View source for Arverni

{{short description|Gallic tribe}}
{{for|the volcanic crater near [[Naples]]|Avernus}}
[[File:Averni coin depicting warrior 5th to 1st century BCE.jpg|thumb|Arverni coin depicting a warrior, 5th-1st century BC.]]
The '''Arverni''' ([[Gaulish]]: *''Aruernoi'') were a [[Gauls|Gallic]] people dwelling in the modern [[Auvergne]] region during the [[La Tène culture|Iron Age]] and the [[Roman Empire|Roman period]]. They were one of the most powerful tribes of ancient [[Gaul]], contesting primacy over the region with the neighbouring [[Aedui]].{{Sfn|Drinkwater|2015}}
They are mentioned in 207 BC as treating with Carthaginian commandant [[Hasdrubal Barca]]. Headed by their chiefs [[Luernius]] and [[Bituitus]], the Arverni were at the head of an extensive empire. After Bituitus was defeated by [[Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus (consul 122 BC)|Domitius Ahenobarbus]] and [[Quintus Fabius Maximus Allobrogicus|Fabius Maximus]] in 121 BC, the Arvernian empire was reduced to suzerainty over some neighbouring tribes.{{Sfn|Drinkwater|2015}}
In 52 BC, during the [[Gallic Wars]], the Arvernian chief [[Vercingetorix]] led the Gallic revolt against the armies of [[Julius Caesar|Caesar]]. After an initial victory at the [[Battle of Gergovia]], Vercingetorix was defeated by the Romans at the [[Battle of Alesia]], after which the Arverni lost their power of suzerainty. They maintained however a status of ''[[Free city (classical antiquity)|civitas libera]]'', and remained a prosperous tribe during the Roman period. Under emperor [[Augustus]], their capital was moved from Gergovia to Augustonemetum (present-day [[Clermont-Ferrand]]).{{Sfn|Drinkwater|2015}}
Following [[Alemanni]]c invasions of the region in the 3rd century AD, Clermont-Ferrand was reduced in size but remained an important centre during the later part of the Roman period. In 475, despite a heroic struggle led by their bishop, [[Sidonius Apollinaris]], the Arvernian territory was eventually ceded to the Visigoths.{{Sfn|Drinkwater|2015}}
== Name ==
They are mentioned as ''Arvernos'' by [[Julius Caesar|Caesar]] (mid-1st c. BC),<ref>[[Julius Caesar|Caesar]]. ''Commentarii de Bello Gallico'', 1:31:3; 7:8:2.</ref> ''Arvernorum'' by [[Livy]] (late-1st c. BC),<ref>[[Livy]]. ''Periochae'', 61</ref> ''A̓roúernoi'' (Ἀρούερνοι) by [[Strabo]] (early 1st c. AD),<ref>[[Strabo]]. ''Geōgraphiká'', 4:2:3.</ref> and as ''A̓rouernō͂n'' (Ἀρουερνῶν) by [[Ptolemy]] (2nd c. AD).<ref>[[Ptolemy]]. ''Geōgraphikḕ Hyphḗgēsis,'' 2:7:12.</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Falileyev|2010}}, s.v. ''Arveni''.</ref>
The [[ethnonym]] ''Arverni'' is a latinized form of [[Gaulish]] *''Aruernoi'' (<small>sing.</small> *''Aruernos''). Its etymology remains unclear. [[Pierre-Yves Lambert]] has suggested to interpret it as "those who are above", by decomposing the name as *''ar(e)-uer-no''- (cf. Latin ''supernus'').{{Sfn|Lambert|1994|p=200}} Alternatively, a connection with the Gaulish stem *''uernā''- ("[[alder]]"; c.f. French ''vergne'', [[Occitan language|Occitan]] ''verne'') has also been proposed.{{Sfn|Lambert|1994|p=34}}
The region of [[Auvergne]], attested in 511 as ''ecclesiae Arvenicae'' (''pagus Arvenicus'' or ''pago Alvernio'' in the 9th c., ''Alvernhe'' ca. 1071–1127) is named after the Gallic tribe.{{Sfn|Nègre|1990|p=152}}
== Geography ==
[[Image:Gaul, 1st century BC.gif|thumb|A map of [[Gaul]] in the 1st century BC, showing the relative position of the Arverni tribe.]]
