European Kingdoms

Peucetii (Italics / Illyrians)

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What are generally known as West Indo-European tribes arrived at the eastern edge of Central Europe around 2500 BC. Their northern group later became the proto-Celts of the Urnfield culture while the southern group seemingly migrated westwards and southwards, reaching Iberia, Illyria, and northern Italy.

Already further divided into semi-isolated tribes, they became more civilised in their habits and available forms of technology due to contact with southern Greeks and Etruscans. In the period between the eleventh to eighth centuries BC some of those groups in Illyria crossed by sea into the Italian peninsula and settled along the south-eastern coast.

Those who had entered peninsular Italy via the north Italian piedmont gradually migrated southwards to occupy much of the rest of eastern and central Italy. These tribes all formed part of a general group which are known as Italics, seemingly part of the main population of West Indo-Europeans prior to the emergence of Celtic culture.

The Peucetii (or Peucetia to the Greeks and Poedicli to Strabo) were a group of Italics who settled in Italy during the Italian Iron Age. They were located in the upper central area of the modern region of Apulia, along a thin stretch of coastline below the Gargano promontory. They were neighboured to the north by the Dauni, to the south and south-west by the Messapii, and to the west by the Iapyges.

Unlike other Italic tribes in the rest of the peninsula, the Peucetii and their neighbours to the north and south-west, the Dauni and Messapii respectively, were probably of Illyrian origin. All three were sub-branches of the Iapyges, who were thought to have migrated into the Italian peninsula from the Illyrian coastline.

They probably crossed the Adriatic Sea at its narrowest point, from modern Albania, to arrive in south-eastern Italy. This migration appears to have taken place between the eleventh and tenth centuries BC, with the Peucetii settling the central northern section of Apulia, to the south of Monte Gargano, between the River Aufidus and Tarentum (Taranto) and Brandusium (Brindisi).

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(Information by Peter Kessler, with additional information by Edward Dawson, from Researches into the Physical History of Mankind, Vol 3, Issue 1, James Cowles Prichard, from An Historical Geography of Europe, Norman J G Pounds (Abridged Version), from The Roman History: From Romulus and the Foundation of Rome to the Reign of the Emperor Tiberius, Velleius Paterculus, J C Yardley, & Anthony A Barrett, from A Genetic Signal of Central European Celtic Ancestry, David K Faux, from The Horse, the Wheel, and Language: How Bronze-Age Riders from the Eurasian Steppes Shaped the Modern World, David W Anthony, from The History of Rome, Volume 1, Titus Livius (translated by Rev Canon Roberts), from The Histories, Herodotus (Penguin, 1996), from Encyclopaedia Britannica (Eleventh Edition, Cambridge (England), 1910), from Encyclopaedia of the Roman Empire, Matthew Bunson (1994), and from External Links: The Beaker phenomenon and the genomic transformation of northwest Europe (Nature), and Massive migration from the steppe was a source for Indo-European languages in Europe (Nature.com), and Indo-European Chronology - Countries and Peoples, and Indo-European Etymological Dictionary, J Pokorny, and Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography, William Smith (1854, Perseus Digital Library), and The Natural History, Pliny the Elder (John Bostock, Ed), and Geography, Strabo (H C Hamilton & W Falconer, London, 1903, Perseus Online Edition), 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), and Le Alpi (Università di Trento), and Pleiades (Ancient World Mapping Center and Institute for the Study of the Ancient World).)

Eponymous legendary founder of the tribe.

According to Greek legend, Iapyx, Daunius, and Peucetius are three sons of an Illyrian (Arcadian) king named Lycaon, who is himself the son of Pelasgos, ancestor of the Pelasgoi.

This map shows the greatest extent of Etruscan influence in Italy, during the seventh to fifth centuries BC, including the Campania region to the south (click or tap on map to view full sized)

They lead their people across the Adriatic Sea and into south-eastern Italy, where they settle and intermix with the native pre-Italic population.

