Arverni

The **Arverni** (Gaulish: \**Aruernī/Arwernī*) were a Gallic people dwelling in the Southern-Central Gaul region during the Iron Age and Classical Period. They were one of the most powerful tribes of ancient Gaul, contesting dominance over the region with the neighboring Aedui.

## History

### Gallic Wars (63-55 BCE)

#### The Suebi as allies against the Aedui (63 BCE)

Around 63 BCE, the Gaulish Arverni and Sequani enlisted the aid of Ariovistus, the king of the Germanic Suebi, in their war against the Aedui. The latter were a numerous Celtic people occupying the area of the upper Liger (OTL Loire) River in Gaul. Their territory lay between their neighbors to the northeast, the Sequani, who occupied the Dubis (OTL Doubs) river valley, and the Arverni in Southern Central Gaul.

It is not entirely known what the cause of the conflict was, but the Sequani controlled access to the Rhine river along the valley of the Dubis. To that end, they had gradually built up an *oppidum*, or fortified town, at Vesontio. Tradesmen headed up the Rodonos river (OTL Rhône) and its tributary the Saoconna (OTL Saône) could not pass the Dubis at Vesontio without coming to terms with the Sequani, and no one could pass from the Rhine to the Rodonos but on similar terms. The east of the entire great channel is bordered by the Jura mountains, and the west by the Mountains of Southern Central Gaul.

The Saoconna formed part of the border between the Aedui and the Sequani. Each tribe claimed the Saoconna and the transportation costs from traffic along it. The Sequani also habitually supported the Germans in their previous frequent expeditions across the river, which shows that Ariovistus's subsequent devastation of Sequani lands represented a new policy.

#### Betrayal of Ariovistus (63-59 BCE)

To avoid violating his alliance for the moment, in 63 BCE, Ariovistus passed over the low divide between the Rhine and the Dubis, (close to the OTL city of Belfort) and then approached the Aedui along the Ognon river valley.

The exact location of the final battle between the Aedui and their enemies, which Gaulish historians named as the Battle of Magetobriga, remains unknown, but Ariovistus's 15,000 men turned the tide, and the Aedui became tributary to the Sequani. By 60 BCE, Ariovistus then seized a third of the Sequani territory, settling 120,000 Germans there. That move left the Sequani between him and the Jura mountains, not a tolerable situation for either if they were not going to be allies.

Ariovistus made the decision to clear out the Sequani from the strategic Dubis valley and to repopulate it with Germanic settlers. He demanded a further third of Celtic land for his allies, the Charudes, who came with 24,000 men. He had even been taking hostages, to keep the Sequani and Aedui obedient.

At the same time, Ariovistus' 24,000 Charudes were allowed to raze and pillage the Gallic lands as they pleased, with more Germans preparing to cross the Rhine and help the Suebi king. They are said to have controlled all the oppida, but that is not entirely true, as the capital Vesontio was not under Germanic control. However, the country to the north of there was presumably under Germanic control.

#### Germanic Conquest of Gaul and Belgium (59-57 BCE)

In 59 BCE, Ariovistus officially declared war on the Sequani, and accused them of treason, after their refusal to submit another third of Sequani territory. He encircled Vesontio and besieged the city, with a force of 40,000 soldiers. After two months, the capital fell, and so did the Sequani. Vesontio then became the capital of the Suebi.

One year later, the now surrounded Helvetii to their south-east, began migrating westwards, presumably to the land of the Santones on the south-western coast of Gaul. This open land was quickly conquered by Ariovistus, who, in 57 BCE, turned his attention to the north. He convinced the Germanic Nemetes and Vangiones to cross the Rhine, and together with an army of 75,000 troops sacked and invaded the Celtic Lingones, Leuci, Treveri and Triboci. The Nemetes and Vangiones then established their own allied kingdom, the former settling in the territory of the former Leuci, while the latter occupied the Treveri.

That same year, he intensified raids on Aedui territory, devastating their homeland. The Aedui king, Diviciacus, forced to end hostile relations with the Arverni, called on Vercingetorix for help. The Arverni accepted, and an alliance was formed.

Simultaneously, Ambiorix and Cativolcus, kings of the Belgic Eburones felt threatened by the German expansion and offered an alliance to the Belgic Remi, in order to defend the region. However, the Remi kings, Iccius and Andecombogius declined the offer, who then asked Ariovistus for protection and safety if they support his conquests, and the Suebi king accepted.

This betrayal of the Remi was likely tempted by the growing dominance of their neighboring tribe, the Suessiones, with whom with they were linked by the same law, the same magistrates and a unified commander-in-chief. In reality, this virtual state of union between the two tribes probably leaned in favor of the Suessiones, thus gaining independence from a possibly asymmetrical relationship.

The Eburones were outraged, and found a new ally instead, the warlike and powerful Nervii, under king Boduognatus to their west. Together, they opposed the Germanic tribes, as well as the Remi. Shortly after, the Aduatuci joined the alliance. This pact contributed to an early form of a Belgic national identity.

#### Decline of Ariovistus' Empire and Defeat (56-55 BCE)

In 56 BCE, the Remi conquered the Suessiones, with Germanic support. Shortly after, the combined force of 40,000 Belgians, commanded by Ambiorix, completely annihilated the Remi, who were assimilated as a result.

At the same time, the Arverni, under Vercingetorix and the Aedui formed an army of 50,000 men, and met Ariovistus, commanding 60,000 soldiers near Alesia. The Germans were crushed, thanks to a Lingone revolt, funded earlier by Vercingetorix, that sabotaged Suebi supplies. Ariovistus lost half of his army and was forced to retreat to Magetobriga, only to be defeated once again.

This major setback caused suspicion to the Vangiones. However, the Nemetes remained loyal, and their king, \*Marobodus, insulted the Vangiones as traitors. Tensions escalated, and the two kingdoms fought each other and devastated their armies and lands, while Ariovistus fortified himself in Vesontio.

Meanwhile, in 55 BCE, Ambiorix, seeing this internal strife, pushed back the Vangiones behind the Rhine. Vercingetorix then defeated the Nemetes, before laying siege to Vesontio. The city fell after a few months and the Suebi were pushed back behind the Jura Mountains and the Rhine, who then turned to live as a tribe called Alemanni.

After the war, both the Arverni and the Belgic tribes claimed to be the savior of Gaul, with worsened their relations and caused an increasing hatred between the two regions.

## Source

This page uses content from **Wikipedia**. The original article was at **Arverni** (view authors). As with Sine Roma - What if Rome never existed? Wiki, the text of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License 3.0 (Unported).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arverni

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariovistus

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle\_of\_Magetobriga

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-YpPBPD23o

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remi