Balares facts for kids
The Balares were one of the three main groups of people who lived in Sardinia a very long time ago. They were part of the ancient Nuragic people, along with the Corsi and the Ilienses.
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Who Were the Balares?
Historians and archaeologists have different ideas about where the Balares came from.
Early Ideas About Their Origin
The ancient Greek writer Pausanias thought the Balares might have been soldiers from Carthage. These soldiers, who were from places like Iberia (modern-day Spain) or Africa, supposedly argued over treasure. They then ran away and settled in the mountains of Sardinia. Pausanias mentioned that in the language of the Corsi people, "Balares" meant "fugitives" or "runaways."
Another ancient writer, Sallust, suggested they might have come from a city called Palla in Corsica.
Modern Theories on Balares' Roots
Archaeologist Giovanni Ugas has a different idea. He believes the Balares were descendants of the first people who arrived in Sardinia during the late Copper Age. These people were part of the Beaker culture and came from the area of France and Spain. Ugas also thought they might be related to ancient groups from the Balearic Islands. He connected their name to Balarus, a leader of the Vettones, an ancient group in Spain.
Where the Balares Lived
During the Nuragic period, the Balares lived in the northwestern part of Sardinia. This area included places like Nurra, Anglona, and the Sassarese region. Their land was next to the Ilienses people in the south, near the Tirso River. To the northeast, their territory bordered the Corsi, near Mount Limbara.
Balares and the Romans
After the Punic wars, when the Romans took over Sardinia, some Balares, along with the Ilienses and Corsi, moved into the mountains. They went to a region called Barbagia to fight against the Roman invaders.
In 177 BC, the Balares and Ilienses rebelled against the Romans. However, they were defeated by the Roman army led by Tiberius Gracchus. The Roman historian Livy wrote that the Ilienses, helped by the Balares, attacked the peaceful Roman province. The Roman army was weak and many soldiers had died from sickness, but they still managed to win.
Strabo, another ancient writer, mentioned the Balares as one of the "nations of mountaineers." He said they lived in caves and preferred to raid others' farms rather than grow their own food. They would even raid the coast of Italy.
Balares Tribes
The Balares were made up of several smaller tribes. Some of these tribes included:
- Coracenses: They lived south of the Tibulati and the Corsi, and north of the Carenses and Cunusitani.
- Giddilitani
- Lucuidonenses: Also known as Luquidonenses, Lugudonenses, or Liguidonenses. They lived south of the Carenses and Cunusitani, and north of the Æsaronenses.
- Nurritani: They lived in the Nurra territory.
- Perfugae / Perfugae Balares
- Turritani
- Uddadhaddaritani / Uddhadaddhar(itani) Numisiarum: These were part of the Balares.
See also
In Spanish: Balaros para niños
- List of ancient Corsican and Sardinian tribes
- Ilienses / Iolaes (Iolei)
- Corsi
- Paleo-Corsican language
- Paleo-Sardinian language
- History of Sardinia
- Nuragic civilization
- Sardinian people
- Torrean civilization
- Corsican people
- Ethnic group
- Tribe
