TheBellovaci (Gaulish:Bellouacoi) were aBelgic tribe dwelling in the modernPicardy region, near the present-day city ofBeauvais, during theIron Age and theRoman period. After they were defeated byCaesar in 57 BC, they gave lukewarm support to the Gallic revolt led byVercingetorix in 52 BC. The Bellovaci nonetheless organized resistance against Rome in 51 BC.[1]
They are mentioned asBellovacos andBellovaci byCaesar (mid-1st c. BC),[2]Belloákoi (Βελλοάκοι) byStrabo (early 1st c. AD),[3]Bellovaci byPliny (1st c. AD),[4] and asBelloúakoi (Βελλούακοι) byPtolemy (2nd c. AD).[5][6]
TheethnonymBellovacī is a latinized form ofGaulishBellouacoi (sing.Bellouacos). The latter derives from the stembello- ('strong, forceful'), but the translation of the suffix -uaco- is uncertain. It could mean 'curved' (cf.Lat.uaccilare), or else be related to theIrishfachain ('striving') and theScottish Gaelicfachail ('fight, strife').[7][8]
The city ofBeauvais, attested ca. 400 AD ascivitas Bellovacorum ('civitas of the Bellovaci',Belvacus in 874,Biauvais in 1132), is named after the Belgic tribe.[9]
The territory of the Bellovaci was located in theThérain valley, south of theAmbiani.[1] They dominated on wooded heights, which constituted a natural frontier with theVeliocasses.[10] To the east lived the more powerfulSuessiones, who were probably able to contain potential expansions of the Bellovaci beyond theOise river.[10]
The capital of theircivitas was known asCaesaromagus (present-dayBeauvais) during the Roman era.[1] The Bellovaci most likely controlled the hill-fortGournay-sur-Aronde, in which sanctuary may have been a site of fairs welcoming theAmbiani andViromandui.[10]
Their territory straddled the route from theSeine to theSomme valleys. They were clients of theAedui in central Gaul by the first century BC. The lack of specific gold coinage related to the Bellovaci also suggests a moderate economic power.[10]
 | This sectionneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Bellovaci" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(January 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
This campaign occurred in theCompiègne Forest, in an area that had been occupied by theSuessiones. The Bellovaci intended to conquer this territory, a situation thatJulius Caesar feared would expand into a greater threat and he decided it would be useful to intervene to proveRoman superiority.
Bellovaci employedguerrilla warfare, in particular targetingRoman foragers.[11] Meanwhile,Caesar's strategic plan was to draw the Bellovaci forces out into open ground.
Caesar ordered troops into the territory of theSuessiones, but chose to confront the Bellovaci himself. The Bellovaci, led by Correus, camped at Mount St. Marc, intending to attack head on if Caesar brought three legions, and to use guerrilla tactics if he brought more. The Roman camp was located at Mount St. Pierre, and heavily fortified with two ditches and two lines of defences. The events of this campaign were recorded byAulus Hirtius, though his findings do not entirely correspond with the geography of the region – he provided only that the Bellovaci camped at a "high wooded place surrounded by marsh".[12][13]
The Bellovaci were surprised by the arrival ofRoman troops, andJulius Caesar was intimidated by the size of enemy forces, even though he (Caesar) had a large force of about 30,000 men with him, including fourlegions, tribes, and a few baggage trains. Neither initiated battle.
The battles were initially small confrontations with varying success across the marsh surrounding Bellovaci territory. TheBelgic warriors set traps in the woods forRoman foragers, and maintained an immensely advantageous position to the point that Caesar was forced to call for reinforcements of three legions fromTrebonius. Intimidated by the pending arrival of Roman reinforcements and fearing a siege, Correus sent many of his battle-incapable troops to escape in the night. They accomplished this successfully, though Caesar's troops may have been able to catch them had they attempted to intervene.
Eventually, Caesar built a bridge and crossed the marsh by Mount St. Marc, positioning his troops within missile range of the Bellovaci camp.[14] Correus and the Bellovaci retreated in the night to a stronger camp 10 miles away, using a line of fire to blind the Roman troops, leaving traps in their wake to impede Roman pursuit. Correus then attempted an ambush on Caesar's troops, though not their entire number, sending about 6000 of his men to a spot where he believed Caesar would forage for food. Caesar heard of this, although it is not clear how, and had reinforcements ready to attack once the ambush was set off; however, by the time he arrived, the Bellovaci were defeated, and their general Correus killed. After the battle, the Bellovaci were allegedly impressed by Caesar'sclemency, which was secured through unclear means byDiviciacus;[15] according to theBello Gallico the leaders of the revolt fled toBritain.[16]
Authority control databases: Geographic |
|---|
