Tanginus facts for kids

Tanginus was a brave leader, or chieftain, of the Celtiberians. He was an important figure during the Numantine War, a big conflict in ancient Spain. In Spanish, his name is sometimes known as Tangino.

Who Was Tanginus?

Tanginus was a Celtiberian, a group of people who lived in ancient Spain. We don't know exactly which tribe he belonged to. Some people think he might have been a Celt, as his name was common in a region called Lusitania.

Before the war, some stories say Tanginus was a merchant. But when the war started, he became a warrior. Celtiberian warriors often raided other lands, taking goods and resources.

Tanginus and the Numantine War

Tanginus joined the Numantine War in 141 BC. This was when a Roman general named Quintus Pompeius was trying to capture the Celtiberian city of Numantia.

Tanginus led many warriors, sometimes called "bandits," to attack lands belonging to Rome's allies. These allies were the Edetanians and Sedetanians. Tanginus's attacks forced General Pompeius to leave Numantia. Pompeius had to go protect his allies, who were like friends or partners to Rome.

Some people believe Tanginus planned this. He might have wanted to make Pompeius stop attacking Numantia. Earlier attempts to break the siege of Numantia by fighting directly had not worked.

The Battle at Salduie

Pompeius found Tanginus near a place called Salduie, which is now the city of Zaragoza. Tanginus crossed the Ebro river to keep his distance from the larger Roman army.

But Pompeius was determined. He crossed the river with his cavalry, which are soldiers on horseback. They caught up to Tanginus's forces in Ebelinum, which is now Ayerbe. The rest of the Roman army soon followed, and they defeated the Celtiberians.

What Happened to Tanginus?

We don't know for sure what happened to Tanginus after this battle. Many people believe he survived and escaped on his horse.

However, Pompeius captured many of Tanginus's warriors. These Celtiberian fighters were very brave and proud. They did not want to become prisoners or slaves. Many of them chose to fight their captors or even each other. The Romans had to tie them up to stop the fighting and bloodshed.

Pompeius even tried to send the surviving prisoners to Rome by sea. But the Celtiberians fought the sailors and sank the ships. They all died rather than be taken as slaves.

Tanginus's actions, even if he lost the battle, were important. When Pompeius returned to Numantia to continue the siege, he faced many defeats. In the end, Pompeius was forced to sign a peace treaty with the Celtiberians. This showed that Tanginus's efforts were not wasted.

Understanding the Name Tanginus

The name Tanginus or Tancinus has roots in ancient Celtic languages and Germanic languages. This means it comes from very old languages spoken by people in Europe.

See also

In Spanish: Tangino para niños

• Numantine War
• Olyndicus
• Viriathus