Ambiani


The Ambiani were a Belgic coastal tribe, dwelling in modern Picardy during the La Tène and Roman periods. They are known for their gold coinage.
The Ambiani settled in the region between the 4th century BC and the Cimbri and Teutoni invasion of Gauls in the late 2nd century BC. In 57 and 52 BC, they participated in Gallic coalitions against Caesar, before their eventual subjugation by the Romans in 51 BC.

Name

They are mentioned as Ambianos and Ambianis by Caesar, as Ambianoì by Strabo, as Ambiani by Pliny, as Ambianoí by Ptolemy, and as Ambianenses in the Notitia Dignitatum.
The name Ambiani stems from Gaulish ambi attached to the suffix -ani. It probably meant 'those around '.
The city of Amiens, attested as civitas Ambianensium ca. 400 AD, is named after the Gallic tribe.

Geography

Territory

The Ambiani dwelled in the present-day department of Somme, specifically the regions of Vimeux south of the Somme river, Ponthieu to the north and Santerre to the east. Their territory was bordered in the north by the Canche river, and south-east by the Somme river watershed. They were located between the Bellovaci in the south, the Morini in the north, and the Viromandui in the east.

Settlement

Their capital was Samarobriua, modern-day Amiens.

History

The Ambiani are mentioned in thee historical classical sources: Julius Caesar's Gallic War, Livy's Summaries, and Ammianus Marcellinus' History.

La Tène period

The Ambiani settled in the Picardy region between the 4th and the middle of the 2nd centuries BC. At the end of the 2nd century BC, they participated in the fights against the Cimbri and Teutoni invaders.

Gallic Wars

They are mentioned by Julius Caesar in 57 BC, who learned from his Belgic Remi informants that the Ambiani had promised to muster 10,000 armed men against the Roman armies.
As Vercingetorix was besieged in Alesia in 52 BC, 5,000 men were asked to the Ambiani.

Roman period

Between 386 and 450 AD, they are still mentioned by the Notitia Galliarum as living in the province of Belgica II, between the Bellovaci and the Morini.

Religion

There is some evidence from coins that bear a stag on one side and a betorced head on the obverse that the Ambiani were followers of the god Cernunnos.

Economy

The Ambiani were consummate minters and Ambianic coinage has been found throughout the territories of the Belgic tribes, including the Belgae of Britain. Whereas other Gallic tribed imitated in general Arverni coins, themselves inspired by Phillip II of Macedon staters, Ambiani imitated coinages from Magna Graecia, in the southern part of the Italian Peninsula. The first emissions of coins are thus copies of a stater minted by Taranto between 334 and 332 BC.
A "monetary hegemony" over the neighbouring Parisii and Bellovaci is attested at least until the end of the 2nd century BC. A few Ambiani coins have also been found along the south coast of the West Country possibly as the result of trade across the English channel.

Primary sources

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