TheGabali (Gaulish: *Gabli) were aGallic tribe dwelling in the laterGévaudan region during theIron Age and theRoman period.
They are mentioned asGabalos orGabalis byCaesar (mid-1st c. BC),[1] asGabalei͂s (Γαβαλεῖς) byStrabo (early 1st c. AD),[2] asGabales byPliny (1st c. AD),[3] and asTábaloi (Τάβαλοι) byPtolemy (2nd c. AD).[4][5]
TheethnonymGabali is a Latinized form ofGaulish *Gabloi. It derives from the stemgablo- (cf.Olr.gabul,Middle Welshgafl,OBret.gabl), initially designating the 'forked branch of a tree', then more generally a 'fork'. The name is related to the Gallo-Latin *gabalottus ('spear'), which may have given the wordjavelot in French.[6][7]
The city ofJavols, attested ca. 400 AD ascivitas Gabalum ('civitas of the Gabali',Javols in 1109), and theGévaudan region, attested in the 1st c. AD asGabalicus pagus (Gavuldanum in the 10th c.,Gavalda in the 13th c.), are named after the Gallic tribe.[8]
The Gabali dwelled in theGévaudan region, on the north-western foot of the Cevennes. Their territory was located south of theArveni, and north of theRuteni.[9]
Their chief town wasAnderitum (present-dayJavols).[9]
They were subject, and allied to theAverni. They are mentioned in Book VII ofCaesar's Commentaries. DuringCaesar's conquest of Gaul they were raiding the country of theProvincial Ruteni, and they were among the tribes that sent relief troops to the Gallic army trying to break the siege inAlesia.[citation needed]
The Gabali were cattle breeders. Many of them were also miners, as their region was rich in silver mines.[9]
Authority control databases: Geographic |
|---|
.svg) | This article about anethnic group in Europe is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |
