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{{short description|Gallic tribe}}
{{short description|Gallic tribe}}
[[Image:Maxima Sequanorum.jpg|thumb|310px|A portion of the map, ''Gallia'', from Butler's 1907 atlas showing the divisions of the diocese of Gaul in the late [[Roman Empire]].<ref>{{cite book |first=Samuel |last=Butler |first2=Ernest |last2=Rhys |title=The Atlas of Ancient and Classical Geography|year=1907 |location=London; New York |publisher=J.M. Dent; E.P. Dutton |series=Everyman | chapter=Map 4, Gallia}}</ref> According to the key, the map depicts 17 ''Provinciae Galliae'', "Provinces of Gaul," of which the 17th, ''<nowiki>[Provincia]</nowiki> Maxima Sequanorum'', "Greater Sequania," identified with an XVII shown in the [[Jura Mountains]], contains the ''Sequani'' and ''[[Helvetii]]''.]]
[[Image:Maxima Sequanorum.jpg|thumb|310px|A portion of the map, ''Gallia'', from Butler's 1907 atlas showing the divisions of the diocese of Gaul in the late [[Roman Empire]].<ref>{{cite book |first=Samuel |last=Butler |first2=Ernest |last2=Rhys |title=The Atlas of Ancient and Classical Geography|year=1907 |location=London; New York |publisher=J.M. Dent; E.P. Dutton |series=Everyman | chapter=Map 4, Gallia}}</ref> According to the key, the map depicts 17 ''Provinciae Galliae'', "Provinces of Gaul," of which the 17th, ''<nowiki>[Provincia]</nowiki> Maxima Sequanorum'', "Greater Sequania," identified with an XVII shown in the [[Jura Mountains]], contains the ''Sequani'' and ''[[Helvetii]]''.]]
{{multiple image
{{multiple image| align = right | direction = horizontal | header = | header_align = left/right/center | footer = Gold coins of the Sequani [[Gauls]], 5-1st century BCE. Early Gallic coins were often inspired by [[Greek coinage]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Boardman |first=John |title=The Diffusion of Classical Art in Antiquity |location=Princeton |publisher=Princeton University Press |year=1993 |isbn=0691036802 |page=308 |author-link=John Boardman (art historian)}}</ref>| footer_align = left | image1 =Sequani_coin_5th_to_1st_century_BCE.jpg| width1 = 150 | caption1 = | image2 =Sequani coin 5th to 1st century BCE 2nd.jpg| width2 = 153 | caption2 = }}
| align = right
{{multiple image| align = right | direction = horizontal | header = | header_align = left/right/center | footer = Silver coins of the Sequani [[Gauls]], 5–1st century BCE.| footer_align = left | image1 =Sequani_coin_5th_to_1st_century_BCE_3rd.jpg| width1 = 153 | caption1 = | image2 =Sequani_coin_5th_to_1st_century_BCE_4th.jpg| width2 = 150 | caption2 = }}
| direction = horizontal
| header =
| header_align = left/right/center
| footer = Gold coins of the Sequani [[Gauls]], 5-1st century BC. Early Gallic coins were often inspired by [[Ancient Greek coinage|Greek coinage]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Boardman |first=John |title=The Diffusion of Classical Art in Antiquity |location=Princeton |publisher=Princeton University Press |year=1993 |isbn=0691036802 |page=308 |author-link=John Boardman (art historian)}}</ref>
| footer_align = left
| image1 = Sequani_coin_5th_to_1st_century_BCE.jpg
| width1 = 150
| caption1 =
| image2 = Sequani coin 5th to 1st century BCE 2nd.jpg
| width2 = 153
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}}
{{multiple image
| align = right
| direction = horizontal
| header =
| header_align = left/right/center
| footer = Silver coins of the Sequani [[Gauls]], 5–1st century BC.
| footer_align = left
| image1 = Sequani_coin_5th_to_1st_century_BCE_3rd.jpg
| width1 = 153
| caption1 =
| image2 = Sequani_coin_5th_to_1st_century_BCE_4th.jpg
| width2 = 150
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}}
[[Image:Map Gallia Tribes Towns.png|310 px|thumb|A map of [[Gaul]] in the 1st century BC, showing the locations of the Celtic tribes.]]
[[Image:Map Gallia Tribes Towns.png|310 px|thumb|A map of [[Gaul]] in the 1st century BC, showing the locations of the Celtic tribes.]]
The '''Sequani''' were a [[Gauls|Gallic]] tribe, dwelling in the upper river basin of the Arar river ([[Saône]]), the valley of the [[Doubs]] and the [[Jura Mountains]]. Their territory corresponded to [[Franche-Comté]] and part of [[Burgundy (region)|Burgundy]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}
The '''Sequani''' were a [[Gauls|Gallic]] tribe dwelling in the upper river basin of the Arar river ([[Saône]]), the valley of the [[Doubs]] and the [[Jura Mountains]] during the [[La Tène culture|Iron Age]] and the [[Roman period]].<ref>{{Citation |last=Schön |first=Franz (Regensburg) |title=Sequani |date=2006-10-01 |url=https://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/brill-s-new-pauly/sequani-e1109370 |work=Brill’s New Pauly |access-date=2023-12-16 |publisher=Brill |language=en}}</ref>


