Denier au buste de cheval frappé par les Cavares

The Cavarī or Cavarēs (

Gaulish Gaulish was an ancient Celtic language spoken in parts of Continental Europe before and during the period of the Roman Empire. In the narrow sense, Gaulish was the language of the Celts of Gaul (now France, Luxembourg, Belgium, most of Switzerl ...

: *''Cauaroi'', 'the heroes, champions, mighty men') were a Gallic tribe dwelling in the western part of modern

Vaucluse Vaucluse (; oc, Vauclusa, label=Provençal or ) is a department in the southeastern French region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. It had a population of 561,469 as of 2019.Avignon Avignon (, ; ; oc, Avinhon, label=Provençal or , ; la, Avenio) is the prefecture of the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of Southeastern France. Located on the left bank of the river Rhône, the commune ha ...

Orange Orange most often refers to: *Orange (fruit), the fruit of the tree species '' Citrus'' × ''sinensis'' ** Orange blossom, its fragrant flower * Orange (colour), from the color of an orange, occurs between red and yellow in the visible spectrum ...

and

Cavaillon Cavaillon (; Provençal: ''Cavalhon'') is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of Southeastern France.

, during the

Roman period The Roman Empire ( la, Imperium Romanum ; grc-gre, Βασιλεία τῶν Ῥωμαίων, Basileía tôn Rhōmaíōn) was the post- Republican period of ancient Rome. As a polity, it included large territorial holdings around the Mediter ...

. They were at the head of a

confederation A confederation (also known as a confederacy or league) is a union of sovereign groups or states united for purposes of common action. Usually created by a treaty, confederations of states tend to be established for dealing with critical issu ...

of tribes that included the

Tricastini The Tricastini were a small Gallic tribe dwelling in the modern Tricastin region, near present-day Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux, during the Iron Age and the Roman period. The Tricastini were probably one of the most ancient Celtic tribes of Gaul. ...

, Segovellauni and Memini, and whose territory stretched further north along the Rhône Valley up to the Isère river.

Name

They are mentioned as ''Kaouárōn'' (Καουάρων) by Strabo (early 1st c. AD), ''Cavarum'' by Pliny (1st c. AD), ''Cavarum'' and ''Cavaras'' by

Pomponius Mela Pomponius Mela, who wrote around AD 43, was the earliest Roman geographer. He was born in Tingentera (now Algeciras) and died AD 45. His short work (''De situ orbis libri III.'') remained in use nearly to the year 1500. It occupies less ...

(mid-1st c. AD), ''Kaúaroi'' (Καύαροι) by

Ptolemy Claudius Ptolemy (; grc-gre, Πτολεμαῖος, ; la, Claudius Ptolemaeus; AD) was a mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, geographer, and music theorist, who wrote about a dozen scientific treatises, three of which were of import ...

(2nd c. AD), and as ''Cavares'' on the ''

Tabula Peutingeriana ' (Latin for "The Peutinger Map"), also referred to as Peutinger's Tabula or Peutinger Table, is an illustrated ' (ancient Roman road map) showing the layout of the '' cursus publicus'', the road network of the Roman Empire. The map is a 13th-ce ...

'' (5th c. AD). The ethnonym ''Cavarī'' is a latinized form of

*''Cauaroi'' (sing. *''Cauaros''), meaning 'the heroes', or 'the mighty men'. It derives from the Celtic stem ''*kawaro-'', meaning 'hero, champion' (cf.

Old Irish Old Irish, also called Old Gaelic ( sga, Goídelc, Ogham script: ᚌᚑᚔᚇᚓᚂᚉ; ga, Sean-Ghaeilge; gd, Seann-Ghàidhlig; gv, Shenn Yernish or ), is the oldest form of the Goidelic/Gaelic language for which there are extensive writte ...

''cuar'' 'hero, champion, warrior',

Middle Welsh Middle Welsh ( cy, Cymraeg Canol, wlm, Kymraec) is the label attached to the Welsh language of the 12th to 15th centuries, of which much more remains than for any earlier period. This form of Welsh developed directly from Old Welsh ( cy, Hen ...

''cawr'', Breton ''kaour'' 'giant, champion').

Geography

Territory

The Cavari dwelled on the east bank of the

Rhône The Rhône ( , ; wae, Rotten ; frp, Rôno ; oc, Ròse ) is a major river in France and Switzerland, rising in the Alps and flowing west and south through Lake Geneva and southeastern France before discharging into the Mediterranean Sea. At Ar ...

river, between the

Durance The Durance (; ''Durença'' in the Occitan classical norm or ''Durènço'' in the Mistralian norm) is a major river in Southeastern France. A left tributary of the Rhône, it is long. Its drainage basin is .Tricastin The Tricastin is a natural and historic region in the southern Rhône valley of southeastern France comprising the southwestern portion of the Drôme department and the northwestern portion of Vaucluse and centered on the modern town of Saint-Pa ...

