European Kingdoms

Silvanecti (Belgae)
Incorporating the Ulmanetes & Ulvanectoi

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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).

By the middle of the first century BC, the Silvanecti (sometimes Sulbanecti) were a minor Belgic tribe which occupied territory around the Valois, Île-de-France, with an oppidum at Augustomagus (modern Senlis). Pliny's Natural Histories names them as the Ulmanetes or Ulbanectes (with Ulvanectoi as another variation), and describes them as liberi, indicating that they enjoyed a certain amount of autonomy within the Roman province of Gallia Belgica II despite having been a client tribe of the more powerful Suessiones.

The Belgae appear to have been formed of tribes which were seaborne and which lived along the North Atlantic and/or Baltic coastlines. They would seem to have been a branch of Celts who had established themselves in Northern Europe, although precisely where is entirely open to speculation (not to mention some heated debate).

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. It was Julius Caesar who stated that the Silvanecti were a client of the Suessiones, and that they fought with them as part of the Belgic alliance (of 57 BC). They may only have gained a semblance of independence following the defeat of the Belgae, perhaps in much the same way as the Belgae and Regninses of Britain seemingly did after the Roman conquest there.

Breaking down the variations of their name produces interesting results. The word 'Silvanecti' is formed of two parts, with 'silva' being the Latin word for 'forest'. The second part is the common Celtic name, Nectan, with a possible meaning of *nexti-, 'night', cognate with the Latin 'nox, noctis' which has the same meaning. The Romanised version of this name (which is the only version to be recorded) refers to them as the 'forest of night'.

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(Information by Peter Kessler, Edward Dawson, and Trish Wilson, with additional information from The Oxford History of England: Roman Britain, Peter Salway, 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 the Complete Works of Tacitus, Alfred John Church, William Jackson Brodribb, & Lisa Cerrato, from Roman Soldier versus Germanic Warrior: 1st Century AD, Lindsay Powell, from Reallexicon der Germanischen Altertumkunde, J Hoops & H Beck (1968-2008, in German), from De voorgeschiedenis der Lage Landen, S J Laet (J B Wolters, 1959, in Dutch), from Keltisch en Germaans in de Nederlanden, Lauran Toorians (Belgisch Genootschap voor Keltische Studies, 2005, in Dutch), from Histoire de la Gaule, Danièle Roman & Yves Roman (Fayard, 1997, in French), from La civilization de la Tene/en Champagne, le faciès marnie, Denise Bretz-Mahler (CNRS, 1997, in French), from Gallia Belgica, Edith Wightman (Batsford, 1985), and from External Links: The Works of Julius Caesar: Gallic Wars, and The Natural History, Pliny the Elder (John Bostock, Ed), 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).)

mid-200s BC

A large number of Gallo-Belgic A coins are to be found in southern Britain at this time or soon afterwards. This suggests heavy trade with the Ambiani tribe in northern Gaul, but also the probability that Ambiani have settled in Hampshire, possibly as the earliest representatives of the tribe of the Belgae.

Shown here is a gold Gallo-Belgic quarter stater of the C-type, which can be dated between 80-60 BC, at least a couple of decades before the first of Julius Caesar's expeditions to Britain

The Suessiones may be another Belgic tribe which is settling heavily in Britain from this time. The Silvanecti may not even exist at this time, or may be no more than a Suessiones clan.

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 that becomes widespread over the next few decades.

The existence of so many coins that 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 continental Parisii.

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)

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 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 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 in its fight against Rome