Pellendones facts for kids

The Pellendones were an ancient Celtic people who lived in the Iberian Peninsula a very long time ago. This was before the powerful Roman Empire arrived. From about 300 BC, they lived near where the Duero river starts. This area is now parts of Soria, Burgos, and La Rioja in central Spain.

Origins of the Pellendones

The Pellendones might have come from a mix of Illyrians and Celts. They moved to the Iberian Peninsula around 300 BC. Some historians think their original name was *Kellendones. They might have been related to the Belendi or Pelendi people from Gaul (modern-day France). The Pellendones spoke a type of Celtic language.

Pellendones Culture and Lifestyle

The Pellendones mostly raised animals. They moved their herds between different grazing lands, especially in the Ebro valley. This practice is called transhumance.

They had several important towns:

• Visontium was their capital city. It is believed to be modern-day Vinuesa in Soria.
• They are thought to have founded Numantia, which is near Muela de Garray in Soria.
• Another town was Savia, possibly modern-day Soria.
• They also controlled Aregrada (perhaps Ágreda in Soria).
• Other towns included Arenetum (Arnedo in La Rioja) and Quelia (Quel in La Rioja).
• Contrebia Leukade (Aguillar del Rio Alhama in La Rioja) was also under their control.

History of the Pellendones

The Pellendones were closely connected to the Arevaci people. They were a smaller group that depended on the Arevaci, but they were still seen as a separate people. They were also linked to the Vettones.

In the late 2nd century BC, the Pellendones broke free from the Arevaci. They might have had help from the Romans. After the Romans defeated the Arevaci, they gave Numantia and its lands to the Pellendones.

However, the Pellendones later supported uprisings against the Romans. This was during the 4th Celtiberian War in the early 1st century BC. Because of this, they lost their lands to the Uraci people. Later, during the Sertorian Wars, they joined forces with Quintus Sertorius. They provided soldiers to his army.

Romanization of the Pellendones

By the end of the 1st century BC, the Pellendones became part of the new Roman province called Hispania Terraconensis. This province was created by Emperor Augustus. Augustus even founded a Roman colony called Augustobriga (Muro de Ágreda) in their territory. This shows how the Romans slowly took over and changed the lives of the Pellendones.

See also

• Celtiberian confederacy
• Celtiberian script
• Celtiberian Wars
• Illyrians
• Numantine War
• Pre-Roman peoples of the Iberian Peninsula