It is assumed that the pre-Roman territory of the Arverni roughly corresponded to the limits of the Roman-era ''civitas Arvernorum'', later inherited by the early medieval [[Diocese of Clermont]]. Their territory thus would have encompassed the modern [[Departments of France|departements]] of [[Puy-de-Dôme]] and [[Cantal]], parts of [[Haute-Loire]] and [[Allier]], as well as small areas of [[Creuse]], [[Loire (department)|Loire]] and [[Aveyron]].{{Sfn|Trément|Chambon|Guichard|Lallemand|2007|p=99}}
They dwelled east of the [[Lemovices]] and [[Petrocorii]], south of the [[Bituriges Cubi]] and [[Aedui]], north of the [[Ruteni]], [[Cadurci]] and [[Vellavi]], and west of the [[Segusiavi]] and [[Ambarri]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Talbert|2000}}, Map 14: Caesarodunum-Burdigala, Map 18: Augustonemetum-Vindonissa.</ref>
== History ==
{{More citations needed section|date=April 2020}}
===Early history===
The Arverni are known to have had the most powerful tribal hegemony in Gaul during the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC under their kings, [[Luernius]], and his son [[Bituitus]]. Their power was based on strong metallurgic technologies and weapons, elaborated and rich agriculture and catering, mining, trade and military dominance over their neighbours with tributes paid to them.{{Citation needed|date=May 2020}}
But when Arverni king Bituitus was defeated by the [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] of [[Quintus Fabius Maximus Allobrogicus|Quintus Fabius]] and [[Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus (consul 122 BC)|Gnaeus Ahenobarbus]] in 121 BC at the climactic [[Battle of the Isère River]], their ascendancy passed to the [[Aedui]] and [[Sequani]].
Unlike the [[Allobroges]], who were brought under direct Roman rule as a result of the Celtic wars of the 120s, the Arverni negotiated a treaty that preserved their independence, though their territory was diminished.{{Citation needed|date=May 2020}}
No further Arvernian kings are mentioned in the historical record between 121 BC and 52 BC, and they may have adopted a constitutional [[oligarchy]] at this time.
However, there were at least two later attempts to re-establish rulership by Celtillus and [[Vercingetorix]]. The defeat of the Arverni under Bituitus led directly to the establishment of ''[[Gallia Narbonensis]]'' as a [[Roman province]], referred to simply as the ''Provincia'' so often that a part of the ancient region is today known as [[Provence]].{{Citation needed|date=May 2020}}
The King Luernius was mentioned in writing by the Greek ethnographer [[Posidonius]]. Luernius was known to have scattered gold and silver coins to his followers while riding in his chariot. Under Luernius, the Arverni were at the head of a formidable Gallic military hegemony which stretched from the Rhine to the Atlantic coast.{{Citation needed|date=May 2020}}
They joined [[Bellovesus]]' migrations towards Italy, together with the [[Aedui]], [[Ambarri]], [[Aulerci]], [[Carnutes]] and [[Senones]].<ref>Livius, ''[[Ab Urbe condita]]'' 5.34-35.3.</ref>
===Gallic Wars===
[[Image:Vercingetorix stater CdM.jpg|thumb|right|Gold stater of [[Vercingetorix]], [[Cabinet des Médailles]].]]
The Arverni later played an important role in the [[Gallic Wars]] of [[Julius Caesar]] from 58 BC to 51 BC. At first the Arvenian nobles tried to avoid confronting Caesar during his early incursions. They executed the leader [[Vercingetorix#History|Celtillus]], evidently for trying to gain sovereignty over all the Gauls.<ref name="Commentarrii7">[[Julius Caesar]], [[s:Commentaries on the Gallic War/Book 7|''Commentarii de Bello Gallico'', book 7, ch. 4]].</ref> In 52 BC, Celtillus' son [[Vercingetorix]] rallied his supporters to fight the Romans, but was expelled from Gergovia by the nobles, including his uncle Gobanitio. He then raised a great army in the country, and returned to the city where he ejected his opponents and was declared king.<ref name="Commentarrii7"/> This accomplished, Vercingetorix forged an alliance with at least 15 Gallic tribes, requesting the presence of sons of chiefs to prove their alliance. He then led the majority of the Gauls and won the Gergovia battle against Julius Caesar and his cavalry did marvels in pursuing the Roman troops.
Having earlier split his forces, Caesar awaited their return while receiving supplies from allied Gauls. Vercingetorix was then defeated by Caesar at the [[Battle of Alesia]], after several months where the legions built 14 ranges of military equipment around the city to lay siege upon the Gallic soldiers. After several weeks of support from the western Gallic people with large numbers of troops coming to support Vercingetorix from outside the city, the Gauls were close to merging the inner and outer forces on 2 occasions. When the outer forces decided to depart, Vercingetorix decided to surrender himself to the Romans in order to save the people of Alesia.<ref>[[Julius Caesar]], [[s:Commentaries on the Gallic War/Book 7|''Commentarii de Bello Gallico'', book 7, ch. 89]].</ref>
===Roman period===
In the aftermath of the Gallic Wars the Arverni soldiers were pardoned and its senate was restored to power. The Arverni and the majority of other Gaulish states were pulled into the Roman political hemisphere but retained full rights and home rule. According to [[Gregory of Tours]] and his book ''Historia Francorum'' ("History of the Franks") the Arverni senators were still active in the sixth century and were deeply involved in the politics of the nascent Frankish state.
