The
Tubantes were a Germanic tribe, living in the eastern part of The Netherlands. They are often equated to the Tuihanti, whom we know from two inscriptions found near the wall of Hadrian. The modern name
TwenteTwente is a non-administrative region in the eastern Netherlands. It encompasses the most urbanised and easternmost part of the province of Overijssel...
possibly derives from the word
Tuihanti, the name mentioned on two sacral inscriptions found near Hadrians Wall.
- Deo / Marti / Thincso / et duabus / Alaisiagis / Bed(a)e et Fi/mmilen(a)e / et n(umini) Aug(usti) Ger/m(ani) cives Tu/ihanti / v(otum) s(olverunt) l(ibentes) m(erito)
- Deo / Marti et duabus / Alaisiagis et n(umini) Aug(usti) / Ger(mani) cives Tuihanti / cunei Frisiorum / Ver(covicianorum) Se(ve)r(iani) Alexand/riani votum / solverunt / libent[es] / m(erito)
History
Little is known about the Tubantes. They either stayed out of conflict for that larger part, or their contribution was too small to warrant explicit mention by the few sources we have.
The first time they are mentioned at all, is in the description of the first expedition of Germanicus against the Marsi, where they ambushed the Roman forces returning to their winter-quarters, in coalition with the
BructeriThe Bructeri were a Germanic tribe located in northwestern Germany , between the Lippe and Ems rivers south of the Teutoburg Forest, in present-day North Rhine-Westphalia around 100 BC through 350 AD....
and Usipetes, probably somewhere in the Münsterland.
In
69Year 69 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Augustus and Rufinus...
, they provided a
cohort during the Batavian Revolt, which was destroyed by the
Ubiithumb|right|350px|The Ubii around AD 30The Ubii were a Germanic tribe first encountered dwelling on the right bank of the Rhine in the time of Julius Caesar, who formed an alliance with them in 55 BC in order to launch attacks across the river...
and in
308Year 308 was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Valerius and Valerius...
joined the alliance against Constantine the Great during his campaign against the
BructeriThe Bructeri were a Germanic tribe located in northwestern Germany , between the Lippe and Ems rivers south of the Teutoburg Forest, in present-day North Rhine-Westphalia around 100 BC through 350 AD....
.
By the late 4th century the Tubantes merged with the
SaxonsThe Saxons were a confederation of Germanic tribes originating on the North German plain. The Saxons earliest known area of settlement is Northern Albingia, an area approximately that of modern Holstein...
.
Archeology
Archeology shows that the region associated with the
Tubantes was inhabited more or less continuously since the last ice-age. The region is very fertile and will support agriculture and cattle. The countryside is marked by artificial hills, called
es or
esch, which were formed by depositing dung mixed with dirt. Prime examples include the
Fleringer Esch, near
FleringenFleringen is a village in the Dutch province of Overijssel. It is a part of the municipality of Tubbergen, and lies about 10 km east of Almelo.In 2001, the village of Fleringen had 392 inhabitants...
and the
Usseler Es, also known as the
Usseler Esch, near
UsseloUsselo is a Dutch village in the municipality of Enschede in the eastern Netherlands in region of Twente. It is located just west of Enschede and east of Boekelo. It has existed for over 800 years. Archeology shows that the region was inhabited more or less continuously since the last ice-age. The...
.
There is archeological evidence of (relatively) large scale iron production in the region, specifically near Heeten, show that the locals understood the process of producing
steelSteel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
, with a carbon content of 2% [1]. The ore used was the abundant
bog ironBog iron refers to impure iron deposits that develop in bogs or swamps by the chemical or biochemical oxidation of iron carried in the solutions. In general, bog ores consist primarily of iron oxyhydroxides, commonly goethite...
. The production sites can be dated to
280Year 280 was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Messalla and Gratus...
-
350Year 350 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Sergius and Nigrinianus...
.