. Their territory was located west of the

Vocontii The Vocontii (Gaulish: *''Uocontioi''; Greek: Οὐοκόντιοι, Οὐοκοντίων) were a Gallic people dwelling on the western foothills of the Alps during the Iron Age and the Roman period. The Vocontii settled in the region in the 3r ...

, Memini, Albici and

Dexivates The Dexivates (Gaulish: ''Dexiuates'') were a small Gallic tribe dwelling in the southern part of modern Vaucluse, near the present-day village of Cadenet, during the Iron Age and the Roman period. Name The tribe is attested as ''Dexivatium'' ( ...

, south of the Segovellauni and

, east of the Volcae Arecomici, north of the Anatilii and

Salyes The Salyes or Salluvii (Greek: ) were an ancient Celto-Ligurian people dwelling between the Durance river and the Greek colony of Massalia during the Iron Age. Although earlier writers called them 'Ligurian', Strabo used the denomination 'Celto-l ...

., Map 15: Arelate-Massalia, Map 17: Lugdunum. Some scholars have proposed that the actual boundary between the Salyes and Cavari was the marshy area north of St-Rémy rather than the Durance. Colline St-Jacques, Cavaillon

Strabo mentioned that the lands from Cabellio (

Cavaillon Cavaillon (; Provençal: ''Cavalhon'') is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of Southeastern France.

) up to the confluence of the Isère with the Rhône belonged to the Cavari, Pliny placed Valence in Cavarian territory, and Ptolemy located them immediately south of the Segovellauni, which indicates that they controlled, further north of their homeland, a strip of land along the Rhône up to the confluence of this river with the Isère.

Settlements

The pre-Roman hill-fort of the Cavari was probably situated on the , a hill overlooking the modern town of

Orange, Vaucluse Orange (; Provençal: ''Aurenja'' or ''Aurenjo'' ) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. It is about north of Avignon, on the departmental border with Gard, which follows ...

During the Roman era, their main settlement was known as

Arausio Orange (; Provençal: ''Aurenja'' or ''Aurenjo'' ) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. It is about north of Avignon, on the departmental border with Gard, which follows t ...

(modern

). It was founded as ''Colonia Julia Firma Secundanorum Arausio'' ca. 35 BC by

Octavian Caesar Augustus (born Gaius Octavius; 23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14), also known as Octavian, was the first Roman emperor; he reigned from 27 BC until his death in AD 14. He is known for being the founder of the Roman Pr ...

for the veterans of Legio II Gallica, in the vicinity of their hill-fort. Arausio is best known today for two surviving Roman monuments: the

Triumphal Arch of Orange The Triumphal Arch of Orange (french: Arc de triomphe d'Orange) is a triumphal arch located in the town of Orange, southeast France. There is debate about when the arch was built, but current research that accepts the inscription as evidence fa ...

, probably built in two phases under

Augustus Caesar Augustus (born Gaius Octavius; 23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14), also known as Octavian, was the first Roman emperor; he reigned from 27 BC until his death in AD 14. He is known for being the founder of the Roman Pr ...

(27 BC–14 AD) and

Tiberius Tiberius Julius Caesar Augustus (; 16 November 42 BC – 16 March AD 37) was the second Roman emperor. He reigned from AD 14 until 37, succeeding his stepfather, the first Roman emperor Augustus. Tiberius was born in Rome in 42 BC. His father ...

(from 26 AD), and the Theatre of Orange, one of the best preserved Roman theatres, likely build at the time of the foundation of the colony. Other important settlements were located at Cabellio (

Cavaillon Cavaillon (; Provençal: ''Cavalhon'') is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of Southeastern France.

) and Avennio (

Avignon Avignon (, ; ; oc, Avinhon, label=Provençal or , ; la, Avenio) is the prefecture of the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of Southeastern France. Located on the left bank of the river Rhône, the commune ha ...

). Erected as a hill-fort on the , Avennio grew into a prosperous settlement during the Iron Age. By the end of the 3rd century BC, Avennio likely belonged to the

Volcae The Volcae () were a Gallic tribal confederation constituted before the raid of combined Gauls that invaded Macedonia c. 270 BC and fought the assembled Greeks at the Battle of Thermopylae in 279 BC. Tribes known by the name Volcae were found sim ...

, who controlled at that time both sides of the Rhône.

Artemidorus Artemidorus Daldianus ( grc-gre, Ἀρτεμίδωρος ὁ Δαλδιανός) or Ephesius was a professional diviner who lived in the 2nd century AD. He is known from an extant five-volume Greek work, the '' Oneirocritica'' or ''Oneirokritiko ...