The tribe fragments into at least four segments: Iapyges, Dauni, Messapii, and Peucetii. Subsequently, towns in the region are founded by the Greek colonists of Magna Graecia, influencing the culture of the settled Italo-Illyrians.

Legendary Illyrian king.

7th - 6th C BC

Peucetii cultural centres develop at Canusium (modern Canosa di Puglia, shared with the Dauni as one of two principle centres for pottery), Bitonto, and Silvium (modern Gravina in Puglia).

According to tradition, Bitonto is named after an Illyrian king called Botone, while the Greek settlers in the region are called Butontinoi. Similarities between its coinage and that of the Spartan colony of Tarentum (modern Taranto) suggest either an alliance or Spartan domination.

The sanctuary of Apollo Amyklaios lies on the hill of Agia Kyriaki in Amyclae, Sparta, although the modern village of Sklavokhori is thought to be its location due to inscriptions found at the site - disputed, however, as Sklavokhori is more than twice the claimed distance from Sparta

c.500 BC

The Peucetii settlement of Gravina in Puglia is resettled by Greek colonists. The name is changed to Silouion (later known in Latin as Silvium), and the Greeks remain in control for about two hundred years before losing the town to the Samnites.

473 BC

Hoping to follow up on a victory of 500 BC, the Spartan Greeks of Tarentum (modern Taranto) and its ally, Rhegion (modern Reggio Calabria), attempt to take control of one or more of the towns of the Messapii and Peucetii.

However, the Italo-Illyrian tribes are able to hold them off and inflict a serious defeat upon them, thanks to the superiority of their tribal cavalry (according to Herodotus). The war against Tarentum continues until 467 BC.

5th - 4th cent BC

The Peucetii town of Bitonto gains its first city wall, quite possibly as a reaction to the conflict with the nearby Greek colonies. Traces of this wall survive under the later Norman medieval walls.

Early medieval Naples was crowded behind its defensive walls, threatened by Lombards, and Saracens as well as neighbouring states

325 - 304 BC

Rome fights the Second Samnite War against the Samnites in 325 BC. During this period the Marsi ally themselves to the Romans, while the Dauni, Iapyges, Lucani, Messapii, and Peucetii side with the Samnites.

The city of Canusium is lost in 318 BC when it sides with Rome, while the Peucetii frontier town of Silvium is apparently under Samnite control when it is seized by Rome in 306 or 305 BC.

Bitonto appears to be a Roman ally throughout the war. When the Samnites are finally defeated, so are their allies, and all of them are subjugated by Rome. This period proves to be the end for the Golasecca culture within the Italian Iron Age.

218 - 202 BC

The Second Punic War is fought against Carthage. Rome is aided by its Etruscan, Picene, and Umbrian forces, but Italy is invaded by Hannibal Barca and a Roman army is massacred at the Battle of Cannae (in the heart of Peucetii territory), killing sixty thousand.

The caves at Gravina were first inhabited by farmers and shepherds, probably in the Bronze Age, and would have been a familiar feature to the Iapyges and Peucetii

The Roman survivors are welcomed into Canusium. The final stages of the war in Italy are fought out at Monte Gargano, in the northernmost part of the modern region of Apulia and the heart of Dauni territory.

When the Carthaginians withdraw, Rome is able to capture the ports of Brundisium (Brindisi, on the eastern coast) and Tarentum (Taranto), both of which border Messapii territory. This establishes full Roman dominion over the south-east of Italy.

91 - 89 BC

The Marsi fight the Social War against Rome in which Rome's allies strive for, and are eventually granted, citizenship. The Frentani, Latins and Umbri are also granted citizenship, although they play a much smaller role in the war, with the Umbri joining the rebels late and agreeing terms with Rome early on.

Shown here are two sides of a silver denarius which was issued by the Marsic confederation to support its cause against Rome

During the imperial age, the regions of Apulia and Calabria become production houses of grain and oil, and form the main export route for the eastern provinces. Thereafter, the Peucetii are gradually absorbed within Roman Italy and lose their individual identity except as later Apulians.