TheSuetrii (Gaulish: *Su(p)etrioi, 'the good birds') orSuetri were aGallic tribe dwelling around present-dayCastellane (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence) during theIron Age and theRoman period.
They are mentioned asSuebri (var.suberi,uebri) andSvetri byPliny (1st c. AD),[1] asSouētrōn (Σουητρ...ων;var. Σουιντρ...ων, Σουκτρ...ων) byPtolemy (2nd c. AD),[2] and asSuetrio on an inscription.[3][4]
TheethnonymSuetrii can be explained as the Gaulish *su-(p)etri-, meaning 'good birds' (cf. Lat.accipiter).[5]
The Suetrii dwelled in the middle valley of theVerdon river, with an extension in the valley of theJabron [fr].[6] Their territory was located south of theVergunni andSentii, west of theNerusii, and north of theLigauni. On the west, they were separated from theSentii and theReii by theVerdon Gorge.[7][8]
Their chief town, Salinae (present-dayCastellane), was founded during the Roman period and acquired its name after the local supply of salt. Salinae was located west of the medieval town, in an area called Le Plan. It was situated on a trade road leading from Vintium (Vence), near the coast, to Dinia (Dignes), in the Alps, via Salinae and Sanitium (Senez).[9][10]
The exact location of the pre-Romanoppidum remains unknown, although it was most likely seated on one of the hills surrounding Salinae. Its name may have beenDucelia, as suggested by later medieval documents.[9]
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.[1]
  | ThisFrench history–related article is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |
 | Thisancient Rome–related article is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |
