European Kingdoms

Parisii / Quarisii (Gauls)

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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. The Gauls were divided from the Belgae to the north by the Marne and the Seine, and from the Aquitani to the south by the River Garonne (see feature link for a discussion of the origins of the Celtic name).

By the middle of the first century BC, the Parisii were located in northern Gaul, along the valley of the Seine with a capital which survived them and which still bears their name: Paris. They were neighboured to the north by the Veliocasses, to the north-east by the Suessiones, to the east by the Remi and Catalauni, to the south-west by the Senones, and to the west by the Eburovices.

The Parisii name possibly derived from the proto-Celtic 'kwarjo' (a linguistically-conjectured word meaning 'kettle'). This 'kw' became a 'p', in the form of 'parjo', or 'people of the kettle'. In reaching this result, Edward Dawson questions whether the Parisii could have been be related to the Belgae.

Given the similarity of this name with that of the Parisi tribe in Britain, he suggests that the latter group may have split from the continental Parisii and migrated from Gaul to Britain, a notion which is discounted by some scholars. Instead this may have happened the other way around, with elements of the British Parisi arriving in Gaul, or (even more likely) the tribe dividing before arriving in either location.

An alternative source of the Parisi tribal name - and especially its Quarisii name variant - may come from the proto-Celtic *karīso-, meaning 'a kernel of fruit'. This was altered in P-Celtic to 'pariso', and was cognate/ancestral to the Welsh 'ffrwyth' [-au, -ydd, m.] (n.), meaning 'fruit, outcome, produce, product, vigour, use'. It was probably used metaphorically rather than literally.

The tribe occupied their territory on the banks of the River Sequana (the Seine) from the middle of the third century BC. As far as can be seen, they were ceded the territory by the nearby Senones to whom they may have been related.

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(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), from Geography, Ptolemy, from the Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography, William Smith, from The History of Rome, Volume 1, Titus Livius, translated by Rev Canon Roberts, from Celts and the Classical World, David Rankin, from the Encyclopaedia of European Peoples, Carl Waldman & Catherine Mason, from Caesar's Conquest of Gaul, TR Holmes, from The Celtic Encyclopaedia, Harry Mountain, from Encyclopaedia of the Roman Empire, Matthew Bunson (1994), and from External Links: The Works of Julius Caesar: Gallic Wars, and Geography, Strabo (H C Hamilton & W Falconer, London, 1903, Perseus Online Edition), and The Natural History, Pliny the Elder (John Bostock, Ed), and Paris Info, and Perseus Digital Library, and the Indo-European Etymological Dictionary, J Pokorny, and Jones' Celtic Encyclopaedia, 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).)

c.250s BC

The Parisii are known to be occupying the banks of the River Sequana (the Seine) from the middle of the third century BC. Who they displace (if anyone) is unknown but they appear to be ceded their territory by the Senones in a rejuggling of territorial holdings.

The Kirkburn sword was one of the greatest treasures to be unearthed from the East Yorkshire region of the Parisi. Dated to 300-200 BC, it comes from the grave of a Celtic man

The Parisi of Britain, thought by some to be a splinter of this group, seem already to be settled there before this date, perhaps making it more likely that the Parisii of the Seine are the splinter group, or that division had taken place before either group had settled.

1st century BC

By the beginning of the first century BC, and perhaps for an indeterminate period before it, the Aeduii are at the head of a tribal confederation which also includes the Ambarri, Aulerci, Bellovaci, Bituriges Cubi, Brannovices, Mandubii, Parisii, Segusiavi, and Senones.

Against this confederation in the contest for supremacy in Gaul are the Arverni, to its immediate south, and the Sequani to its east. The Parisii and Senones also face regular warfare waged against them by the aggressive Remi to their east, who are in alliance with some of the Germanic tribes which are situated along the Rhine.

The Aeduii confederation is shown here, around 100 BC, with borders approximate and fairly conjectural, based on the locations of the tribes half a century later - it can be seen that the Aulerci at least migrate farther north-west during that time, although the remainder largely stay put (click or tap on map to view full sized)

c.60 - 50 BC

Gallo-Belgic F coins are also found in many coastal areas of Britain, introducing the triple-tailed horse design on the reverse which becomes widespread over the next few decades. The existence of so many coins which are linked to the Suessiones, or which ape their design, suggests to scholars that the Suessiones form a considerable portion of the Belgic peoples who migrate to Britain from the second century BC.

