European Kingdoms

Mediomatrici / Mednomatrici (Gauls & Belgae)

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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, but bordered to their east by a slowly growing Germanic populace which only increased its pressure on them over time (see feature link for a discussion of the origins of the Celtic name).

The Mediomatrici may have been included as Belgae, being located in the midst of them by the middle of the first century BC. They occupied a swathe of the valley of the Moselle, around Luxembourg and Metz. They were neighboured to the north by the Treveri, across the Moselle to the east by the Germanic Vangiones and Nemetes, to the south by the Leuci, and to the west by the Remi.

The Belgae would seem to be a northern 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 Mediomatrici names breaks down into *medjo-, or *medi° which means 'middle' (in proto-Celtic), or *mātīr, for 'mother' (in proto-Celtic) The name is instantly understandable in Latin because the words are unchanged from the Latin version, making it common both to Latin and Celtic.

The name means 'middle mother(s)', probably making them followers of the middle goddess of the three mothers ('matres' being Latin for 'mothers'). These were female goddesses who were worshipped across north-western Europe during the Roman empire period, but it also carries echoes of the fictional Folk Mothers of the Early Netherlands.

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(Information by Peter Kessler and Edward Dawson, with additional information by Trish Wilson, from The La Tene Celtic Belgae Tribes in England: Y-Chromosome Haplogroup R-U152 - Hypothesis C, David K Faux, from The Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography, William Smith, from Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities, Harry Thurston Peck, from the Encyclopaedia of European Peoples, Carl Waldman & Catherine Mason, from Roman History, Cassius Dio, from Research into the Physical History of Mankind, James Cowles Pritchard, from Geography, Strabo, translated by H C Hamilton Esq & W Falconer, M A, Ed (George Bell & Sons, London, 1903), and from External Links: The Works of Julius Caesar: Gallic Wars, and The Germany and the Agricola of Tacitus: The Oxford Translation, Revised With Notes, Cornelius Tacitus, and The Illustrated History of Belgium, and L'Arbre Celtique (The Celtic Tree, in French), and Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz or Dictionnaire Historique de la Suisse or Dizionario Storico dell Svizzera (in German, French, and Italian respectively).)

9th century BC

Celtic Hallstatt culture ancestors of the Mediomatrici arrive in the Moselle valley, close to modern Metz. At Spires they venerate Nantosvelta (meaning 'meandering brook'), also known as Nantosuelta ('winding stream'). She is variously represented as a raven or by a woman with a birdhouse mounted on a staff and is a triple goddess who encompasses birth, death, and regeneration (echoes of the fabricated Folk Mothers of the Early Netherlands). Her consort is Sucellos.

This gold and amber jewellery unearthed from a Hallstatt culture burial reveal that very high levels of skill were involved in its creation in the first millennium BC

The tribe's apparent origins in the Hallstatt culture could later be concealed by a takeover by Belgae in the fourth or third centuries BC, or they could be Belgic from the start, perhaps only little influenced at this early stage by the nearby proto-Germanic tribes.

The spread of Belgae in Northern Europe is far too uncertain to form a firm conclusion to this question at any stage before they arrive in Gaul and Britain.

58 BC

Following Julius Casar's expulsion of the Suevi from Gaul, one of the confederation's constituent parts, the Vangiones, makes a separate peace with him. They are allowed to settle amongst the Mediomatrici, in the valley of the Moselle. Over the next half a century they gradually assume dominance in the settlement of Burbetomagus (modern Worms), making it their own capital.

While the entry of the Suevi into Gaul proved to be comparatively easy around 60 BC, the subsequent Battle of Vosges in 58 BC took part amidst the typically difficult terrain in the region (which is close to the modern German border in France), and against Roman troops and Rome's most brilliant general

53 BC

On 13 February 53 BC the disaffected Carnutes massacre every Roman merchant who is present in the town of Cenabum, as well as killing one of Caesar's commissariat officers. This is the spark which ignites amassed Gaulish rebellion.