== Name ==
== Name ==
They are mentioned as ''Sequanos'' by [[Julius Caesar|Caesar]] (mid-1st c. BC) and [[Ammianus Marcellinus]] (4th c. AD),<ref>[[Julius Caesar|Caesar]]. ''Commentarii de Bello Gallico'', 1:33:4.; [[Ammianus Marcellinus]]. ''Res Gestae'', 15:11:17.</ref> ''Sequanis'' by [[Livy]] (late 1st c. BC),<ref>[[Livy]]. ''Perioch.'', 104</ref> ''Sēkoanoús'' (Σηκοανούς) by [[Strabo]] (early 1st c. AD),<ref>[[Strabo]]. ''Geōgraphiká'', 4:1:11.</ref> and as ''Sequani'' by [[Pliny the Elder|Pliny]] (1st c. AD).<ref>[[Pliny the Elder|Pliny]]. ''Naturalis Historia'', 4:106.</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Falileyev|2010}}, s.v. ''Sequani''.</ref>


The Gaulish [[ethnonym]] ''Sequani'' (<small>sing.</small> ''Sequanos'') stems from the Celtic name of the [[Seine]] river, ''[[Sequana]]''.{{Sfn|Lambert|1994|p=34}} This may indicate that their original homeland was located by the Seine.{{Sfn|Kruta|2000|p=71}}
=== Attestations ===
They are mentioned as ''Sequanos'' by [[Julius Caesar|Caesar]] (mid-1st c. BC) and [[Ammianus Marcellinus]] (4th c. AD),<ref>[[Julius Caesar|Caesar]]. ''[[Commentarii de Bello Gallico]]'', 1:33:4</ref><ref>[[Ammianus Marcellinus]]. ''Res Gestae'', 15:11:17</ref> as ''Sequanis'' by [[Livy]] (late 1st c. BC),<ref>[[Livy]]. ''Perioch.'', 104</ref> as ''Sēkoanoús'' (Σηκοανούς) by [[Strabo]] (early 1st c. AD),<ref>[[Strabo]]. ''[[Geographica|Geōgraphiká]]'', 4:1:11</ref> and as ''Sequani'' by [[Pliny the Elder|Pliny]] (1st c. AD).<ref>[[Pliny the Elder|Pliny]]. ''[[Natural History (Pliny)|Naturalis Historia]]'', 4:106</ref>{{Sfn|Falileyev|2010|p=entry 4043}}