==See also==
* [[Auvergne]]
* [[Auvergnat dialect|Auvergnat]]
*[[Quintus Fabius Maximus Allobrogicus]]: conquered King Bituitus
*[[Alba Fucens]]: town where Bituitus was held after capture
*[[Roman theater of Montaudou]]
*[[Trémonteix sanctuary]]
*[[Roman Settlement of the Col de Ceyssat]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}
*{{Citation|last=Drinkwater|first=John F.|title=Arverni|date=2015|encyclopedia=Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Classics|publisher=Oxford University Press|doi=10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.013.842|isbn=978-0-19-938113-5|author-link=John F. Drinkwater}}
*{{Cite book|last=Falileyev|first=Alexander|title=Dictionary of Continental Celtic Place-names: A Celtic Companion to the Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World|publisher=CMCS|year=2010|isbn=978-0955718236}}
*{{Cite book|last=Lambert|first=Pierre-Yves|title=La langue gauloise: description linguistique, commentaire d'inscriptions choisies|year=1994|publisher=Errance|isbn=978-2-87772-089-2|author-link=Pierre-Yves Lambert}}
*{{Cite book|last=Nègre|first=Ernest|title=Toponymie générale de la France|date=1990|publisher=Librairie Droz|isbn=978-2-600-02883-7|author-link=Ernest Nègre}}
*{{Cite book|last=Talbert|first=Richard J. A.|title=Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World|publisher=Princeton University Press|year=2000|isbn=978-0691031699|author-link=Richard Talbert}}
*{{Cite book|last1=Trément|first1=Frédéric|author-link1= Frédéric Trément|last2=Chambon|first2=Jean-Pierre|last3=Guichard|first3=Vincent|last4=Lallemand|first4=David|date=2007|editor-last=Mennessier-Jouannet|editor-first=C.|editor2-last=Deberge|editor-first2=Y.|title=L'archéologie de l'Age du Fer en Auvergne|chapter=Le territoire des Arvernes : limites de cité, tropismes et centralité|publisher=Monographies d’archéologie méditerranéenne|isbn=978-2912369130}}
{{refend}}
==Further reading==
*{{Cite journal|last=Baret|first=Florian|date=2016|title=Le réseau des agglomérations antiques dans les cités du Massif central (Ier s. av. J.-C.-Ve s. apr. J.-C.). Arvernes, Vellaves, Gabales, Rutènes, Cadurques et Lémovices|journal=Gallia. Archéologie des Gaules|volume=73|issue=73–2|pages=169–212|doi=10.4000/gallia.2732|issn=0016-4119|doi-access=free}}
*{{Cite book |last=Trément |first=Frédéric|author-link= Frédéric Trément|date=2008 |editor-last=Corsi |editor-first=Cristina |editor2-last=Vermeulen |editor2-first=Frank |title=Changing Landscapes. The Impact of Roman Towns in the Western Mediterranean |chapter=Romanisation et dynamiques territoriales en Gaule centrale. Le cas de la cité des Arvernes (IIe s. av. J.-C. – IIe s. ap. J.-C.) |publisher=Ante Quem |pages=85–104 |isbn=978-8878490550}}
*{{Cite book|last1=Trément|first1=Frédéric|author-link1= Frédéric Trément|last2=Baret|first2=Florian|last3=Dacko|first3=Marion|last4=Trescarte|first4=Jérôme|last5=Calbris|first5=Maxime|last6=Augustin|first6=Lise|last7=Massounie|first7=Guy|date=2019|isbn=978-9004414365|editor-last=de Ligt|editor-first=Luuk|editor2-last=Bintliff|editor2-first=John|title=Regional Urban Systems in the Roman World, 150 BCE - 250 CE|publisher=Brill|chapter=Towns, Roads and Development Dynamics in the Territory of the Arverni in Roman Times (Auvergne, France)|pages=128–157|doi=10.1163/9789004414365_006|s2cid=213449225 }}
{{Gallic peoples}}
[[Category:Arverni| ]]
[[Category:Gauls]]
[[Category:Tribes in pre-Roman Gaul]]
[[Category:Tribes involved in the Gallic Wars]]
[[Category:History of Auvergne]]
[[Category:Historical Celtic peoples]]