Berones
Encyclopedia
The Berones were an pre-Roman
Celtiberian
people of ancient Spain
who lived in the middle Ebro
region between the Hion and Alhama
rivers.
into Iberia
around the 4th Century BC to settle in La Rioja
and the southern parts of the Soria
, Alava
and Navarra provinces.
, their capital was Varia or Vareia (Custodia de Viana; Celtiberian-type mint: Uaracos Auta?), situated near Logroño
at the middle Ebro
in La Rioja
and controlled the towns of Libia (Herramélluri
or Leiva
– La Rioja
), Tritium Megallum (Villar de Bobadilla), Bilibium (Bilibio, near Conchas de Haro) and Contrebia Leukade (Aguillar del Rio Alhama – La Rioja
).
, the Berones appear to have kept themselves out of the Celtiberian confederacy throughout the 3rd-2nd centuries BC but later came under pressure of the Vascones. Their earliest contact with Rome might had occurred during the early 2nd Century BC, when they allegly fought as allies of the Celtiberians
at the battle of Calagurris in 186 BC, being defeated by Lucius Manlius Adicinius. According to a roman ephigraphic source, the Ascoli-Picenum bronze (now at the Museo Capitolino, Rome
), Beronian mercenary cavalrymen later entered Roman service at the Social War (91-88 BC), fighting alongside other spaniards in the Turma Saluitana as auxiliary cavalry in Italy
though they subsequently aided their Autrigones’ allies in the defence of their respective territories in northern Celtiberia against Sertorius’ invasion attempt in 76 BC.
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
Celtiberian
Celtiberians
The Celtiberians were Celtic-speaking people of the Iberian Peninsula in the final centuries BC. The group used the Celtic Celtiberian language.Archaeologically, the Celtiberians participated in the Hallstatt culture in what is now north-central Spain...
people of ancient Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
who lived in the middle Ebro
Ebro
The Ebro or Ebre is one of the most important rivers in the Iberian Peninsula. It is the biggest river by discharge volume in Spain.The Ebro flows through the following cities:*Reinosa in Cantabria.*Miranda de Ebro in Castile and León....
region between the Hion and Alhama
Alhama
Alhama can refer to:* Alhama de Almería, a town in the province of Almería in Spain* Alhama de Aragón, a town in the province of Zaragoza in Spain* Alhama de Granada, a town in the province of Granada in Spain...
rivers.
Origins
They migrated from GaulGaul
Gaul was a region of Western Europe during the Iron Age and Roman era, encompassing present day France, Luxembourg and Belgium, most of Switzerland, the western part of Northern Italy, as well as the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the left bank of the Rhine. The Gauls were the speakers of...
into Iberia
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
around the 4th Century BC to settle in La Rioja
La Rioja (Spain)
La Rioja is an autonomous community and a province of northern Spain. Its capital is Logroño. Other cities and towns in the province include Calahorra, Arnedo, Alfaro, Haro, Santo Domingo de la Calzada, and Nájera.-History:...
and the southern parts of the Soria
Soria
Soria is a city in north-central Spain, the capital of the province of Soria in the autonomous community of Castile and León. , the municipality has a population of c. 39,500 inhabitants, nearly 40% of the population of the province...
, Alava
Álava
Álava is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Álava. Its capital city is Vitoria-Gasteiz which is also the capital of the autonomous community...
and Navarra provinces.
Culture
A stock-raising people that practiced transhumanceTranshumance
Transhumance is the seasonal movement of people with their livestock between fixed summer and winter pastures. In montane regions it implies movement between higher pastures in summer and to lower valleys in winter. Herders have a permanent home, typically in valleys. Only the herds travel, with...
, their capital was Varia or Vareia (Custodia de Viana; Celtiberian-type mint: Uaracos Auta?), situated near Logroño
Logroño
Logroño is a city in northern Spain, on the Ebro River. It is the capital of the autonomous community of La Rioja, formerly known as La Rioja Province.The population of Logroño in 2008 was 153,736 and a metropolitan population of nearly 197,000 inhabitants...
at the middle Ebro
Ebro
The Ebro or Ebre is one of the most important rivers in the Iberian Peninsula. It is the biggest river by discharge volume in Spain.The Ebro flows through the following cities:*Reinosa in Cantabria.*Miranda de Ebro in Castile and León....
in La Rioja
La Rioja (Spain)
La Rioja is an autonomous community and a province of northern Spain. Its capital is Logroño. Other cities and towns in the province include Calahorra, Arnedo, Alfaro, Haro, Santo Domingo de la Calzada, and Nájera.-History:...
and controlled the towns of Libia (Herramélluri
Herramélluri
Herramélluri is a village in the province and autonomous community of La Rioja, Spain....
or Leiva
Leiva
-Places:*Leiva, Nariño, municipality and town in the Nariño Department, Colombia.*Leiva, Boyacá, municipality in Boyacá Department, Colombia, largest town Villa de Leyva*Leiva, La Rioja, municipality in La Rioja, Spain-People:*Lucas Pezzini Leiva -Places:*Leiva, Nariño, municipality and town in the...
– La Rioja
La Rioja (Spain)
La Rioja is an autonomous community and a province of northern Spain. Its capital is Logroño. Other cities and towns in the province include Calahorra, Arnedo, Alfaro, Haro, Santo Domingo de la Calzada, and Nájera.-History:...
), Tritium Megallum (Villar de Bobadilla), Bilibium (Bilibio, near Conchas de Haro) and Contrebia Leukade (Aguillar del Rio Alhama – La Rioja
La Rioja (Spain)
La Rioja is an autonomous community and a province of northern Spain. Its capital is Logroño. Other cities and towns in the province include Calahorra, Arnedo, Alfaro, Haro, Santo Domingo de la Calzada, and Nájera.-History:...
).
History
Allies of the AutrigonesAutrigones
Location of the tribe of the Autrigones.The Autrigones were a pre-Roman people of ancient Spain, described by the Roman historian Paulus Orosius as neighbours of the Gallaeci, and thus had their homeland in the northwest of Hispania.-Location:Their historical territory now lies split between the...
, the Berones appear to have kept themselves out of the Celtiberian confederacy throughout the 3rd-2nd centuries BC but later came under pressure of the Vascones. Their earliest contact with Rome might had occurred during the early 2nd Century BC, when they allegly fought as allies of the Celtiberians
Celtiberians
The Celtiberians were Celtic-speaking people of the Iberian Peninsula in the final centuries BC. The group used the Celtic Celtiberian language.Archaeologically, the Celtiberians participated in the Hallstatt culture in what is now north-central Spain...
at the battle of Calagurris in 186 BC, being defeated by Lucius Manlius Adicinius. According to a roman ephigraphic source, the Ascoli-Picenum bronze (now at the Museo Capitolino, Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
), Beronian mercenary cavalrymen later entered Roman service at the Social War (91-88 BC), fighting alongside other spaniards in the Turma Saluitana as auxiliary cavalry in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
though they subsequently aided their Autrigones’ allies in the defence of their respective territories in northern Celtiberia against Sertorius’ invasion attempt in 76 BC.