TheRucinates (Gaulish: *Rucinatis) orRucantii (Gaulish: *Rucantioi) were aGallic tribe dwelling near the confluence of theIsar andDanube rivers during theRoman period.
They are mentioned asR̔oukántioi (Ῥουκάντιοι) byStrabo (early 1st c. AD),[1] asRucinates (var.irucina-) byPliny (1st c. AD),[2] asR̔ounikátai (Ῥουνικάται) byPtolemy (2nd c. AD),[3] and asRucinates on an inscription.[4][5]
The meaning of the name remains uncertain. It has been translated as 'the blushing (i.e. shameful or shaming) people', by connecting the first element to theGaulish *rucco- ('shame, blush of shame').[5] Alternatively,Patrizia de Bernardo Stempel has proposed to derive the name from a form *roukkina (cf.Welshrhuchen 'jerkin, jacket, coat'), itself from *roukka (cf. Welshrhuch 'garment, cloak, mantle'). In this view, the variantR̔oukántioi handed down by Strabo could be explained as 'those who wear a roukka'.[6] The form given by Ptolemy (Runicates) is ametathesis of the original form (Rucinates).[5]
The Rucinates lived near the confluence of theIsar andDanube rivers. Their territory was located north of theCatenates, east of theRaetovarii, south of theIuthungi.[7] They were part of theVindelici.[8]
They are mentioned by Pliny the Elder as one of the Alpine tribes conquered by Rome in 16–15 BC, and whose name was engraved on theTropaeum Alpium.[2]
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