Belger

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Belger or Belgen ( Latin Belgae ) is the name given by the Roman general and author Gaius Iulius Caesar to the Gallic tribes north of the Sequana ( Seine ) and Matrona ( Marne ) rivers . Their settlement area was originally between the Seine and the Rhine . Caesar distinguished the Belgians from the Gauls and Aquitans , the other tribal groups in the area called Gaul by Rome, which comprised modern-day France and some neighboring areas.

Today's State Belgium , the Sun has only existed since 1830, has been historicizing named after the partially resident in the present territory Belgern; a continuous historical connection between the Belgians and today's Belgians does not exist.

history

Even before the conquest of Gaul by Gaius Julius Caesar (58 BC), Germanic tribes had probably crossed the Rhine and mixed with the Celts who had lived there for a long time . Both Tacitus in his Germania and Caesar in De bello Gallico report that the Belgians with particular ambition claimed to be of Germanic origin and thus to stand out from the Gauls. In addition to the Celtic Germans, Caesar counts the five Cisrhenan (left bank) Germanic tribes of the Aduatuk , Eburonen , Condruser , Caeroser and Paemanen among the Belgians.

Some of the tribes from the Marne area did a lot of trade with the likewise Celtic Britain , where some Belgian tribes settled on the coast in the century before Christ.

In the first Gallic campaign , the Belgians formed a coalition, but they were in 57 BC. . BC defeated by Caesar. Until 51 BC Chr. The Romans conquered the whole of the Belgian mainland tribes. The Belgian Eburones revolted in 53 BC. Chr. Against Rome, and destroyed 15 Roman cohorts . In return, they were almost completely wiped out by the Roman legions. They replaced tribes advancing from the other side of the Rhine.

When Caesar first translated to Britain , he met Belgian opponents led by Cassivellaunus , from which the Catuvellaun tribe emerged . After Caesar's further victories in Gaul (54 to 51 BC), more Belgian settlers fled to Britain and spread their culture over large parts of southern England. The most important Belgian kingdoms arose around Colchester (the Trinovantes under King Cunobelinus ), St. Albans (the Catuvellauns) and Calleva Atrebatum (the Atrebates ).

The Belgae's most important contribution to Britain's economy was the introduction of a heavier plow , which significantly expanded the available arable land.

Belgian tribes

Tribes on the mainland

The Belgian mainland tribes included:

The Roman province of Gallia Belgica with the main town Durocortorum ( Reims ) was founded there under Emperor Augustus .

Tribes on the British Isles

The following tribes had already settled or developed in Britain during Caesar's time:

People of the Northwest Bloc

According to Hans Kuhn , the Belgae formed part of the north-west block and were linguistically more related to the Venetians . Kuhn also accepted their eventual Celticization at the turn of the ages. According to Kuhn, the northwest block also includes large parts of northwest Germany and the Netherlands, which, according to Kuhn, were Germanized at the same time. However, this Northwest Block thesis is highly controversial.

See also

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Tacitus , Germania 28; Strabon 4,3,4.
  2. ↑ Gaius Iulius Caesar , De bello Gallico 2,28,2; Titus Livius , Epitome 4,197.
  3. ↑ Hans Kuhn, Rolf Hachmann , Georg Kossack , Peoples between Teutons and Celts. Written sources, archaeological finds and namesake on the history of northern West Germany around the birth of Christ , Neumünster 1962

literature