Cantabri

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Cantabri were an ancient confederacy of eleven tribes<ref>Kruta 2000 gives the Avarigines, Blendii (or Plentusii), Camarici, Concani, Coniaci, Moroecani, Noegi, Orgenomesci, Salaeni, Vadinienses and the Velliques.</ref>, often claimed as Celtic, that inhabited the north coast of Hispania in the western half of the modern province of Cantabria, the eastern third of Asturias and the nearby mountainous regions of modern Castile-Leon.

Savage and untamable mountaineers, they long defied the Roman arms and made themselves a name for wild freedom. They were first attacked by the Romans about 150 BC. In his Gallic War<ref>iii.26.</ref> Julius Caesar describes how Crassus scored a victory over combined forces of Cantabri and Aquitanians, who are described as relatives, casting some doubt on the alleged Celticity of this nation.

They were not subdued till Agrippa and Augustus—present in person on this campaign— had carried out a series of campaigns known as the Cantabrian Wars (29-19 BC) which ended in their partial annihilation <ref> Suetonius, Augustus, 21 Tiberius saw his first military experience in the campaign against the Cantabri of 25 BC, as a tribune of the soldiers. Tiberius, 9</ref>.

Thenceforward their land was part of the province Hispania Tarraconensis with some measure of local self-government. The remaining population of the region became slowly Romanized in their material culture, but developed little town life and are rarely mentioned in history. They provided recruits for the Roman auxilia, like their neighbors to the west the Astures.

Cantabria contained lead mines, of which, however, little is known.