly
four hundred years of inclusion within the
Roman
empire. The best-known piece of evidence for Late Gaulish is found in St
Jerome's (331-420) commentary on St Paul's letter to the
Galatians,
written in the year 386/387 (the calculation is somewhat imprecise). In it
he says that the language of the Treveri in the Belgica is similar to that
of the Galatians. Apart from the Greek language, which is spoken throughout
the entire east of the empire, the Galatians have their own language which
is almost the same as that of the Treveri. It serves to confirm that,
whatever their mixed origins, the Treveri (and by extension all
Belgae)
spoke Celtic, not Germanic
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