Aduatuker
The Aduatuker or Atuatuker ( Latin Aduatici , Greek Ἀτουατικοί Atouatikoi ) were a Cisrhenan (left bank of the Rhine) Germanic people in the area of today's Tongeren ( Belgium ), between the Schelde and Meuse . They are mentioned in Julius Caesar 's De Bello Gallico (On the Gallic War). Caesar names them as one of the Belgian tribes that settled in 57 BC. Had conspired against Rome. Ultimately, the Aduatukians were subject to the Romans under Caesar. It is unclear how the ancient name of Tongeren, Aduatuca Tungrorum , relates to the Aduatuk people.
background
According to De Bello Gallico , the Aduatuk people, with 19,000 armed men, were part of the line-up of the Belgian tribes that formed themselves in 57 BC. Under the Suessionen- King Galba had conspired against Rome. The Aduatuk contingents, however, were delayed and came too late for the so-called battle of nerves . At the news of the defeat of the Belgians, they turned halfway and retreated to their area. There they left their cities and fortified places and withdrew with all their possessions into a single city, protected by their natural location.
In this context, Caesar describes the Aduatukes as "descendants of the Cimbri and Teutons". According to this, the Aduatuk descendants of the 6,000 man protection guard who were involved in the raids of the Cimbri and Teutons in Italy 113/105 BC. Were left behind to guard their belongings; After numerous disputes with neighboring tribes that lasted for many years, they would have chosen the area around the fortified city on Mont Falhize as their place of residence after a peace agreement.
Caesar enclosed the Aduatuk city with a rampart 15,000 feet long and had a movable siege tower built , whereupon the Aduatuk submitted without major resistance. However, they asked to be allowed to keep their weapons, as they were enemies with almost all neighboring tribes because of their bravery. The Eburones were among the tributary clients of the Aduatuk people.
The night after the submission, the trapped Aduatuk made a sortie, but were driven back into the city after losing 4,000 men. The next morning the gates were broken down, but no more resistance was offered. Caesar reports that the buyers of the total booty settled a head count of 53,000 subjects, which suggests that these were closed enslaved.
But that did not mean the end of the tribe. The following year Caesar mentions that the Eburon king Ambiorix resigned immediately after his victory at Atuatuca in November 54 BC. To the Aduatukern, whom he incited by the story of his victory. Shortly afterwards, the Aduatukes, together with the Eburones, the Nervians and other allies, launched a massive attack with around 60,000 armed men on the winter camp commanded by Quintus Tullius Cicero , which, after a heavy siege, could only be repulsed by Caesar's arrival.
At the beginning of the year 53 BC In addition to the Aduatukern, the Eburonen and the Nerviern, the Treverians under their king Indutiomarus , the Menapians and all Cisrhenan Germanic tribes entered the war alliance against Caesar. However, with the death of the Treverian king and the flight of the Eburonian king, the East Gaulish resistance collapsed completely. There was no further mention of the fate of the Aduatuk people. The remaining population was probably absorbed by the Germanic Tungerer tribe , who came from the Lower Rhine and occupied the former tribal area of the Aduatuk people. Whether the name of the 15 BC When Aduatuca Tungrorum founded Tongeren in connection with the Aduatukern is controversial.
literature
- Hermann Reichert : Teutons on the left bank of the Rhine. In: Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde (RGA). 2nd Edition. Volume 18, Walter de Gruyter, Berlin / New York 2001, ISBN 3-11-016950-9 , p. 490. ( online )
- Tilmann Bechert: Economy and society in the province "Germania inferior": On the state of research. In: Germania inferior , ed. Thomas Grünwald (= RGA , supplementary volume 28), Berlin 2001
- Maximilian Him : Aduatuci . In: Paulys Realencyclopadie der classischen Antiquity Science (RE). Volume I, 1, Stuttgart 1893, column 430.
- George Long: Aduatici . In: William Smith : Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London 1854.
source
Gaius Iulius Caesar: De bello Gallico. II, V, VI
- ↑ De bello Gallico II, 4
- ↑ cunctis oppidis castellisque , De bello Gallico II, 29ff.
- ↑ probably the Mont Falhize on the left bank of the Meuse opposite Huy (RGA 2nd edition, vol. 4, 315)
- ↑ De bello Gallico, II, 29: consensu eorum omnium pace facta hunc sibi domicilio locum delegerant
- ↑ De bello Gallico II, 30
- ^ De bello Gallico II, 31
- ^ De bello Gallico V, 27
- ^ De bello Gallico V, 38
- ↑ Caesar's figures are possibly exaggerated
- ↑ De bello Gallico VI, 2