Cantiaci facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cantiaci
Geography
Capital	Durovernum Cantiacorum (Canterbury)
Location	Kent East Sussex
Rulers	Dubnovellaunus, Vosenius, Eppillus, Cunobelinus, Adminius

The Cantiaci were an ancient Celtic people who lived in Britain a very long time ago. They were here before the Romans came and took over. They gave their name to a Roman area called a civitas. The Cantiaci lived in the part of England we now call Kent, in the southeast. Their main town was called Durovernum Cantiacorum, which is now the city of Canterbury.

They shared borders with other tribes. The Regni people lived to their west. The Catuvellauni people lived to their north.

The Cantiaci: Ancient People of Kent

The Cantiaci were known for their way of life. Julius Caesar, a famous Roman general, visited Britain in 55 and 54 BCE. These were the first Roman trips to Britain. Caesar wrote about the Cantiaci in his book De Bello Gallico. He said:

Of all these [British tribes], by far the most civilised are they who dwell in Kent, which is entirely a maritime region, and who differ but little from the Gauls in their customs.

This means Caesar thought the Cantiaci were very advanced. He noted they lived by the sea and were quite similar to the people in Gaul (modern-day France).

Kings and Leaders of the Cantiaci

Early Leaders Before Roman Rule

Julius Caesar wrote about several Celtic tribes living in Britain. He mentioned five tribes that would later be part of the Catuvellauni's land. Each of these tribes had its own "king" or chieftain. Caesar observed that their way of life was much like their relatives in Gaul. The Britons were very close to the Gauls. In fact, the Romans might have invaded Britain because the Britons were helping the Gauls. The Gauls were being taken over by the Romans at the time.

Caesar also named four kings who were powerful in Cantium during his second visit in 54 BCE. Their names were Segovax, Carvilius, Cingetorix, and Taximagulus. A British leader named Cassivellaunus was under attack by the Romans. He sent a message to these four kings. He asked them to attack the Roman naval camp to distract the Romans. But their attack failed. A chieftain named Lugotorix was captured. Because of this, Cassivellaunus had to make peace with the Romans.

Kings Who Issued Coins

For about 100 years after Caesar's visits, and before the Roman conquest began in 43 CE, British kings started making their own coins. These coins had their names stamped on them. We know about these kings of the Cantiaci from their coins:

• Dubnovellaunus: He might have been an ally or a lesser king under Tasciovanus of the Catuvellauni. Or he might have been the son of Addedomarus of the Trinovantes. He went to Augustus, the Roman emperor, around 7 BCE, asking for help.
• Vosenius: He ruled until about 15 CE.
• Eppillus: He was first a king of the Atrebates tribe. Coins show he became king of the Cantiaci around 15 CE. At the same time, his brother Verica became king of the Atrebates.
• Cunobelinus: He was the king of the Catuvellauni. He grew his power and took control of some Cantiaci lands.
• Adminius: He was the son of Cunobelinus. It seems he ruled for his father starting around 30 CE. A Roman writer named Suetonius tells us that Cunobelinus sent Adminius away around 40 CE. This event led to the Roman emperor Caligula planning an invasion of Britain, though it was later called off.
• Anarevitos: We only know about him from a coin found in 2010. He was probably a descendant of Eppillus. He likely ruled between 10 BCE and 20 CE.

See also

• Iron Age tribes in Britain
• List of Celtic tribes