The Bibroci were a tribe of Iron Age Britain in the first century BCE. They are known only from a brief mention in the writings of Julius Caesar.[1] They may have been one of the four tribes of Kent, represented in Caesar by references to the "four kings of that region" and in the archaeological record by distinct pottery assemblages.[2]
Etymology edit
The name Bibroci stems from Gaulish *bibros ('beaver'), ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European root *bhe-bhros.[3]
History edit
During Julius Caesar's second invasion of Britain in 54 BCE, following Caesar's military success and restoration of King Mandubracius to power over the Trinovantes, opposition to the Romans coalesced around the figure of Cassivellaunus which led to divided loyalties among the Britons, as Caesar records. Emissaries of five British tribes, including the Bibroci (the others being the Ancalites, the Segontiaci, the Cenimagni and the Cassi), arrived at the Roman camp to treat for peace, and agreed to reveal details of Cassivellaunus' stronghold. Caesar besieged him there and brought him to terms. When Caesar left Britain he took hostages from the Britons, although which tribes were compelled to give any is not specified.[4]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Julius Caesar, Commentarii de Bello Gallico 5.21
- ^ Barry Cunliffe, Iron Age Communities in Britain, fourth edition, Routledge, 2005.
- ^ Sergent, Bernard (1991). "Ethnozoonymes indo-européens". Dialogues d'histoire ancienne. 17 (2): 10. doi:10.3406/dha.1991.1932.
- ^ Julius Caesar, Commentarii de Bello Gallico 5.17-23