TheAmpsivarii, sometimes referenced by modern writers asAmpsivari (a simplification not warranted by the sources), were aGermanic tribe mentioned by ancient authors.[1]
Their homeland was originally around the middle of the riverEms, which flows into theNorth Sea at theDutch-German border. Most likely they lived between theBructeriminores (located at the delta of the riverIJssel) and the Bructerimaiores, who were living south of them on the upper Ems. It is supposed that their name is aLatin rendering of the Germanic "Ems-werer", meaning "men of the Ems". Reconstruction of the location of other tribes in the area places the Ampsivarii on the lower Ems. The names of least two modern towns reflect that of the river and tribe:Emden (in Germany) andEmmen (in the Netherlands).[1]
Tacitus, in hisAnnales explains that the Ampsivarii had refused to supportArminius in his surprise attack on three Roman legions at theBattle of the Teutoburg Forest in 9 AD, and their leaderBoiocalus, who was thrown into chains by order of Arminius.[2]
Subsequently, theChauci attacked them (theyear 58) and drove them from their lands on the Ems. They became refugees, hosted by various tribes in the west of Germany. Meanwhile, the Roman army had cleared out the lowerRhine, which they were using as ano-man's land between Germany and RomanGaul. The principate had resolved to stop imperial expansion at the Rhine.[3]
The Ampsivarii now made a bid for the land, petitioning the Roman commander in the region. Their chief Boiocalus reminding them of his 50 years of loyalty. The petition went sour, but Tacitus does not clarify the reason. The Romans were insisting on themeliorum imperia, the "authority of betters", which seems to imply that the Ampsivarii were being invited to throw in their lot with the Romans.[3]
Privately Boiocalus, as a memento of his 50-year friendship, was promised land though he felt obliged to reject on the grounds that it would make him a traitor. It is possible that hisCeltic name reflects a Celtic origin of his family, in which case the question of betrayal might have been an issue, or it might simply have been that he was known to have been loyal to Rome. As it turned out the Roman offer was to be the last the Ampsivarii would receive.
They now formed a defensive alliance with theTencteri andBructeri, two more tribes of the future Franks, but this hasty relationship was too little and too late. The Romans entered the lands of the Tencteri and threatened to annihilate them. Both allies withdrew from the alliance, the Romans withdrew from their country, and the Ampsivarii stood alone. Having chosen to join neither side at the critical moment, they now had all sides against them.
They went on up the Rhine, hosted by some tribes, resisted by others, until the fighting men were all dead. The survivors were distributed aspraeda, booty, meaningslaves, to various tribes and so the identity did not go on to appear inPtolemy.
The name appearing in the title belonged to a historian of Germanic tribes,Sulpicius Alexander, whose works are all lost except for quotes inGregory of Tours.[4] In one quote the Ampsivarii appear again some few hundred years after their loss in Tacitus. In the quote, a Roman general of Frankish family,Arbogastes (died 394), attacked the Franks across the Rhine and works some devastation. A force ofChatti and Ampsivarii underMarcomer was seen on a distant hill, but the two did not engage. The circumstances imply that some Ampsivarii had found refuge among the Chatti and still held a tribal identity.[5]
Not long after the death ofArbogastes the emperor,Honorius, had little time to spend on the Franks, as Italy was being overrun byGoths. Honorius was the emperor who replied to the British request for help againstAnglo-Saxon invaders that they should defend themselves as best they could. TheNotitia Dignitatum, which lists Roman units and their heraldry, indicates that the Franks were taken as auxiliaries into the Roman army. A unit of Ampsivarii appears there.