(fl. 100 BC) described Cabellio and Avennio as Massaliote cities, which probably indicates that they came under Greek control after the Roman conquest of southeastern Gaul in 125–121 BC. Greek influence is confirmed archaeologically by pottery, coins and bilingual inscriptions.

History

Early Roman period

The Cavari are not attested in historical sources before the Augustan period, and little is known about their early history. They may have originally belonged to the Allobrogian or Vocontian sphere of influence. Between 125 and 122 BC, the armies of the

Roman Republic The Roman Republic ( la, Res publica Romana ) was a form of government of Rome and the era of the classical Roman civilization when it was run through public representation of the Roman people. Beginning with the overthrow of the Roman Kingd ...

crossed the Alps and fought the Salluvii and

. After the

Allobroges The Allobroges (Gaulish: *''Allobrogis'', 'foreigner, exiled'; grc, Ἀλλοβρίγων, Ἀλλόβριγες) were a Gallic people dwelling in a large territory between the Rhône river and the Alps during the Iron Age and the Roman period. ...

gave shelter to the Salluvian chiefs and raided the

Aedui The Aedui or Haedui (Gaulish: *''Aiduoi'', 'the Ardent'; grc, Aἴδουοι) were a Gallic tribe dwelling in the modern Burgundy region during the Iron Age and the Roman period. The Aedui had an ambiguous relationship with the Roman Republic ...

, a recent ally of Rome, the latter declared war against them. In 121 BC, the Roman forces defeated the Allobroges at the Battle of Vindalium, which took place near Vindalium, a Cavarian settlement probably corresponding to Mourre-de-Sève (

Sorgues Sorgues (; oc, Sòrgas) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of Southeastern France. The river Ouvèze, a tributary of the Rhône, as well as its tributary Sorgue, which begins at the Fontaine de ...

). In the aftermath of a decisive Gallic defeat at the

Battle of the Isère River The Battle of the Isère River (8 August 121 BC) took place near the modern day French town of Valence at the confluence of the Isère and Rhône rivers. A first confrontation had been won by Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus at the Battle of Vindalium ...

in August of the same year, the territory of the Cavari was integrated into the province of

Gallia Transalpina Gallia Narbonensis ( Latin for "Gaul of Narbonne", from its chief settlement) was a Roman province located in what is now Languedoc and Provence, in Southern France. It was also known as Provincia Nostra ("Our Province"), because it was ...

some time between 120 and 117 BC. During the

Cimbrian War The Cimbrian or Cimbric War (113–101 BC) was fought between the Roman Republic and the Germanic and Celtic tribes of the Cimbri and the Teutons, Ambrones and Tigurini, who migrated from the Jutland peninsula into Roman controlled territor ...

, the

Battle of Arausio The Battle of Arausio took place on 6 October 105 BC, at a site between the town of Arausio (now Orange, Vaucluse), and the Rhône River. Ranged against the migratory tribes of the Cimbri under Boiorix and the Teutoni under Teutobod were ...

took place near their hill-fort in October 105 BC. The Cavari seem to have not taken part in those conflicts, and the absence of their name from the records of the Roman victories during the First Transalpine War (125–121 BC) and the

Gallic Wars The Gallic Wars were waged between 58 and 50 BC by the Roman general Julius Caesar against the peoples of Gaul (present-day France, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland). Gallic, Germanic, and British tribes fought to defend their homel ...

(58–50 BC) may suggest that they had friendly relations with Rome.

Roman period

At the time of

(27 BC–14 AD), the Cavari were at the head of a confederation stretching between the

and Segovellauni. They were also in control of the area located around Avennio, on the eastern bank of the Rhône, which had previously belonged to the

and

Massalia Massalia (Greek: Μασσαλία; Latin: Massilia; modern Marseille) was an ancient Greek colony founded ca. 600 BC on the Mediterranean coast of present-day France, east of the river Rhône, by Ionian Greek settlers from Phocaea, in Western ...

. In the early 1st century AD, Greek geographer Strabo described them as mostly, though apparently recently, Romanized:

Archaeology

The '' Tarasque de Noves'' anthropophagous statue, displayed in the

Musée Calvet The Calvet Museum (''musée Calvet'') is the main museum in Avignon. Since the 1980s the collection has been split between two buildings, with the fine arts housed in an 18th-century hôtel particulier and a separate Lapidary Museum in the former ...

in Avignon, is attributed to the Cavari.

References

Primary sources

* *

Bibliography

* * * * * * * * * * * {{Gallic peoples Tribes of pre-Roman Gaul Gallia Narbonensis