First Celtiberian War
Encyclopedia
The First Celtiberian (or Spanish) War was the first of a series of three wars known as the Celtiberian Wars
. It was fought between the advancing legions of the Roman Republic
and the Celtiberian
tribes of Hispania Citerior
from 181
to 179 BC
.
In 181, several tribes along the Ebro
, especially the Lusones
, rebelled against Roman rule. Appian
cites their reason as a lack of land on which to live. They were quickly put down by the consul
Quintus Fulvius Flaccus and scattered. Some fled to Complega, then a newly fortified city, from which they made demands on the Roman general, but after his approach they fled.
In 179, Flaccus was succeeded by Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus. Gracchus quickly went to the rescue of the besieged city of Caravis and then took the city of Complega. He divided up the land among the poor and signed treaties with all of the tribes. His success in establishing peace made him much admired in both Hispania and Rome, where he arrived to a triumph.
In the latter year, war also broke out in Hispania Ulterior
between the Romans and the Lusitanians
.
Celtiberian Wars
The Celtiberian Wars or Spanish Wars were a series of three wars lasting, off and on, from 181 to 133 BC. They were fought between the advancing legions of the Roman Republic and the Celtiberian tribes of Hispania Citerior. The First Celtiberian War lasted from 181 to 179...
. It was fought between the advancing legions of the Roman Republic
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
and the 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...
tribes of Hispania Citerior
Hispania Citerior
During the Roman Republic, Hispania Citerior was a region of Hispania roughly occupying the northeastern coast and the Ebro Valley of what is now Spain. Hispania Ulterior was located west of Hispania Citerior—that is, farther away from Rome.-External links:*...
from 181
181 BC
Year 181 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Cethegus and Tamphilus...
to 179 BC
179 BC
Year 179 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Flaccus and Fulvianus...
.
In 181, several tribes along the 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....
, especially the Lusones
Lusones
The Lusones were an ancient Celtic Celtiberian people of the Iberian peninsula , who lived in the high Tajuña River valley, northeast of Guadalajara...
, rebelled against Roman rule. Appian
Appian
Appian of Alexandria was a Roman historian of Greek ethnicity who flourished during the reigns of Trajan, Hadrian, and Antoninus Pius.He was born ca. 95 in Alexandria. He tells us that, after having filled the chief offices in the province of Egypt, he went to Rome ca. 120, where he practised as...
cites their reason as a lack of land on which to live. They were quickly put down by the consul
Consul
Consul was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire. The title was also used in other city states and also revived in modern states, notably in the First French Republic...
Quintus Fulvius Flaccus and scattered. Some fled to Complega, then a newly fortified city, from which they made demands on the Roman general, but after his approach they fled.
In 179, Flaccus was succeeded by Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus. Gracchus quickly went to the rescue of the besieged city of Caravis and then took the city of Complega. He divided up the land among the poor and signed treaties with all of the tribes. His success in establishing peace made him much admired in both Hispania and Rome, where he arrived to a triumph.
In the latter year, war also broke out in Hispania Ulterior
Hispania Ulterior
During the Roman Republic, Hispania Ulterior was a region of Hispania roughly located in Baetica and in the Guadalquivir valley of modern Spain and extending to all of Lusitania and Gallaecia...
between the Romans and the Lusitanians
Lusitanians
The Lusitanians were an Indo-European people living in the Western Iberian Peninsula long before it became the Roman province of Lusitania . They spoke the Lusitanian language which might have been Celtic. The modern Portuguese people see the Lusitanians as their ancestors...
.
Sources
- Appian's History of Rome.
- Wintle, Justin. The Rough Guide History of Spain. Rough Guides: SpainSpainSpain , 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...
, 2003. - Encyclopaedia Romana: The Celtiberian War and Numantia.