Cantabrian Wars facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cantabrian WarsBellum Cantabricum Cantabrian and Asturian Wars Bellum Cantabricum et Asturicum |
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| Part of Roman conquest of the Iberian Peninsula | |||||||||
 Territories of the Iberian Peninsula where the Cantabrian Wars took place |
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
| Astures Cantabri Gallaeci |
Roman Empire | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Corocotta (Cantabri) Gausón (Astures) |
Caesar Augustus Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa Gaius Antistius Vetus Gaius Firmius |
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| Strength | |||||||||
| 70,000–100,000 (Based on pop. estimate) |
70,000–80,000 | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Total | Heavy | ||||||||
| The casualties are unusual in that both the Roman army did not take prisoners, nor did the Celts allow themselves to be taken alive as slaves. The result was a massive slaughter of Cantabri and Astures at the end of the conflict. | |||||||||
The Cantabrian Wars (29–19 BC) were a series of tough battles. They were the final part of the Roman conquest of Hispania, which is modern-day Spain. These wars took place in what are now the regions of Cantabria, Asturias, and León in northwestern Spain.
During the time of Emperor Augustus, the powerful Roman Empire fought against the Cantabri, Astures, and Gallaeci peoples. These groups were the last independent Celtic nations in Hispania. They were fierce warriors and did not want to be ruled by Rome. It took ten years of fighting and many Roman soldiers – more than 50,000 in total – to finally bring the region under Roman control.
Emperor Augustus himself went to Segisama (modern Sasamon) in 26 BC to watch over the war. Most of the fighting ended in 19 BC. However, there were small rebellions until 16 BC. The Romans even had to keep two legions (large groups of soldiers) in the area for another seventy years to keep the peace.
Contents
Who Were the Cantabri, Astures, and Gallaeci?
The Cantabrian Wars were fought between the Roman Empire and three main groups of people: the Cantabri, the Astures, and the Gallaeci. These groups lived in the mountainous northern parts of Hispania. They were known for being very brave and skilled fighters.
The Cantabri: Tough Fighters
The Cantabri first appeared in history as mercenaries, meaning they fought for money in other wars. This helped the Roman army learn how strong and warlike the people of northern Hispania were. For example, Cantabrians fought against Rome in earlier conflicts. They even managed to capture a Roman army standard, which was a huge insult to the Romans.
The Astures: Mountain Warriors
The Astures also had a history of fighting. They were mentioned in battles even before the Cantabrian Wars began. They often joined forces with the Cantabri to defend their lands. They were known for living in the mountains and being hard to defeat.
The Gallaeci: Resisting Rome
The Gallaeci were another group who resisted Roman rule. They had faced Roman attacks before, but they continued to fight for their freedom. Many Gallaecian tribes joined the Cantabri and Astures in their fight against the Roman Empire.
How Did They Fight?
The people of northern Hispania used clever tactics against the large Roman army. They knew their land very well, which gave them a big advantage.
Guerrilla Warfare: Surprise Attacks
The Cantabri and Astures often used guerrilla warfare. This meant they avoided big, open battles where the Romans had more soldiers. Instead, they would launch quick, surprise attacks. They would hide in the mountains and forests, then ambush Roman soldiers and supply lines. After attacking, they would quickly retreat, causing a lot of trouble for the Romans.
Weapons and Skills
The Cantabri were skilled with light weapons. They used short swords, daggers, and spears. They also had javelins (throwing spears) and lances. For defense, they used round or oval shields made of wood and leather chest protection. A special weapon they used was the bipennis, a battle axe with two heads. They were also good horsemen.
Cavalry Tactics: The Cantabrian Circle
The Cantabrian cavalry (soldiers on horseback) had unique tactics. One famous move was the circulus cantabricus. This was a circular formation of horsemen who would ride around the enemy, throwing javelins. Another tactic was the cantabricus impetus, a powerful charge straight into enemy lines to break them. The Roman army was so impressed that they later adopted some of these Cantabrian cavalry tactics!
The Mighty Roman Army
To defeat these tough opponents, Emperor Augustus had to send a huge number of Roman soldiers.
Roman Legions and Auxiliaries
Augustus sent eight legions to fight in the Cantabrian Wars. Each legion was a very large unit of highly trained soldiers.
- Legio I Augusta
- Legio II Augusta
- Legio IV Macedonica
- Legio V Alaudae (fought in Asturias)
- Legio VI Victrix (fought in Asturias)
- Legio IX Hispana
- Legio X Gemina (fought in Asturias)
- Legio XX Valeria Victrix
Besides the legions, there were also many auxiliary troops. These were soldiers from other parts of the Roman Empire who helped the legions. In total, about 50,000 soldiers were involved, including 30,000 legionaries and 20,000 auxiliaries. Some estimates say the total Roman force reached 70,000 to 80,000 men!
The Roman navy also played a key part. Ships were sent to the Cantabrian coast. They helped surround the Cantabri, making it harder for them to get supplies or escape. This combined land and sea effort was very important for the Roman victory.
The Asturian Campaign
The Astures joined the Cantabri to fight together. In the spring of 25 BC, three Roman legions were set up near the Astura River.
A Surprise Attack Foiled
The Astures planned a surprise attack on the Roman winter camps. However, a group of Astures called the Brigaecini told Augustus about the plan. Because of their help, Augustus rewarded the Brigaecini with land and a new camp.
The Battle of Lancia and Mons Medullius
Augustus's general, Publius Carisius, attacked the Astur armies. The Astures had to retreat to a strong hillfort called Lancia. After Lancia was surrounded, many Astures took refuge in a mountain called Mons Medullius. The Roman legions surrounded the mountain, building a long ditch and moat to trap them.
The End of the Conflict
The Cantabrian Wars were very difficult for the Romans. Emperor Augustus himself had to leave the area due to illness. The war lasted over ten years, which was a long time for the Romans. For comparison, they conquered all of Gaul (modern France) in less than seven years!
A Fight to the End
The Cantabri and Astures fought with incredible bravery. They often chose not to be captured by the Romans. Many would rather die than become slaves. Some even poisoned themselves with drinks made from yew trees, which were special to their culture. Stories say they would sing victory songs even while facing death, showing they believed dying as free soldiers was a victory.
Roman Control and Lasting Impact
Most of the major fighting ended in 19 BC, but small rebellions continued for a few more years. The Romans then started to bring their way of life to the region. Even after the war, the Romans had to keep two legions in the area for seventy years to make sure there were no more uprisings.
The Cantabrian Wars left a mark on the Roman army. The Romans adopted some symbols from the Cantabri, like twin crosses and lunar symbols, which they carried on their standards for centuries. They also learned and used the Cantabrian cavalry tactics, the circulus cantabricus and cantabricus impetus.
Images for kids
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This map shows the borders of Roman Cantabria during the Cantabrian Wars. It also shows the tribes, towns, and places mentioned in old writings.
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This map shows the Roman campaigns against the Cantabri and Astures. The green area shows the 26 BC campaign, red is 25 BC, purple is D. J. Brutus's 137 BC campaign, and yellow shows Caesar's arrival.
See also
In Spanish: Guerras cántabras para niños