===Etymology===
''Sequani'' is an [[exonym]] assigned by the Romans, most likely based on a similar-sounding [[endonym]]. The endonym is not known for certain. Sequani is like [[Sequana]], Caesar's name for the [[Seine]], but the country of the Sequani is not in the Seine's watershed. [[Strabo]] was originally responsible for the [[folk etymology|folk-etymologic]] connection by supposing that the Sequana flowed through the country of the Sequani, a geographic error.<ref>{{harvnb|Strabo|Geography|loc=Book 4, Chapter 3, Section 2}}</ref> The French name of the [[Saône]], however, the river forming the western border of the Sequani, derives from Celtic ''[[Souconna (mythology)|Souconna]]''. The Romans called it the ''Arar''. [[William Smith (lexicographer)|William Smith]] hypothesized that Sequani and Souconna were related.<ref name=Smith_Sequani>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Sequana, Sequani |pages=965–966| editor-first=William |editor-last=Smith |encyclopedia=A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography |volume=Volume II |location=London |publisher=John Murray |year=1873}}</ref>


==Geography==
==Geography==
The country of the Sequani can be defined by the reports of the ancient writers.<ref name=Smith_Sequani/> The [[Jura Mountains]] separated the Sequani from the [[Helvetii]] on the east, but the mountains belonged to the Sequani, as the narrow pass between the [[Rhone]] and [[Lake Geneva]] was Sequanian.<ref>{{harvnb|Caesar|BG|loc=Book I, Section 6}}.</ref> They did not occupy the confluence of the [[Saône]] into the [[Rhone]], as the Helvetii plundered the lands of the [[Aedui]] there.<ref>{{harvnb|Caesar|BG|loc=Book I, Section 11}}.</ref> Extending a line westward from the Jura estimates the southern border at about [[Mâcon]], but Mâcon belonged to the Aedui.<ref>{{harvnb|Caesar|BG|loc=Book VII, Section 90}}</ref> [[Strabo]] says that the Arar separates the Sequani from the Aedui and the [[Lingones]], which means that the Sequani were on the left, or eastern, bank of the Saône only.<ref>{{harvnb|Strabo|Geography|loc=Book 4, Chapter 1, Section 11.}}</ref> On the northeast corner the country of the Sequani touched on the [[Rhine]].<ref>{{harvnb|Caesar|BG|loc=Book I, Section 1}}.</ref>
The country of the Sequani corresponded to [[Franche-Comté]] and part of [[Burgundy (region)|Burgundy]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} The [[Jura Mountains]] separated the Sequani from the [[Helvetii]] on the east, but the mountains belonged to the Sequani, as the narrow pass between the [[Rhone]] and [[Lake Geneva]] was Sequanian.<ref>{{harvnb|Caesar|BG|loc=Book I, Section 6}}.</ref> They did not occupy the confluence of the [[Saône]] into the [[Rhone]], as the Helvetii plundered the lands of the [[Aedui]] there.<ref>{{harvnb|Caesar|BG|loc=Book I, Section 11}}.</ref> Extending a line westward from the Jura estimates the southern border at about [[Mâcon]], but Mâcon belonged to the Aedui.<ref>{{harvnb|Caesar|BG|loc=Book VII, Section 90}}</ref> [[Strabo]] says that the Arar separates the Sequani from the Aedui and the [[Lingones]], which means that the Sequani were on the left, or eastern, bank of the Saône only.<ref>{{harvnb|Strabo|Geography|loc=Book 4, Chapter 1, Section 11.}}</ref> On the northeast corner the country of the Sequani touched on the [[Rhine]].<ref>{{harvnb|Caesar|BG|loc=Book I, Section 1}}.</ref>