While Julius Caesar is occupied in the lands of the Belgae, Vercingetorix has renewed the Arverni subjugation of the Aeduii. He has also restored the reputation of Arverni greatness by leading the revolt which is building against Rome.

Despite his former allegiance to Julius Caesar, in the winter of 53-52 BC Commius of the Atrebates uses his contacts with the Bellovaci to convince them to contribute two thousand men to an army. This army will join other Gauls to form a massive relief force at Alesia in the last stage of the revolt.

The Lemovices are also amongst the first tribes to commit to joining Vercingetorix, contributing ten thousand men. The Mediomatrici send five thousand, and the Andes, Ruteni, and Turones are also amongst the first to commit.

The site of Alesia, a major fort belonging to the Mandubii tribe of Celts, was the scene of the final desperate stand-off between Rome and the Gauls in 52 BC

The warriors of the Pictones decide to supply eight thousand warriors, but their chief, Duratios, stands firm in his desire to maintain his alliance with Rome, and this difference of opinion causes a split in the tribe. The warriors (Mediomatrici included) join the chief of the Andes who heads for Lemonum to besiege Duratios.

The king sends a messenger to the Roman legate, Caius Caninius, who comes to his aid from the territory of the Ruteni. This small force is soon backed up by a more effective unit under Caius Fabius and a Pictonii civil war is averted.

52 BC

While Caesar is tied down in Rome, the Gauls begin their revolt, resolving to die in freedom rather than be suppressed by the invaders. Vercingetorix summons his people to arms but, his cavalry subsequently routed in battle, he withdraws in good order to Alesia, a major fort which belongs to the Mandubii. The remaining cavalry are dispatched back to their tribes to bring reinforcements. Caesar begins a siege of Alesia, aiming on starving out the inhabitants.

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 which made him a leader not to be refused, and thousands of warriors flocked to join him

Four relief forces amounting to a considerable number of men and horses are assembled in the territory of the Aeduii by the council of the Gaulish nobility. Amongst those demanded from the tribes of Gaul are five thousand men each from the Ambiani, Mediomatrici, Morini, Nervii, Nitiobroges, Petrocorii, and Suessiones.

Together they attempt to relieve Vercingetorix at the siege of Alesia, but the combined relief force is soundly repulsed by Julius Caesar. Seeing that all is lost, Vercingetorix surrenders to Caesar. The garrison is taken prisoner, as are the survivors from the relief army.

They are either sold into slavery or given as booty to Caesar's legionaries, apart from the Aeduii and Arverni warriors who are released and pardoned in order to secure the allegiance of these important and powerful tribes.

With this action, all of Gaul has been brought under Roman domination, and the history of its population of Celts and Aquitani is tied to that of the emerging Roman empire.

Having surrendered with honour to Caesar in 52 BC, Vercingetorix remained a potent symbol of resistance to Roman domination, so his murder in 46 BC dealt a terminal blow to hopes of renewed Celtic freedom

AD 69 - 70

Gaius Julius Civilis leads a Batavian insurrection against a Rome which is distracted by the events of the 'Year of the Four Emperors'. Supported by the Bructeri, Canninefates, Chauci, Cugerni, and Tencteri, who send reinforcements, he is initially successful.

Castra Vetera is captured and two Roman legions are lost, while two others fall into the hands of the rebels. In AD 70 the Chatti, Mattiaci, and Usipetes join in, besieging the legionary fortress at Mogontiacum (modern Mainz).

Eventual Roman pressure with aid from the Mediomatrici, Sequani, and Tungri forces Civilis to retreat to the Batavian island where he agrees peace terms with General Quintus Petilius Cerialis. His subsequent fate is unknown, as is that of the brave Brinno, but the Batavi (and by inference the Canninefates) are treated with great consideration by Emperor Vespasian.

This vast map covers just about all possible tribes which were documented in the first centuries BC and AD, mostly by the Romans and Greeks, and with an especial focus on 52 BC (click or tap on map to view at an intermediate size)