European Kingdoms

Caemani / Paemani (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 Paemani were one of four tribes described by Julius Caesar as Germanic but with at least one leader who bore a Celtic name. These tribes were the Caerosi, Condrusi, Eburones, and Paemani. Another, similar tribe not mentioned by Caesar was the Segni.

By the middle of the first century BC, the Paemani were located on the west bank of the Rhine, amongst the tribes of the Belgae in what is now northern France and the lowlands of Belgium. They were neighboured by the Germanic Batavi and Canninefates to the north, the Bructeri to the east, the Cugerni to the south, and the Menapii and Eburones to the west.

The Paemani also appear to have been known as the Caemani, which is very suggestive of the switch from Q-Celtic to P-Celtic. This switch appears not to have been complete or universal in Gaul at the time of Caesar's conquest. Could they have been the Caemani in Germanic tongues, but under the influence of Celtic speakers this became altered to Paemani?

The name breaks down into 'cae' plus 'man' plus the Latin suffix, '-i'. Actually determining the meaning of 'cae' is another matter. A best guess is that 'caen' was a form of the modern word 'keen' ('cene' in Anglo-Saxon), meaning 'keen' (even back then), plus 'fierce, bold, brave, warlike, powerful'. Attaching 'caen' to 'man' gives 'caenman' and the 'nm' merges together, usually appearing as an 'm'. This tribe was the 'keen men', the 'fierce men', etc.

Just to muddy the waters, Julius Caesar reports that the Paemani were commonly referred to by the name Germani (Germans), which means 'spear men'. Tacitus backs this up by claiming them as the original Germani after whom all other Germans had been named.

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(Information by Peter Kessler and Edward Dawson, with additional information by J L Putman and M Soenen (Archeo Kemmelberg), and Trish Wilson, from The La Tene Celtic Belgae Tribes in England: Y-Chromosome Haplogroup R-U152 - Hypothesis C, David K Faux, from Geography, Ptolemy, 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), from the Complete Works of Tacitus, Alfred John Church, William Jackson Brodribb, & Lisa Cerrato, from Roman Soldier versus Germanic Warrior: 1st Century AD, Lindsay Powell, and from External Links: The Works of Julius Caesar: Gallic Wars, and Kemmelberg (a History Files microsite), and The Illustrated History of Belgium.)

113 - 105 BC

A large-scale migration of Cimbri and Teutones passes through Central Europe, and along the way it picks up Celto-Germanic Helvetii peoples who at this time are located in central Germany (in territory which later becomes Franconia). Together this band enters southern Gaul and northern Italy, and comes up against the Roman republic.

An illustration depicting the Teutones wandering in Gaul, part of a large-scale migration from modern Denmark into northern Italy in the second century BC

As shocking as this invasion is to the Romans, according to the later writings of Julius Caesar, the 'Germani' tribes of the Caerosi, Condrusi, Eburones, and Paemani (and perhaps also the unmentioned Segni) have already settled in Gaul, along the eastern edges of Gaulish and Belgae territory around the modern Belgian and Dutch borders.

This suggests that the Germanic tribes are already pushing outwards from their Northern European base around the Danish peninsula and the southern shores of the Baltic.

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.

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)

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 amongst 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 Germanic units on the western side of the Rhine.

The Paemani 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.

The Battle of the (River) Axona (the modern Aisne in north-eastern France) witnessed the beginning of the end of the Belgic confederation in its fight against Rome

55 BC

As recorded by Julius Caesar in his work, Commentarii de Bello Gallico, the Germanic Tencteri and Usipetes tribes cross the Rhine from Germania and attack first the Belgic Menapii and then the Condrusi and Eburones.

52 BC

With the defeat of the pan-Gaulish revolt at Alesia, all of Gaul is brought under Roman domination, and the history of its population of Celts is tied to that of the empire. The Paemani are not mentioned again, but the area they occupy is named the Civitas Tungrorum by the Romans.

The tribe from which this name originates is the Tungri, whom Tacitus claims are original Germani who had later changed their name. This would make them relatives or a splinter of the Paemani. Perhaps the latter have been absorbed into the bigger Tungri tribe.

Many Belgic groups showed marked Germanic influences, so were they Celts with German words and warriors, or Germans with Celtic words and warriors? The truth probably lies somewhere in between