==History==
==History==
[[Image:Sequani shield pattern.svg|thumb|100px|left|Shield pattern of the ''Sequani'' ''[[auxilia palatina]]'' unit, according to ''[[Notitia dignitatum]]''.]]
[[Image:Sequani shield pattern.svg|thumb|100px|left|Shield pattern of the ''Sequani'' ''[[auxilia palatina]]'' unit, according to ''[[Notitia dignitatum]]''.]]
Before the arrival of [[Julius Caesar]] in [[Gaul]], the Sequani had taken the side of the [[Arverni]] against their rivals the [[Aedui]] and hired the [[Suebi]] under [[Ariovistus]] to cross the [[Rhine]] and help them (71 BCE). Although his assistance enabled them to [[Battle of Magetobriga|defeat the Aedui]], the Sequani were worse off than before, for Ariovistus deprived them of a third of their territory and threatened to take another third,{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} while subjugating them into semi-slavery.
Before the arrival of [[Julius Caesar]] in [[Gaul]], the Sequani had taken the side of the [[Arverni]] against their rivals the [[Aedui]] and hired the [[Suebi]] under [[Ariovistus]] to cross the [[Rhine]] and help them (71 BC). Although his assistance enabled them to [[Battle of Magetobriga|defeat the Aedui]], the Sequani were worse off than before, for Ariovistus deprived them of a third of their territory and threatened to take another third,{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} while subjugating them into semi-slavery.


The Sequani then appealed to Caesar, who drove back the Germanic tribesmen (58 BCE), but at the same time obliged the Sequani to surrender all that they had gained from the Aedui. This so exasperated the Sequani that they joined in the revolt of [[Vercingetorix]] (52 BCE) and shared in the defeat at [[Battle of Alesia|Alesia]]. Under [[Augustus]], the district known as '''Sequania''' formed part of [[Belgica]]. After the death of [[Vitellius]] (69 CE), the inhabitants refused to join the [[Revolt of the Batavi|Gallic revolt]] against Rome instigated by [[Gaius Julius Civilis]] and [[Julius Sabinus]], and drove back Sabinus, who had invaded their territory. A triumphal arch at Vesontio ([[Besançon]]), which in return for this service was made a colony, possibly commemorates this victory.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}
The Sequani then appealed to Caesar, who drove back the Germanic tribesmen (58 BC), but at the same time obliged the Sequani to surrender all that they had gained from the Aedui. This so exasperated the Sequani that they joined in the revolt of [[Vercingetorix]] (52 BC) and shared in the defeat at [[Battle of Alesia|Alesia]]. Under [[Augustus]], the district known as '''Sequania''' formed part of [[Belgica]]. After the death of [[Vitellius]] (69 AD), the inhabitants refused to join the [[Revolt of the Batavi|Gallic revolt]] against Rome instigated by [[Gaius Julius Civilis]] and [[Julius Sabinus]], and drove back Sabinus, who had invaded their territory. A triumphal arch at Vesontio ([[Besançon]]), which in return for this service was made a colony, possibly commemorates this victory.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}


[[Diocletian]] added [[Helvetii|Helvetia]], and part of Germania Superior to Sequania, which was now called '''Provincia Maxima Sequanorum''', Vesontio receiving the title of Metropolis civitas Vesontiensium. The southern reach of this territory was known as [[Sapaudia]], which later developed into [[Savoy]]. Fifty years later, Gaul was overrun by the barbarians, and Vesontio sacked (355 CE). Under [[Julian the Apostate|Julian]], it recovered some of its importance as a fortified town, and was able to withstand the attacks of the [[Vandals]]. Later, when Rome was no longer able to afford protection to the inhabitants of Gaul, the Sequani became merged in the newly formed [[Kingdom of Burgundy]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}
[[Diocletian]] added [[Helvetii|Helvetia]], and part of Germania Superior to Sequania, which was now called '''Provincia Maxima Sequanorum''', Vesontio receiving the title of Metropolis civitas Vesontiensium. The southern reach of this territory was known as [[Sapaudia]], which became the namesake of the later region of [[Savoy]]. Fifty years later, Gaul was overrun by the barbarians, and Vesontio sacked (355 AD). Under [[Julian the Apostate|Julian]], it recovered some of its importance as a fortified town, and was able to withstand the attacks of the [[Vandals]]. Later, when Rome was no longer able to afford protection to the inhabitants of Gaul, the Sequani became merged in the newly formed [[Kingdom of Burgundy]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}


