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. By the middle of the
first century BC, the Morini were located along the coast of modern
Belgium in the region of
Flanders. They were
neighboured to the north-east by the
Menapii, to the
south-east by the Nervii,
to the south by the
Atrebates, to the
south-west by the Ambiani,
and across the English Channel by the
Cantiaci.
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. When it comes to breaking down the Morini
tribal name, the highest probability is that it is simply 'mor', meaning
'sea' or 'ocean', plus a plural suffix '-in', influenced by contact with the
Germanic plural '-en'.
They were 'the oceaners' or perhaps, in less lofty terms, 'the seasiders'.
The tribe was centred around modern Calais, with a western border along the
River Canache and one to the east on the River Scheldt. Their oppidum
was Tarvenna (modern Thérouanne in the Pas-de-Calais departement). They also
had a settlement at Gesoriacum (modern Boulogne-sur-Mer). This has also been
identified with Portus Itius, the otherwise unlocated port which was used as
an embarkation point for Julius Caesar's second expedition to
Britain in 54 BC.
(Information by Peter Kessler and Edward Dawson, with additional information
from The La Tene Celtic Belgae Tribes in England: Y-Chromosome Haplogroup
R-U152 - Hypothesis C, David K Faux, 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 Link:
The
Works of Julius Caesar: Gallic Wars.)
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.
The Battle of the (River) Axona (the modern Aisne in
north-eastern France) witnessed the beginning of the end of the
Belgic confederation against Rome
The Morini role in the war is not mentioned, but Caesar either faces
down the other Belgic tribes in battle (especially at the Axona) or
accepts their surrender during the course of a single campaigning season.
With this action, northern Gaul has been brought under Roman domination,
while the victorious legions winter amongst the
Andes,
Carnutes,
and Turones.
56 BC
Following his successful campaign against the
Belgae, 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.
Now only the Morini and Menapii remain in opposition to Rome, never having
sent their ambassadors to agree peace terms. Caesar leads his army to their
territory but they withdraw into the forests and marshes, having realised
that head-on conflict will be fruitless. However, guerrilla warfare simply
results in the Romans decimating the countryside and burning the villages,
and the invaders return to winter quarters amongst the Aulerci and Lexovii
and other recently conquered tribes, having seen off the latest threat.
55 BC
As recorded by Julius Caesar in his work, Commentarii de Bello Gallico,
the GermanicTencteri and
Usipetes
tribes are driven out of their tribal lands in Germania by the militarily dominant
Suevi.
This probably places them on the middle Rhine. Caesar, alarmed at this threat
to the north of territory in Gaul that he has already conquered, takes a force
into the region and attacks the Germanic tribes and drives them back into
Germania with heavy losses. After a brief foray into Germania to show the
tribes there that they can be invaded in return, he mounts his first expedition
to
Britain.
This romanticised illustration of Germanic warriors bore little
similarity to the rough and ready warriors of the Germanic
tribes along the Rhine
On his return, two ships carrying troops are blown off course and make port
a little farther down the coast. The Morini, who had pleaded for peace with
Caesar before his departure, now see the opportunity for some trophies and
they surround the troops. Caesar sends cavalry to relieve them and the Romans
manage to withdraw after about four hours of fighting. The Morini are
subsequently quelled, and an attempt is made to do the same to the
Menapii,
although they avoid a confrontation by hiding in the woods.
54 BC
Commius of the Atrebates
accompanies Caesar on his second expedition to
Britain,
which embarks from Portus Itius, which probably lies within the territory of
the Morini. Commius is used to persuade High King Cassivellaunus, king of the
Catuvellauni,
to succumb to the
Romans.
Commius returns to Gaul with Caesar. In reward for his loyalty he is granted
command of the Morini and his newly expanded kingdom is exempted from taxes.
53 BC
The expedition to
Britain by Julius Caesar goes ahead, following which he is forced to
winter his troops in different quarters in Gaul owing to the poor harvests
of that year. One legion is given to Caius Fabius to be quartered in the
territories of the Morini, while Quintus Cicero takes another to the
Nervii, Lucius Roscius
takes one to the lands of the
Essui,
and Titus Labienus goes to the Remi
'in the confines of the Treveri'.
Three more legions are stationed amongst the
Belgae and one
with the Eburones
who are commanded by Ambiorix and Cativolcus. The Morini appear to play
no part in the subsequent rebellion by the Eburones and Treveri.
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.
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. His cavalry
subsequently routed in battle, he withdraws in good order to Alesia, a
major fort belonging 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.
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
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. Among tose 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
is tied to that of the empire.
4th century AD
By now, Gesoriacum is known as Bononia (modern Boulogne-sur-Mer) as its
focus shifts away from its original centre. It has also been the home of
the Classis Britannica, the
Roman
fleet of the north.
