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TheAndecavi (also Andicavi, Andegavi, or Andigavi) were aGallic tribe dwelling inAremorica during theRoman period.
They are mentioned asAndecavi (var.andic-,andeg-,andig-) byPliny (1st c. AD),[1]Andecavi andAndecavos byTacitus (early 2nd c. AD),[2]A̓ndíkauoi (Ἀνδίκαυοι;var. Ὀνδικαοῦαι, Ὠνδικαοῦαι) byPtolemy (2nd c. AD),[3] and asAndicavos (var.andegauus,andecauos,andigabos,andigabus,andicabos) byOrosius (early 5th c. AD).[4][5]
The etymology of theethnonymAndecavī remains uncertain.Ande- is aGaulish intensifying suffix, but the interpretation of the second element is difficult.[6]Andecaui could mean ''those of the big hollow', by deriving the name from theCeltic root*kuwo- ('hollow'; cf.OIr.cúa, 'hollow, cavity';Welshkeu, 'hollow, closed';OBr.cau, 'closed, covered').[7]Pierre-Yves Lambert has also suggested a connection with a shortened form of the Celtic root*kawaro- ('hero, champion'; cf. OIr.cuar 'hero',Middle Welshcawr 'giant').[8]
The city ofAngers, attested ca. 400 AD ascivitas Andecavorum ('civitas of the Andecavi',Andegavis in 861–882,Angieus in 1127), and the region ofAnjou, attested in 767 aspago Andegavinse (in Andecavo in 797,Anjau ca. 1071–1127), are named after the Gallic tribe.[9]
The territory of the Andecavi roughly corresponded with thediocese of Angers, Anjou, in the departmentMaine-et-Loire in present-dayFrance. Although Caesar locates the Andes "near theOcean", they held no coast and were located inland along theLoire river.[10]
In Book 3 of theBellum Gallicum, Caesar says that the Andes provided winter quarters forPublius Crassus after hismission into Armorica, which brought several Gallicpolities into relations with Rome.[11] Over the winter of 57–56 BC, the Romans built a fleet on the Loire under the command ofDecimus Brutus, presumably in preparation for an invasion ofBritannia, but which was instead called into action against theVeneti when Armorican objections were raised.
The Andes, led by Dumnacus, played a significant role in the continuing war against Rome after the defeat ofVercingetorix atAlesia. Dumnacus's efforts are recounted byAulus Hirtius in his continuation of theBellum Gallicum (Book 8), which covers the two years of the war after Caesar had declared his mission accomplished. Dumnacus laysiege to Limonum (present-dayPoitiers), anoppidum of thePictones, and engaged without success the Roman relief army under the command ofGaius Caninius Rebilus. When additional Roman forces arrived on the scene, Dumnacus was forced to lift the siege and retreat. The army of the Andes was pursued by the Romans and suffered heavy casualties. In a decisive battle the following day, the Romans killed some 12,000 men. Dumnacus escaped, and when Armorica surrendered, he went into self-imposed exile.[12]