==Major settlements==
==Major settlements==
Line 36: Line 59:
* ''Pons Dubis'' ([[Pontoux]])
* ''Pons Dubis'' ([[Pontoux]])
* ''Castro Vesulio'' ([[Vesoul]])
* ''Castro Vesulio'' ([[Vesoul]])

==See also==
*[[Sigynnae]]


==References==
==References==
Line 44: Line 64:


===Bibliography===
===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}

* {{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=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=Kruta|first=Venceslas|title=Les Celtes, histoire et dictionnaire : des origines à la romanisation et au christianisme|publisher=Robert Laffont|year=2000|isbn=2-221-05690-6|author-link=Venceslas Kruta}}
*{{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}}
{{refend}}


=== Primary sources ===
=== Primary sources ===
Line 60: Line 83:
* Dunod de Charnage, ''Hist. des Séquanois'' (1735)
* Dunod de Charnage, ''Hist. des Séquanois'' (1735)
* J. D. Schöpflin, ''Alsatia illustrata'', i. (1751; French trans. by L. W. Ravenèz, 1849).
* J. D. Schöpflin, ''Alsatia illustrata'', i. (1751; French trans. by L. W. Ravenèz, 1849).

{{Celts}}
{{Celts}}
{{Gallic peoples}}
{{Peoples of Gaul|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Late Roman Provinces|state=collapsed}}


[[Category:Sequani| ]]
[[Category:Sequani| ]]

Latest revision as of 15:15, 20 January 2024

A portion of the map, Gallia, from Butler's 1907 atlas showing the divisions of the diocese of Gaul in the late Roman Empire.[1] According to the key, the map depicts 17 Provinciae Galliae, "Provinces of Gaul," of which the 17th, [Provincia] Maxima Sequanorum, "Greater Sequania," identified with an XVII shown in the Jura Mountains, contains the Sequani and Helvetii.
Gold coins of the Sequani Gauls, 5-1st century BC. Early Gallic coins were often inspired by Greek coinage.[2]
Silver coins of the Sequani Gauls, 5–1st century BC.
A map of Gaul in the 1st century BC, showing the locations of the Celtic tribes.

The Sequani were a Gallic tribe dwelling in the upper river basin of the Arar river (Saône), the valley of the Doubs and the Jura Mountains during the Iron Age and the Roman period.[3]

Name

[edit]

They are mentioned as Sequanos by Caesar (mid-1st c. BC) and Ammianus Marcellinus (4th c. AD),[4] Sequanis by Livy (late 1st c. BC),[5] Sēkoanoús (Σηκοανούς) by Strabo (early 1st c. AD),[6] and as Sequani by Pliny (1st c. AD).[7][8]

The Gaulish ethnonym Sequani (sing. Sequanos) stems from the Celtic name of the Seine river, Sequana.[9] This may indicate that their original homeland was located by the Seine.[10]

Geography

[edit]

The country of the Sequani corresponded to Franche-Comté and part of Burgundy.[11] The Jura Mountains separated the Sequani from the Helvetii on the east, but the mountains belonged to the Sequani, as the narrow pass between the Rhone and Lake Geneva was Sequanian.[12] They did not occupy the confluence of the Saône into the Rhone, as the Helvetii plundered the lands of the Aedui there.[13] Extending a line westward from the Jura estimates the southern border at about Mâcon, but Mâcon belonged to the Aedui.[14] Strabo says that the Arar separates the Sequani from the Aedui and the Lingones, which means that the Sequani were on the left, or eastern, bank of the Saône only.[15] On the northeast corner the country of the Sequani touched on the Rhine.[16]

History

[edit]
Shield pattern of the Sequani auxilia palatina unit, according to Notitia dignitatum.

