Suessetani facts for kids

The Suessetani were an ancient people who lived in what is now northeastern Spain, long before the Romans arrived. They mainly lived in the plains near the Arba river, which is a northern branch of the Ebro river. This area is now part of Cinco Villas, Aragon and Zaragoza Province in Aragon, and the Bardenas Reales area in Navarra.

Their main city was called Corbio. It was a strong, fortified city, but its exact location is still a mystery today. Some experts think it might have been between the towns of Sangüesa and Sos del Rey Católico.

Who Were the Suessetani?

Scientists are still trying to figure out exactly where the Suessetani came from. They might have been related to the Iberians or the Aquitanians, who were other groups living in the area. However, many clues suggest they were a Celtic tribe. Celts were a group of people who lived across Europe in ancient times.

One big clue is their name, "Suessetani," and the names of their cities and rivers. These names sound very similar to words used by other Celtic groups. For example, there was a Celtic tribe called the Suessiones who lived in what is now France. They also had a city named Corbio! This connection makes many historians believe the Suessetani were related to these French Celts.

Historians believe the Suessetani might have arrived in this part of Spain around 600 BCE, or even earlier. They might have come as part of a larger migration of Celtic people.

What Language Did They Speak?

The names of places and rivers in the Suessetani territory give us hints about their language. Names like Corbio, Viridunum, and the Alba river sound like they come from an Indo-European language, possibly a Celtic one. This suggests they spoke a language similar to what other Celtic tribes spoke.

The Suessetani and the Romans

The famous Roman writer Titus Livius wrote about the Suessetani. He explained that they were enemies with a nearby tribe called the Iacetani. The Iacetani often attacked the Suessetani's farms and stole their crops.

A Roman general named Marcus Porcius Cato learned about this rivalry. He was very smart and used this information to Rome's advantage. In 195 BCE, he convinced the Suessetani to become allies with the Romans. With their help, the Romans were able to conquer the Iacetani and capture their capital city, Iaca.

Why Did the Suessetani Fight Rome?

Even though the Suessetani were allies with Rome at first, things changed. A few years later, they decided to rebel and fight against the growing Roman power. This was a very risky move and had serious consequences for them.

In 184 BCE, a Roman army, led by the governor Aulus Terentius Varro, attacked the Suessetani. Their capital city, Corbio, was put under siege (surrounded and attacked). The Romans used powerful siege weapons to break through its defenses. After a fierce fight, Corbio was captured and completely destroyed.

What Happened to the Suessetani?

After the Suessetani were defeated by the Romans, another tribe called the Vascones took advantage of the situation. The Vascones lived to the northwest of the Suessetani and were allied with the Romans. With Roman encouragement, they took over the Suessetani's lands.

Over time, most of the Suessetani people were absorbed by the Vascones. This means they lost their own unique identity as a separate tribe. By the time later writers like Strabo and Ptolemy wrote their books (in the 1st century BCE and 1st century CE), the Suessetani were no longer mentioned. These writers described the former Suessetani territory as part of the Vascones' land. Because of this, the Suessetani are sometimes forgotten or mistakenly thought to be part of the Vascones or Iberians.

See also

In Spanish: Suessetanos para niños

• List of Celtic tribes
• Late Basquisation