Bagaudae facts for kids

The Bagaudae (say: Bah-GOW-dye) were groups of peasant rebels in the later Roman Empire. They first appeared during a tough time called the Crisis of the Third Century. These groups kept fighting until the very end of the Western Roman Empire. They were mostly found in areas like Gallia (modern France) and Hispania (modern Spain). These places were not as "Roman" as others. People there faced harsh treatment from the Roman government and rich landowners.

The Roman Empire was struggling with invasions and chaos. This made it easier for the Bagaudae to gain some temporary wins. Their leaders came from both poor people and even some former local rich families.

What Does "Bagaudae" Mean?

The name "Bagaudae" probably means "fighters" in the ancient Gaulish language.

The Roman Empire saw the Bagaudae as "bands of robbers who roamed the countryside looting and pillaging." But other historians see them differently. They believe the Bagaudae were poor local farmers. They were joined by robbers, runaway slaves, and soldiers who left the army. These groups were trying to fight against very harsh labor, unfair taxes, and strict laws. This was especially true in the less developed parts of the Empire.

How Were the Bagaudae Stopped?

Around the year 284 AD, the Roman government really noticed the Bagaudae. The Empire quickly brought back order with strong force. In 286 AD, the Bagaudae rebels were defeated by Maximian, a Roman general, and his helper Carausius. This happened under the rule of Emperor Diocletian.

The leaders of the Bagaudae were named Amandus and Aelianus. Some historians think these leaders were actually local landowners. They might have rebelled against the heavy taxes and the taking of their land and crops by Roman officials.

A Roman writer named Claudius Mamertinus wrote about the Bagaudae in 289 AD. He said that during the revolts in 284–285 AD near Lugdunum (modern Lyon), "simple farmers dressed like soldiers." He wrote that "the plowman acted like an infantryman, the shepherd like a cavalryman." He also said the farmers "imitated the barbarian enemy." This shows how desperate they were. Mamertinus even called them "two-shaped monsters." This meant they were Roman farmers, but they had become enemies of the Empire.

When Did They Appear Again?

The Bagaudae revolts happened again in the mid-fourth century. This was during the rule of Emperor Constantius. These new revolts happened at the same time as an invasion by the Alemanni people. A Frankish general named Silvanus brought back Roman control. But then he was betrayed by rivals in the Roman court. This forced him to rebel, and his work against the Bagaudae was undone. Around 360 AD, a historian named Aurelius Victor wrote about Bagaudae attacks near larger towns and walled cities.

In the fifth century, Bagaudae were seen again. First, they appeared in the Loire valley and Brittany around 409–417 AD. They fought against different armies sent by Flavius Aëtius, a powerful Roman general. Aetius even used allies like the Alans under their king Goar to try and stop a Bagaudae revolt in Armorica. A holy man, St. Germanus, helped the Bagaudae get mercy. But they later revolted again under a leader named Tibatto.

Bagaudae were also mentioned in the province of Macedonia. This was the only time they appeared in the Eastern Roman Empire. It might have been linked to economic problems during the rule of Emperor Arcadius.

By the mid-fifth century, the Bagaudae controlled parts of central Gaul and the Ebro valley in Spain. In Hispania, the king of the Suevi people, Rechiar (who died in 456 AD), even teamed up with the local Bagaudae. Together, they attacked the remaining Roman towns. This was a rare alliance between a Germanic ruler and peasant rebels.

A writer from the fifth century named Salvian understood why the Bagaudae revolted. He wrote that the suffering in the Roman world was due to the rich people's harshness and greed. He said that this harshness drove poor people to join the Bagaudae. It also made them seek safety with the "barbarian" invaders.

How Were They Seen?

The way people saw the Bagaudae changed over time. Some thought their revolt might have been Christian, but there isn't much proof. Generally, they seemed to be a mix of both robbers and rebels.

In the late 1800s, people became interested in the Bagaudae again. This was a time of social unrest. A French historian, Jean Trithemié, had a nationalist view. He argued that the Bagaudae showed the Gallic peasants' national identity. He believed they wanted to overthrow Roman rule and achieve French values like "liberty, equality, and brotherhood."

Later, a communist historian named E. A. Thompson wrote about the Bagaudae in 1952. He described them as an example of class warfare. This meant he saw it as a fight between the poor and the rich.

See also

• Jacquerie
• List of peasant revolts
• Popular revolt in late medieval Europe