The Bracari or Callaeci Bracari were an ancient

Celt The Celts ( , see Names of the Celts#Pronunciation, pronunciation for different usages) or Celtic peoples ( ) were a collection of Indo-European languages, Indo-European peoples. "The Celts, an ancient Indo-European people, reached the apoge ...

ic tribe of

Gallaecia Gallaecia, also known as Hispania Gallaecia, was the name of a Roman province in the north-west of Hispania, approximately present-day Galicia, northern Portugal, Asturias and Leon and the later Kingdom of Gallaecia. The Roman cities inclu ...

, living in the northwest of modern

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. Featuring Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe, Portugal borders Spain to its north and east, with which it share ...

, in the province of

Minho Minho or Miño may refer to: People * Miño (surname) * Choi Min-ho, South Korean singer and actor known mononymously as Minho Places * Minho (river) or Miño, in Portugal and Spain Jamaica * Rio Minho, a river Portugal * Minho Province ...

, between the rivers Tâmega and Cávado. After the conquest of the region beginning in 136BC, the Romans established the Augustan citadel of ''Bracara'', modern

Braga Braga (; ) is a cities of Portugal, city and a Municipalities of Portugal, municipality, capital of the northwestern Portugal, Portuguese Braga (district), district of Braga and of the historical and cultural Minho Province. Braga Municipality ...

, in 20 BC. Neighbouring this people or tribe, to the south were the Gallaeci Proper or Callaeci (that gave the name to the larger tribal confederation of the same name - the

Gallaeci The Gallaeci (also Callaeci or Callaici; ) were a Celtic tribal complex who inhabited Gallaecia, the north-western corner of Iberia, a region roughly corresponding to what is now the Norte Region in northern Portugal, and the Spanish regions ...

) and the

Narbasi The Narbasi were an ancient Celtic tribe of Gallaecia, living in the province of Minho (north of modern Portugal) and nearby areas of modern Galicia (Spain) Galicia ( ; or ; ) is an Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community o ...

, to the north were the Luanci, Nebisoci and Seurbi, to the east were the

Nemetati The Nemetati were an ancient Celtic tribe of Gallaecia, living in the north of modern Portugal between the Cávado River, Cávado and Ave River valley, in the province of Minho Province, Minho, north of the Douro. They are known because of a ment ...

and the Lubaini, to the west were the Atlantic coast. It is possible that the Celtic

were an allied tribe of the ''Bracari''.

Appian Appian of Alexandria (; ; ; ) was a Greek historian with Roman citizenship who prospered during the reigns of the Roman Emperors Trajan, Hadrian, and Antoninus Pius. He was born c. 95 in Alexandria. After holding the senior offices in the pr ...

wrote they were a very warlike people. According to him, The Bracari women warriors fought defending their town "never turning, never showing their backs or uttering a cry." It has long been known that they spoke a

Celtic language The Celtic languages ( ) are a branch of the Indo-European language family, descended from the hypothetical Proto-Celtic language. The term "Celtic" was first used to describe this language group by Edward Lhuyd in 1707, following Paul-Yves ...

, as can be seen in the inscription dedicated to the goddess Nabia at Braga's ''Fonte do Ídolo'' ( Portuguese for the '' Fountain of the Idol''), or in the name of their town '' Tongobriga'' (in

Marco de Canaveses Marco de Canaveses () is a city and municipality on Porto district, in northern Portugal. The population in 2011 was 53,450, in an area of 201.89 km2. The city itself had a population of 9,042 in 2001. Geography The city of Marco Canaveses i ...

). The region was home to some native and notable citadels that fiercely resisted Roman rule and were besieged by the Romans. These were ''Lambriaca'', ''Avobriga'', and ''Cinania''. ''Lambriaca'' and ''Avobriga'' were located near the coast, probably near the river mouth of the Ave river where some citadels ruins are known. At the beginning of the 1st century, the Citânia de Briteiros was one of their main citadels and seat of the "consilium gentis". Cividade de Terroso, near the Ave river mouth, shows archaeological signs of the Roman siege and conquest. Castro de Briteiros

It was suggested that Citânia de Briteiros could be ancient ''Cinania''. However, this is not certain, as there were other citadels nearby, including Citânia de Sanfins. It is known that ''Cinania'' had luxuries and an iron ore mine, used for a surprise attack on the Roman camp. The goddess Nabia was very popular in the territory of the Callaici Bracari with several inscriptions, like the one at Braga's Fonte do Ídolo (Portuguese for Fountain of the Idol).Matos da Silva, Maria de Fátima (2019). «Decoração e simbolismo das pedras formosas dos balneários-sauna castrejos da Idade do Ferro: leituras possíveis». ''Vínculos de Historia''. 8. pp. 191–215. ISSN 2254-6901

References

*Coutinhas, José Manuel (2006), ''Aproximação à identidade etno-cultural dos Callaici Bracari'', Porto. *Queiroga, Francisco (1992), ''War and Castros'', Oxford. *Silva, Armando Coelho Ferreira da (1986), ''A Cultura Castreja'', Porto.

External links

Detailed map of the Pre-Roman Peoples of Iberia (around 200 BC)
Tribes of Gallaecia Galician Celtic tribes History of Braga Ancient peoples of Portugal {{Portugal-hist-stub

See also

References

External links