These coins are also concentrated in the territory of the Parisii, forming another link between this tribe and the Belgae which perhaps backs up the theory that they originate as a splinter of the Parisi of Britain.

57 BC

The Parisii apparently play no part in this period in the Gaulish fight against Julius Caesar and Roman domination. With the conclusion of Caesar's various actions, that domination has been secured over northern Gaul, but the Parisii may welcome them as allies, offering no objection to their presence. Does this mark them out again as being different to their immediate neighbours, or does it simply show them following a different political path?

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)

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. 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 which border the ocean. The Treveri support the revolt but are pinned down by Germanic tribes.

Labienus marches with four legions to the Parisii town of Lutetia. Gauls from the neighbouring states immediately gather to oppose him, under the leadership of the aged but still very wise Camulogenus of the Aulerci. Labienus pulls back to Melodunum of the Senones, takes the town by force, and marches again against Camulogenus.

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

The ensuing battle sees the Gauls defeated and Camulogenus killed. Labienus joins Caesar while Vercingetorix levies troops from the Aeduii and Segusiavi. These he places under the command of the brother of Eporedirix and orders them to attack the Allobroges.

His cavalry routed in battle, Vercingetorix 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.

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 who are demanded from the tribes of Gaul are eight thousand each from the Helvii (despite the tribe's pro-Roman standing), Parisii, Pictones, and Turones.

Together they attempt to relieve Vercingetorix at the siege of Alesia, but the combined relief force is soundly repulsed by Julius Caesar's remarkable strategy of simultaneously conducting the siege of Alesia on one front whilst being besieged on the other. Seeing that all is lost, Vercingetorix surrenders to Caesar.

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 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.

52 BC

Following the defeat of Vercingetorix, Roman subjugation is renewed over Gaul. The Parisii may willingly accept this, renewing their alliance. To back up this possibility, their chief settlement grows into a major Romano-Celtic city.

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.

27 BC - AD 100

Now in Roman hands, Lutetia Parisiorum on its island on the Seine is developed into a city with a population of an estimated eight thousand-or-so people. It is not politically important, however. Agedincum (modern Sens, Yonne) remains the regional capital in the form of Lugdunensis Senona.

Rome during the height of the empire was a sprawling great city, by now complete with its famous forum, circus, and winding viaducts

c.AD 250

Lutetia Parisiorum receives Christianity in this century, according to tradition when St Denis of the Roman Church becomes the city's first bishop. Around the middle of the century, St Denis and two of his companions are arrested and decapitated on the hill of Mons Mercurius during the persecutions of Emperor Decius.

Roman foundations have been found here by archaeologists and, after this date, the hill is better known as Mons Martyrum (Martyrs' Hill). The name survives today as Montmartre.

360

At the start of the year Julian (the Apostate) is wintering in Lutetia Parisiorum when reports reach him that the Scotti and Picts have broken a previous agreement and are plundering lands close to the frontier in Britain.

Given the critical situation on the Rhine, especially with the Alemanni, he is unable to leave so he sends his magister militum, Lupicinus, along with some of his best units, the Heruli, the Batavi, and two numeri Moesiacorum.

The traditional view of Picts as the 'painted people' is based on a description given by the Romans, and the use of blue woad as a body paint does seem to have been highly prevalent in the far north of Britain

Lupicinus marshals his forces at London, but is recalled following Julian being proclaimed emperor by his troops. Around the same time, Lutetia itself is ravaged by a barbarian attack. Following Julian's acceptance of the imperial title the city is re-baptised as 'Paris'.

It is also around this time that the city quarter on the left bank of the Seine which has previously housed the baths, theatres, and the amphitheatre is gradually abandoned with the population being concentrated on the island itself. This receives new fortifications at a time at which much of Gaul is being fortified.

451

To preserve their new domains, the Visigoths fight on the side of Rome to halt the advance of the Huns at the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains, in the former territory of the Catalauni. During the same campaign, St Geneviève deflects the Hunnic leader, Attila, from taking Paris. The city later proclaims her its patron saint.

A medieval map of the city of Paris in the tenth century AD under the rule of Hugh Capet, although by this time Paris had declined from its two periods of greatness under the Romans and the Merovingians, although this map clearly shows the importance of the island at the city's heart

508

Clovis, king of the Franks, makes Paris his capital. The city is forever tied to the Franks from this point forwards, even though it is allowed to decline under the Carolingian kings of the eighth and ninth centuries.