Before the arrival of Julius Caesar in Gaul, the Sequani had taken the side of the Arverni against their rivals the Aedui and hired the Suebi under Ariovistus to cross the Rhine and help them (71 BC). Although his assistance enabled them to defeat the Aedui, the Sequani were worse off than before, for Ariovistus deprived them of a third of their territory and threatened to take another third,[11] while subjugating them into semi-slavery.

The Sequani then appealed to Caesar, who drove back the Germanic tribesmen (58 BC), but at the same time obliged the Sequani to surrender all that they had gained from the Aedui. This so exasperated the Sequani that they joined in the revolt of Vercingetorix (52 BC) and shared in the defeat at Alesia. Under Augustus, the district known as Sequania formed part of Belgica. After the death of Vitellius (69 AD), the inhabitants refused to join the Gallic revolt against Rome instigated by Gaius Julius Civilis and Julius Sabinus, and drove back Sabinus, who had invaded their territory. A triumphal arch at Vesontio (Besançon), which in return for this service was made a colony, possibly commemorates this victory.[11]

Diocletian added Helvetia, and part of Germania Superior to Sequania, which was now called Provincia Maxima Sequanorum, Vesontio receiving the title of Metropolis civitas Vesontiensium. The southern reach of this territory was known as Sapaudia, which became the namesake of the later region of Savoy. Fifty years later, Gaul was overrun by the barbarians, and Vesontio sacked (355 AD). Under Julian, it recovered some of its importance as a fortified town, and was able to withstand the attacks of the Vandals. Later, when Rome was no longer able to afford protection to the inhabitants of Gaul, the Sequani became merged in the newly formed Kingdom of Burgundy.[11]

Major settlements

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Butler, Samuel; Rhys, Ernest (1907). "Map 4, Gallia". The Atlas of Ancient and Classical Geography. Everyman. London; New York: J.M. Dent; E.P. Dutton.
  2. ^ Boardman, John (1993). The Diffusion of Classical Art in Antiquity. Princeton: Princeton University Press. p. 308. ISBN 0691036802.
  3. ^ Schön, Franz (Regensburg) (2006-10-01), "Sequani", Brill’s New Pauly, Brill, retrieved 2023-12-16
  4. ^ Caesar. Commentarii de Bello Gallico, 1:33:4.; Ammianus Marcellinus. Res Gestae, 15:11:17.
  5. ^ Livy. Perioch., 104
  6. ^ Strabo. Geōgraphiká, 4:1:11.
  7. ^ Pliny. Naturalis Historia, 4:106.
  8. ^ Falileyev 2010, s.v. Sequani.
  9. ^ Lambert 1994, p. 34.
  10. ^ Kruta 2000, p. 71.
  11. ^ a b c d Chisholm 1911.
  12. ^ Caesar & BG, Book I, Section 6.
  13. ^ Caesar & BG, Book I, Section 11.
  14. ^ Caesar & BG, Book VII, Section 90
  15. ^ Strabo & Geography, Book 4, Chapter 1, Section 11.
  16. ^ Caesar & BG, Book I, Section 1.

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Falileyev, Alexander (2010). Dictionary of Continental Celtic Place-names: A Celtic Companion to the Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World. CMCS. ISBN 978-0955718236.
  • Kruta, Venceslas (2000). Les Celtes, histoire et dictionnaire : des origines à la romanisation et au christianisme. Robert Laffont. ISBN 2-221-05690-6.
  • Lambert, Pierre-Yves (1994). La langue gauloise: description linguistique, commentaire d'inscriptions choisies. Errance. ISBN 978-2-87772-089-2.

Primary sources

[edit]

Further reading

[edit]
  •  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainChisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Sequani". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
  • T. Rice Holmes, Caesar's Conquest of Gaul (1899), p. 483
  • A. Holder, Altceltischer Sprachschatz, ii. (1904).
  • Mommsen, Hist. of Rome (Eng. trans.), bk. v. ch. vii.
  • Dunod de Charnage, Hist. des Séquanois (1735)
  • J. D. Schöpflin, Alsatia illustrata, i. (1751; French trans. by L. W. Ravenèz, 1849).