Gausón facts for kids

Gausón was a brave leader of the Astur people, an ancient group who lived in what is now northern Spain. He is known for fighting against the powerful Roman army during the Astur-Cantabrian Wars, which happened between 29 BC and 19 BC.

Not much is known about Gausón for sure, because there aren't many old Roman writings that talk about him. However, some historical books and old stories do mention him. They say he was an important military leader for the Astur armies. He led attacks against Roman soldiers near a town called Lancia during a part of the war known as the Bellum Asturicum.

Who Was Gausón?

Historians believe Gausón was a real person, even if details are scarce. The Gran Enciclopedia Asturiana (Great Asturian Encyclopedia) mentions him as a leader who fought for independence against the Romans. Some ancient writers like Dio Cassius and Florus might have mentioned him, but they didn't give much information.

Gausón was an active leader in the wars around 29 BC and 27 BC. He even survived the fighting in 26 BC. One historian, Orosius, wrote that Gausón was captured and executed as a warning to the Astur people. Other stories say he died defending Lancia during a siege.

There's even an old Latin inscription found that seems to confirm his existence. It says: "Oh noble and proud Astur people, whom Romans barely defeated, even once Gausón fell." This shows how much the Romans respected the Astur people's fighting spirit.

Where Was Gausón From?

People have different ideas about where Gausón was born. Some think he was from near Peñas Cape in a place called Gozón. Others believe he was born in the mountains of Proaza, where there's a place called Gaucín. The Roman writer Plinius said Gausón was an "Astur Transmontani," meaning he was from the Astur people who lived beyond the mountains.

Gausón's Role in the Wars

Much of what we know about Gausón comes from a historian priest named Luis Alfonso de Carvallo (1571–1635). He wrote a book called "History of the Antiquity and memorable things of the Principality of Asturias" in 1613. Carvallo used older historical records, some of which are now lost.

Astur Battle Plans

Carvallo's writings describe how the Astur leaders planned to fight the Romans. They heard that the Romans were coming into Asturias with three separate armies. So, the Asturs decided to split their own forces into three groups as well. They planned to meet each Roman army in the narrow mountain passes to stop them from getting further into the country.

This plan matches what the Roman historian Florus wrote in his official Roman history. Florus mentioned that the Asturs came down from their snowy mountains with a large army. They set up a camp near the Astura river and divided their army into three parts to attack the three Roman camps at the same time. Florus said it would have been a very tough battle if some people hadn't told the Romans about the Asturs' plan.

Gausón's Command

According to Carvallo, one of the three Astur divisions was led by a captain named Liranto. Another was led by a captain called Astur. The third and most powerful division was commanded by Gausón. He stayed by the river to wait for the Roman general who was planning to attack Lancia. Gausón positioned his troops at a river crossing where the Romans would have to pass. This way, he could easily stop them from reaching Lancia.

Both Florus and Orosius mentioned this strategy of dividing the armies into three. Carvallo said he found the names of the three Astur captains in an old book, which helped him connect the Astur plans with the Roman accounts.

See also

In Spanish: Gausón para niños