TheLeucī (Gaulish:Leucoi, 'the bright, lightning ones') were aBelgic tribe dwelling in the southern part of the modernLorraine region during theIron Age and theRoman period.
They are mentioned asLeucos(acc.) byCaesar (mid-1st c. BC),[1]Leūkoi (Λευ̃κοι) byStrabo (early 1st c. AD),[2]Leuci byPliny (1st c. AD),[3] and asLeukoì (Λευκοὶ) byPtolemy (2nd c. AD).[4][5]
TheethnonymLeucī is a latinized form of GaulishLeucoi (sing.Leucos), which literally means 'the bright ones, the lightning ones'. It stems fromProto-Celtic*lowkos ('light, bright'; cf.Mid. Irishluach 'glowing white',Middle Welshllug 'eyesight, perception'), itself fromProto-Indo-European*leukós ('bright, shining'; cf.Lat.lūx 'light',Grkleukós 'white',Toch.lyūke 'light').[6][7]
The territory of the Leuci extended in the east and the southeast up to theVosges mountains, between theMarne andMoselle rivers.[8] They were located north-west of theSequani, and southwest of theMediomatrici.[8]
During the Roman era, their capital was Tullum (modernToul).[9][8]Ptolemy (2nd c. AD), who normally gives one capital for eachcivitas, also lists Nasium (present-dayNaix-aux-Forges) as a capital of the Leuci.[10]
Hillforts held by the Leuci included a largeoppidum atBoviolles (Ornain valley), west of their territory, and some smaller ones located in theVosges. The Roman-era successor of Boviolles was more imposing than the central city Tullum, since the Ornain river served as an important trade route betweenChampagne and the plateau ofLangres, on the territory of theLingones. Another possible oppidum was located at Geneviève (Essey).[9]
During the Roman era, the Leuci worshippedApollo (atGraux andMalaincourt) or ApolloGrannus (at Tullum, Nasium, andGrand) around a spring and healing cult.[8]
They are mentioned byJulius Caesar as a people supplying wheat to the Roman army in 58 BC, along with theLingones andSequani.[11]
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