Note 72 — Chapter II · STATE OF GAUL IN THE TIME OF CÆSAR.
Reading edition
Peoples of Celtic Gaul:
The Arverni extended over a vast region, comprising the present departments of the Puy-de-Dôme and Cantal, and part of those of the Allier and the Upper Loire. Gergovia was their principal town. The Arverni had for clients—
The Cadurei Eleutheri, whose territory answered to the ancient Quercy (department of the Lot). [This epithet of Eleutheri, which is found in Cæsar (De Bello Gallico, VIII. 75) leads us to believe that in southern Quercy there existed Cadurci placed under the dominion of Rome.]
The Gabali, who occupied the ancient Gévaudan (the department of the Lozère).
The Vellavi, whose territory answered to the ancient Velay (department of the Upper Loire).
The Aulerci formed an extensive nation, which was subdivided into three great tribes, established over the country from the lower course of the Seine to the Mayenné.
1. The Aulerci Cenomanni, a fraction of whom was, as early as the sixth century of Rome, established in Cisalpine Gaul, between the Oglio and the Adige, and who occupied in Gaul the greater part of the territory now forming the department of the Sarthe;
2. The Aulerci Diablintes, the northern and central parts of the department of the Mayenne.
3. The Aulerci Eburovices, the central and southern part of the department of the Eure.
The Bituriges, a nation which had more than twenty towns. Avaricum (Bourges) was the principal. Their territory embraced the ancient Berry (departments of the Cher, the Indre, and part of the Allier).
The Carnutes occupied the greatest part of the present departments of Eure-et-Loir, Loir-et-Cher, and Loiret. Genabum (Gien) was one of their most important towns.
The Ædui occupied the modern departments of Saône-et-Loire and the Nièvre, and a part of the Côte-d’Or and the Allier. Their principal oppidum was Bibracte (Mont-Beuvray), the place of which was subsequently taken by Augustodunum (Autun). Cabillonum (Chalon-sur-Saône), Matisco (Mâcon), and Noviodunum, afterwards called Nivernum (Nevers), were also reckoned among their most important places. The Ædui had for clients—
The Ambarri, a small tribe situated between the Saône, the Rhone, and the Ain (department of the Ain).
The Ambluaretes, a people occupying a district around Ambierle (arrondissement of Roanne, department of the Loire). (?)
The Aulerci Brannovices, a tribe which dwelt between the Saône and the Loire, occupied the ancient country of Brionnais.
The Blannovii, who occupied a territory round Blanot (Saône-et-Loire). (?)
The Boii, a fraction of a great nomadic nation of this name, of Celtic origin, authorised by Cæsar to establish themselves on the territory of the Ædui, between the Loire and the Allier.
The Segusiavi, who occupied the ancient Forez (departments of the Rhône and the Loire), and extended to the left bank of the Saône.
The Essuvii, established in the department of the Orne.
The Helvetii, who were subdivided into four tribes or pagi; their territory occupied the part of Switzerland which extends from the north shore of the Léman to the Lake of Constance.
The Lemovices, whose territory answered to the Limousin (departments of the Upper Vienne and the greater part of the Corrèze and the Creuse).
The Lingones, whose territory embraced the greatest part of the department of the Haute-Marne and a fraction of the departments of the Aube, the Yonne, and the Côte-d’Or.
The Mandubii, established between the Ædui and the Lingones (department of the Côte-d’Or), occupied the ancient country of Auxois. Alesia (Alise) was their principal oppidum.
The Meldœ occupied the north of the department of the Seine-et-Marne and a small part of the department of the Oise.
The Nitiobriges occupied the greatest part of the department of the Lot-et-Garonne and a fraction of the Tarn-et-Garonne.
The Parisii, whose territory embraced the department of the Seine and a great part of the department of the Seine-et-Oise. Their principal town was Lutetia (Paris).
The Petrocorii, established in the ancient Périgord (department of the Dordogne).
The Rauraci, whose origin is perhaps German, established on both banks of the Rhine, towards the elbow which the river forms at Bâle.
The Ruteni occupied the ancient province of Rouergne (department of the Aveyron).
The Senones, established between the Loire and the Marne. Their principal town was Agedincum (Sens). Their territory comprised a part of the departments of the Yonne, the Marne, the Loiret, Seine-et-Marne, and the Aube.
The Sequani, whose territory embraced the ancient Franche-Comté (Jura, Doubs, Haute-Saône, and part of the Haut-Rhin). Principal town, Vesontio (Besançon).
The Turones, who occupied Touraine (department of Indre-et-Loire).
The peoples whom Cæsar calls maritime, or Armorican, were—
The Ambibari, established at the point where the departments of La Manche and Ille-et-Vilaine join.
The Ambiliates, whose territory comprised the part of the department of Maine-et-Loire situated to the south of the Loire.
The Andes, occupying Anjon (department of Maine-et-Loire and a fraction of the department of the Sarthe).
The Curiosolitæ, occupying the greatest part of the department of the Côtes-du-Nord.
The Lemovices Armorici, fixed to the south of the Loire, in the southern part of the department of the Loire-Inférieure and the west of that of Maine-et-Loire.
The Lexovii, occupying the department of Calvados, and a fraction of that of the Eure.
The Namnetes, who occupied, in the department of the Loire-Inférieure, the right bank of the Loire.
The Osismii, whose territory answered to the department of Finistère.
The Pictones, occupying Poitou (departments of La Vendée, the Deux-Sèvres, and the Vienne).
The Redones, whose territory embraced the greatest part of the department of Ille-et-Vilaine.
The Santones, occupying Saintonge, Aunis, and Angoumois (department of the Charente and the Charente-Inférieure, and a part of the department of the Gironde).
The Unelli, the people of the ancient Contentin (department of La Manche).
The Veneti, whose territory included the department of Morbihan.